Is it possible for a young people sing and perform real operatic roles without damaging their voices?

Is it possible for a young person (even a teen) to build and condition their voices well enough to sing and perform opera without damaging his/her voice? I know young people like Charlotte Church damaged their voices because they pushed it too hard and far from its' natural tone. But is it possible for people develop their voices correctly at a young age and become a successful opera singer? I heard that most opera singers, especially the famous ones, don't really get into their careers until their 30's or 40's because their voices haven't matured properly until then. I'm just curious because it's interesting to me the complexity of the human voice. I'm still not fully knowledgeable about how people damage their vocal cords by singing difficult pieces when they're too young. I do understand how people can strain their voices, develop nodules, etc. But not how that relates to age. How is a 15 year old more likely to damage her voice singing Mozart's Queen of the Night, Der Holle Rache, than compared to a 35 year old? I hope to receive input from as many people as possible! Thank you!!!!!!!