Teenagers and Plastic Surgery

Tenage girl (Credit: lanuiop)

Cosmetic surgery is the current trend. It seems to be a good way to look the way one wants to – bigger breasts, plumper pout, shorter toes, sharper nose, brighter eyes. You’ve got a gamut of cosmetic procedures to choose from – each procedure will bring you closer to the way you’ve always wanted to look. Teenagers are particularly fascinated by cosmetic surgery and see it as a way to look like their favourite celebrities.

Cosmetic surgery may not always be a good idea for teenagers. But in some instances it can be a solution for taking care of pronounced or awkward features in the teenage years.

Parental consent, as well as the cosmetic surgeon’s agreement that surgery is warranted, will be mandatory for patients under age 18.

In making a recommendation for surgery, the physician will weigh a number of factors including your child’s growth stage, the degree of correction needed, his or her current health and health history, and your child’s maturity and age.

Common cosmetic procedures performed on teenagers include (with typical age recommendations):
Otoplasty (ear surgery) – ears can be reshaped and resized, or “pinned back” for a less obvious appearance. Typically the earliest these are performed is from ages 5-9.

Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) – large or misshapen noses can be resized and reshaped for better facial balance. For females with a minimum age 14-16 and males aged 16-18.

Male breast reduction – may be performed to reverse a condition called Gynecomastia, or enlargement of male breasts. This is usually deferred until 18 years unless severe.

Female breast reduction – can be performed to alleviate the effects of overly large breasts, like back, shoulder, neck and muscle problems. This is performed from 14-18 years.
 
Liposuction – may be performed to help overweight individuals tone down specific areas, not recommended for large volume fat removal.