Wanting to Look Beautiful
Teens and plastic surgery.
TWEENS & TEENS News June 2005
Most teens don’t, of course, but some do. Interestingly,
the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports a difference
in the reasons teens give for having plastic surgery
and the reasons adults do: Teens view plastic surgery
as a way to fit in and look acceptable to friends and
peers. Adults, on the other hand, frequently see plastic
surgery as a way to stand out from the crowd.
The number of teens who choose to get plastic surgery
is on the rise. According to the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons, 335,000 people 18 years and younger
had plastic surgery in 2003, up from about 306,000 in
2000.
Some people turn to plastic surgery to correct a physical
defect or to alter a part of the body that makes them
feel uncomfortable. For example, guys with a condition
called gynecomastia (excess breast tissue) that doesn’t
go away with time or weight loss, may opt for reduction
surgery. A girl or boy with a birthmark may turn to
laser treatment to lessen its appearance.
Other people decide they want a cosmetic change to feel
better about the way they look. Teens who have cosmetic
procedures, such as otoplasty (surgery to pin back ears
that stick out) or dermabrasion (a procedure that can
help smooth or camouflage severe acne scars), often
say that having the surgery gives them greater confidence
and boosts their self-esteem.
The most common procedures teens choose include nose
reshaping, ear reshaping, acne and acne scar treatment,
and breast reduction.
Reconstructive surgery helps repair significant defects
or problems. But what about having cosmetic surgery
just to change your appearance? Is it a good idea for
teens? It can be. But like everything else, there are
right and wrong reasons. And there are no quick fixes.
Unlike on TV, cosmetic surgery is unlikely to change
a child’s life— or even get him a date to
the prom. Shows like I Want a Famous Face are actually
far from reality. In fact, it’s impossible for
a surgeon to make one person look exactly like another:
You and Brad Pitt probably have very different bone
structures. In reality, most board-certified plastic
surgeons spend a lot of time interviewing teens who
want plastic surgery to decide if they are good candidates
for the surgery. Some doctors won’t perform certain
procedures (like rhinoplasty) on a teen until they are
sure that person is old enough and has finished growing.
For rhinoplasty, that means about 14 or 15 for girls
and a little older for boys.
Girls who want to enlarge their breasts for cosmetic
reasons usually must be at least 18 because saline implants
are only approved for women 18 and older. In some cases,
though, such as when there’s a tremendous size
difference between the breasts or one breast has failed
to grow at all, a plastic surgeon may get involved earlier.
Doctors also want to know that teens are emotionally
mature enough to handle the surgery and that they’re
doing it for the right reasons. Many plastic surgery
procedures are just that— surgery. They involve
anesthesia, wound healing and other serious risks. Doctors
who perform these procedures want to know that their
patients are capable of understanding and handling the
stress of surgery.
• Almost all teens (and many adults) are self-conscious
about their bodies. Almost everyone wishes there were
a thing or two that could be changed. A lot of this
self-consciousness goes away with time. Ask your teen
if he is considering plastic surgery for himself or
whether it’s to please someone else.
• A person’s body continues to change through
the teen years. Body parts that might appear too large
or too small now can become more proportionate over
time. Sometimes, for example, what seems like a big
nose looks more the right size as the rest of the person’s
face catches up during growth.
• Getting in good shape through appropriate weight
control and exercise can do great things for a person’s
looks without surgery. In fact, it’s never a good
idea to choose plastic surgery as a first option for
something like weight loss that can be corrected in
a nonsurgical manner. Sure, gastric bypass or liposuction
may seem like quick and easy fixes compared to sticking
with a diet. Both of these procedures, however, carry
far greater risks than dieting, and doctors should reserve
them for extreme cases when all other options have failed.
• Some people’s emotions have a really big
effect on how they think they look. People who are depressed,
extremely self-critical or have a distorted view of
what they really look like sometimes think that changing
their looks will solve their problems. In these cases,
it won’t. Working out the emotional problem with
the help of a trained therapist is a better bet. In
fact, many doctors won’t perform plastic surgery
on teens who are depressed or have other mental health
problems until these problems are treated first.
What’s Involved?
If your teen is considering plastic surgery, talk it
over with him. If he is serious and you agree, the next
step is meeting with a plastic surgeon to help you learn
what to expect before, during and after the procedure—
as well as any possible complications or downsides to
the surgery. Depending on the procedure, he may feel
some pain as he recovers, and temporary swelling or
bruising can make him look less like himself for a while.
Procedures and healing times vary, so you’ll want
to do your research into what’s involved in the
particular procedure and whether the surgery is reconstructive
or cosmetic. It’s a good idea to choose a doctor
who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Cost will likely be a factor, too. Elective plastic
surgery procedures can be expensive. Although medical
insurance covers many reconstructive surgeries, the
cost of cosmetic procedures almost always comes straight
out of the patient’s pocket. Find out what your
insurance plan will and won’t cover. For example,
breast enlargement surgery is considered a purely cosmetic
procedure and is rarely covered by insurance. But breast
reduction surgery may be covered by some plans because
large breasts can cause physical discomfort and even
pain for many girls.
Plastic surgery isn’t something to rush into.
If your teen is thinking about plastic surgery, find
out as much as you can about the specific procedure
and talk it over with doctors. Once you have the facts,
you can decide whether the surgery is right for your
child.
