Every year, thousands of teens undergo various types of cosmetic surgery. Surgeons say this should not come as a surprise thanks to all of the surgeries done by their celebrity “role models”. Not many people think twice about having cosmetic surgery anymore since many teens think being beautiful and looking perfect will make them rich and famous. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there are two main reasons why teens want to undergo cosmetic surgery. The first is to correct a physical defect and the other is to enhance a certain body part that they find imperfect. Teens view cosmetic surgery as a way to make themselves look acceptable to other people and to deal with their self-esteem issues.
Popular Cosmetic Surgeries among Teens
Rhinoplasty – One of the most popular surgeries among teens is rhinoplasty. Surgeons often see the emotional benefit that the operation gives a patient. More commonly known as a nose job, rhinoplasty is performed to smooth a bump, alter a bulbous nasal tip or to make the nose bridge narrower. It is for patients at least 16 years of age unless it is medically required for younger patients to correct anatomical defects to improve breathing. Performing rhinoplasty on patients younger than 16 years old, without a pressing medical reason, will only lead to rhinoplasty revision surgery later on. In addition to the age limit, surgeons won’t operate on patients who already have a well-functioning nose that doesn’t really need any form of alteration. The results of rhinoplasty tend to have a positive effect on the patient’s confidence and feelings of self-worth.
Breast Augmentation and Breast Reduction – Breast augmentation, also referred to as augmentation mammoplasty or a boob job, is a cosmetic procedure that involves either the use of implants or the transfer of excess fat from other parts of the body to increase the size of the breasts. This procedure can also be performed to achieve a more rounded shape, to improve natural breast size asymmetry, to increase the fullness and projection of the breasts, to improve the balance of the breast and hip contours and to enhance self-image and self-confidence. A lot of teens are open to undergoing breast augmentation but not everyone is an ideal fit for the procedure. Suitable candidates are patients who are physically healthy, not breastfeeding or pregnant and not suffering from bleeding disorders or heart diseases or any other medical conditions that can impair the procedure. It is advisable that patients have realistic expectations regarding the results of the procedure. The procedure itself is relatively straight-forward. To insert the implant the surgeon will make an incision around the breast either around the nipple (periareolar) or under the arm (axillary). Once the incision is made the muscles and connective tissue of the chest are separated from the breast tissue creating a pocket or space either in front of the exterior muscles of the chest wall or behind it. The implants are then inserted in this pocket and sutured to close the incision. Augmentation surgeries are done for purely cosmetic reasons while breast reduction surgeries that remove excess skin, fat and tissue are more likely done for medical purposes such as gynecomastia (man boobs) and female discomfort due to large breasts.
Liposuction – Liposuction is the removal of stubborn or excess fat and it is performed on teens that want a more contoured figure. The legal age to have liposuction is 18 and younger teenagers are not allowed to have liposuction except when it is due to medical issues. For this purpose, a certificate from a medical doctor is required. Liposuction is not a weight loss option as it is only a contouring procedure meant for patients who want a little bit of trimming to improve their figure. It is for people at, or close to, their ideal weight who have hard to remove fat deposits on certain areas of the body.
Otoplasty – This surgery is the surgical reshaping of the ears and it is performed to make the ears more symmetrical. Unlike the first three surgeries on this list, otoplasty can be done on much younger patients. Compared to other parts of the body, the ears develop much faster so the operation can be done on patients as young as four or five years old. Otoplasty involves the creation of incisions behind the ear and is followed by the removal of some skin and cartilage. The results of the procedure are ears that are symmetrical with each other as well as the face. The importance of symmetrically aligned ears to the overall look of the face has made otoplasty a very common cosmetic surgery among teens.
Tummy Tuck – A tummy tuck, AKA abdominoplasty, is another cosmetic surgery procedure that teens often look to when they want to have a better looking body. As with any other contouring procedure, it is not a weight loss procedure and is only indicated for patients close to their ideal weight. It is also important that the patient has stopped growing. If any additional growth is expected in a teenage patient, the excess skin they want removed may actually be needed as they continue to increase in height. Before a young patient is allowed to undergo a tummy tuck, a consultation with a doctor is advised to make sure the person is an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck. Once cleared, the patient is now qualified for the removal of excess skin which will provide a tighter and more contoured appearance.
Teens Need to Have Cosmetic Surgery for the Right Reasons
Cosmetic surgery among teens is not necessarily a bad idea but it is not something that should be taken lightly. Teens looking to undergo any kind of surgery to enhance their looks need to consult with a doctor, as well as their parents, to make sure the surgery is desired for the right reasons and not because of peer pressure from others or body issues on the part of the patient.
- MA
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Rhinoplasty, which is a procedure that is also often referred to as a “nose job,” is a cosmetic surgery that reshapes or resizes the nose of a...... Read more >
Breast implant revision is a cosmetic procedure to correct a deformity of the breast after augmentation. This procedure is common among women who...... Read more >
Mini liposuction is used to treat patients who are already near their ideal weight but want to target one or two areas of the body which are...... Read more >
