Teens Should Forget The Word "Cosmetic" and Remember The Word "Surgery"

Atlanta plastic surgeon Diane Alexander, MD recently told the the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that for teens, cosmetic surgery "can be transformational in terms of their attitude and mood about how they feel about themselves." Indeed, there is evidence to support this claim.

Recent statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery indicate that surgical, cosmetic procedures performed on teens age 18 and younger have nearly quadrupled in the past ten years. In 2007, the number of procedures topped 200,000.

While older adults get plastic surgery to enhance or improve their figure, the younger crowd seems to be seeking acceptance from their peers, and using plastic surgery to get it. The number of American females age 18 and younger that underwent breast augmentation surgery was around 8,000, but the most common procedures were for correction of a deformity. Otoplasty (reforming the ears) was at the top of the list.

But are young adults being naive about the realities of plastic surgery? Dr. Foad Nahai, also a practicing plastic surgeon in Atlanta, cautions teens by saying "forget the word cosmetic and remember the word surgery." Besides the necessary downtime for healing, surgery involves serious risks and often fails to provide a permanent solution. Further procedures might be needed years later to maintain the enhancements.

In light of these considerations, the AJC article points out that doctors urge that teens and young adults set realistic expectations, plan for some downtime after surgery and most importantly, be intrinsically motivated for personal reasons, rather than allowing others to influence their decision to go under the knife.

Kristin Meyer for Real Beauty News

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