Can a 17 Year Old Girl Have Liposuction?

Although there has been a rise in the number of cosmetic surgeries over the last several years, the percentage of teenagers (those 18 years old and younger) having cosmetic surgery has remained relatively constant and is less than 1%. Among teenagers, nonsurgical procedures such as laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels are among the most popular. The most frequently performed surgical procedures for teenagers are otoplasty, rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast reduction, treatment of gynecomastia (male breast reduction), and correction of breast asymmetry.

Many physicians agree that for appropriately selected teenage patients, cosmetic plastic surgery can have a positive impact on both their physical and emotional development. When evaluating a teenager for a cosmetic surgical procedure, it is important to consider the following: physical maturity, emotional maturity, their motivation for surgery, their understanding of the procedure, and their expectations of surgery and the post-op recovery.

Stubborn fat deposits can be a familial condition. Liposuction may be appropriate for a select number of teenagers (of normal body weight) with localized fat deposits, after diet and exercise fail to achieve improvements.

From your description it sounds as if your daughter is content with her body, and is only unhappy with her inner thighs because they are disproportionate. Putting the physical appearance aside, she does experience skin irritation resulting from her inner thighs rubbing together. And she is an active individual who has tried exercise but failed. By all your accounts it certainly seems that this is a significant hereditary fat deposit that will not improve; so liposuction is certainly an option.

Your daughter’s attitude and behavior may certainly correlate with a lower self-esteem, which may subsequently lead to hinder the full potential of her physical and emotional growth and development. I get a sense that as her mother you are open to considering surgery as an option to address her concerns and unhappiness. And the tone of your comments does not seem to take a casual approach to this surgical option.

Counseling might be worth considering, and may have some benefits;  but it does not sound as if your daughter is unreasonable in her desire to have an upper and lower body that are proportionate. Instead of being unhappy with many aspects of her appearance, your comments suggest that she is unhappy with only a single aspect of her appearance. This is an important point, because if her thighs are her only source of unhappiness the anticipation would be that liposuction would improve her body shape, which would in turn improve her self-image, which would improve her development and outlook on life. This is in contrast to a teenager who is never happy with her appearance regardless of what procedure is done. This maybe something that the parents can assess and address, or it may be something that requires a medical evaluation and counseling.

One other thought worth mentioning – in certain situations parents may realize that their teenage son or daughter is going to have a cosmetic surgical procedure once they turn 18 years of age and no longer need parental consent. Many will take the opportunity to become very involved and offer their support. They recognize that by using their knowledge and experience they can offer a tremendous amount of control and guidance (that would otherwise be lost) throughout the decision making process.

There is no doubt that teenagers experience a lot of peer pressure to conform, to not look different, and to be accepted. Certainly your daughter may feel similar pressure to have a proportionate body shape in order to be accepted by her classmates. But it is also reasonable for an individual to be dissatisfied with their appearance based solely on how they wish to see themselves. (Certainly that body image may be socially-based, but that does not automatically mean that such a desire is pathologic).

Your family should have a candid conversation about your daughters concerns and the possible solutions available to help her address her unhappiness. If you and your daughter feel surgery is an option worth pursuing further, schedule a consultation to learn more. Speaking with a plastic surgeon will help put liposuction into perspective so you can decide if and when surgery is appropriate.

Best wishes, Ken Dembny

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's distress. The good news is that she sounds like a good candidate for liposuction to remove the excess fat between her thighs. I/we have performed this procedure dozens of times on men and women of all ages in a simple 1 hr procedure under local anesthesia. Recovery is very fast with patients back to exercising the next day and looking great after a few weeks. You might also consider a non-invasive fat-elimination technique, such as CoolSculpting, Thermi, or Vanquish. Please arrange a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist to find out how your daughter can be helped.

    Liposuction of the thighs may be appropriate, particularly with the parent's consent.  An exam and consultation will be necessary to assess goals and maturity.  Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction procedures each year.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA