Should You Let Your Teen Have Cosmetic Surgery?

This question is among one of the most asked in parents. These days there has been such a rise in the popularity of cosmetic procedures that this question is being asked more and more with each coming year. It is one that creates great debate in whether it is ethical or not. Even though teenagers 18 and younger only counted for the 2% of cosmetic procedures, there were still over one hundred and sixty thousand cosmetic procedures in that age group (The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Shocking isn't it. The top five procedures in this age group are laser hair removal, chemical peel, microdermabrasion, rhinoplasty, and IPL laser treatment (ASAPS). Breast augmentation only accounted for 2.6% in this age group, but I find it alarming that less than half of these cases were actually for girls that needed the procedure (ASAPS). Another alarming study showed that women 18-24 had the highest approval rating for cosmetic surgery (ASAPS). The study did not account for the 18 and younger group.

First of all if your teen has mentioned that they want plastic surgery, you need to ask why. If they want it just to look better, such as breast implants, or the laser hair removal, you should consider if it is going to really help them in the long run. You also need to consider the fact that cosmetic procedures are addictive. If you let them have one procedure where will it end? Would you let your teen honestly have breast implants, and then a nose job, and then liposuction? There are many things to consider with any procedure. There are risks with each procedure.

One fact that argues my case is through a pediatrician's perspective. Stacy Stryer says, "For one thing, teens often don't have the ability to think past tomorrow, let alone three years down the road". What she is talking about is the fact that most breast augmentations lead to the need for reimplantation within a 10 year time frame (Stacy Stryer). Another argument is that the teen's body is not fully developed (Denise Mann). Why would you let a growing girl have breast augmentation when they aren't even fully developed?

Some of the most popular cosmetic procedures are in fact done for the right reasons. Microdermabrasion is a treatment for acne and acne scars, which is why it is so popular because when you are a teenager you normally have some type of facial blemish. Liposuction is another common type of cosmetic procedure in teens 18 and younger. It is not appropriate in most cases because teens grow out of their "baby fat" with time (Denise Mann). Also rhinoplasty is not appropriate for teenagers that have not grown fully into their body or do not have a significant problem, such as a bump, hook, or being too high (Denise Mann). With all of this being said there are three main things that need to be in place to have a rewarding outcome with cosmetic procedures. The teen must want it, they can't say they want a nose job one day, and then their ears pinned the next. It has to be a consistent request (Denise Mann). The teenager must also have goals that can be achieved (Denise Mann. If they have unrealistic goals, they will not be happy with any outcome. The teenager must also be mature enough to handle the procedure (Denise Mann).

With all of this being said, it is important to weigh the options. Will the procedure be worthwhile for a long time? Will it have adverse consequences with time? Is it going to be something they regret years from now?

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, "2008 Statistics". The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Denise Mann, "Is Plastic Surgery a Teen Thing". MedicineNet

Stacy Stryer, M.D., "Should Teens Have Plastic Surgery? A Pediatrician's Perspective". Revolution Health Group