In 2014, teenagers underwent more than 224,000 cosmetic procedures.
People between the ages of 13 and 19 are getting more cosmetic surgery every year. In 2013, doctors performed more than 219,000 procedures on patients in this age group. Kylie Jenner, of Keeping Up with the Kardashians fame, recently admitted, after much speculation, that she did undergo lip enhancement injections at age 17.
While the trend is moving in a clear direction, there are several things teenaged patients and their parents should consider before they consent to cosmetic surgery.
There are significant differences between adults interested in plastic surgery and the average teenager. Last year, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation were the most popular plastic surgeries among teenagers. However, teenagers’ bodies—and how they view themselves—mature as they age. It’s important to understand the age at which the part of the body in question stops growing, as different parts of us grow at different rates. Most young women tend to gain weight between the ages of 18 and 21. Their bodies don’t really come into their own before this time, so someone who wants to have breast implants at 16, for example, may feel differently at 22 once she sees how her body matures.
It’s also important to understand the teen’s motivation for having plastic surgery and to weigh their concern against the normal angst all adolescents normally feel from time to time. It’s so hard to grow up in today’s world of selfie pics, where teenagers measure their attractiveness by their number of Facebook and Instagram likes. However, as surgeons it’s our job to make sure that a teen who comes into our office is there for the right reasons and that their level of concern actually matches the severity of the visible deformity.
If a teenaged patient expresses a great deal of concern and emotional disturbance over what is really a very small problem, we need to have a deeper conversation. Body dysphoria is a real issue and if someone has severe and unwarranted negative feelings about the way the look, that needs to be addressed before they proceed with surgery. This is why any ethical provider of aesthetic services should carefully screen patients before they go under the knife.
As an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon and a father of a young teenage girl, I know firsthand that many teenaged patients typically don’t have the emotional maturity and life perspective necessary to deal with the psychological, emotional, and physical stresses of surgery and the limitations of the procedures. They also aren’t fully aware of the risks and long-term investment of plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is still surgery and some young people aren’t prepared for the post-surgical pain they’ll feel after a procedure. Rarely, there also could be complications or a need for corrective procedures. Most breast implants last between 10-15 years. If a teenager has breast implants, for example, she may need to replace them in her 30s if they rupture or if the connective tissue surrounding the implant shrinks.
Getting plastic surgery is a very important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If a young man or woman under the age of 18 wants to get plastic surgery, parental consent is required. Parents and their children in this situation need to do their research before choosing a surgeon, understand the risks of the procedure and the potential results. Cosmetic surgery can make teenagers and adults feel more self-confident, especially if they have a physical deformity that needs to be corrected. However, it isn’t a solution if there’s an underlying emotional issue.
For some teens, plastic surgery may not be necessary, especially as they mature and feel more comfortable with their bodies. These procedures aren’t going anywhere, so in some cases it may be better to consider cosmetic surgery when you’re 26 as opposed to when you’re 16. But whatever you decide, make the best and most informed decision because you’ll have to live with the results.
