Cosmetic Surgery and Teenagers

When you think of cosmetic medicine and celebrities, certain names, like Joan Rivers and Heidi Montag, instantly come to mind as they have openly admitted to having undergone plastic surgery to improve their looks. Recent news has included Charice Pempengco in the roster of famous personalities who have had cosmetic intervention. Charice, who is 18 years old, recently had Botox injections and Thermage treatments in preparation for her debut in a hit TV show. According to reports, the procedures were intended to make her face look fresh and to soften her jawline.This piece of news brought to fore the issue of cosmetic medicine and teenagers. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) disclosed that nearly 210,000 teens from 13 to 19 years of age received cosmetic plastic surgery in 2009. Despite several reports that the number of children seeking cosmetic enhancements are rising, data from the ASPS belie this assertion. According to the Plastic Surgery Statistics for 2008, there were 219,136 cosmetic procedures performed on the same age group during the said year. From the foregoing information, a slight decline in the number of teenage patients in 2009 can be observed. Despite this decrease, several people still felt outraged that the youth of today are even electing to change their appearance via cosmetic medicine.The ASPS has noted that a teenager’s motivation for seeking cosmetic surgery is most often conformity. Adolescence is a period where fitting in and belonging is important, especially in a school setting. It is when children seek approval from their peers and believe that such acceptance can be obtained, firstly, by looking “normal”. However, it cannot be ignored that part of being normal is having certain genetic traits that may make the size of the nose or the shape of the ears rather different from others.While there is no legally imposed minimum age for most plastic surgery procedures, breast augmentation being an exception where patients need to be at least 18 years old, the ASPS has provided guidelines for dealing with teenagers who may find themselves wanting to undergo cosmetic surgery.It is recommended that parents, and physicians alike, first determine the readiness of the teen. Of foremost consideration is maturity – both physically and emotionally. It is important to tell them of all the possible consequences that undergoing cosmetic procedure may entail, whether it be for the short or long term. They should be informed of the whole process involved, be told of all the steps that will be taken and be made aware of any possible complications that might arise at any stage of the procedure. This is so that the child can understand and appreciate the limitations of and the benefits that come with cosmetic medicine. This is intended to keep the child’s expectations reasonable. It is also preferred if they are the ones to broach the issue with the parents rather than the other way around.There are also a number of factors that must be considered before parents allow their children to undergo any cosmetic procedure. Primary consideration should be given to ensuring that the physician handling the case is certified and that the clinic, where the procedure will be done, is duly accredited by the government. Cosmetic procedures, being medical procedures where some may be more invasive than others, involve altering a part of a person’s body and extraordinary care must be given to these preliminary matters.As with the ASPS, the author does not have a formal stand on the issue. No indignation is directed towards the fact that a number of teens are choosing what seems to others as a drastic means to alter their appearances. Regardless of their motivation, if they are aware of and prepared to face the repercussions, then their decision should be accorded respect. As a parent of a teenager who has undergone rhinoplasty said, the confidence that the improved look gave the child was something that nothing else was able to provide. It gave the child the opportunity to enjoy adolescence without taunts and insecurities. Now, how can anyone argue with that?