Is Plastic Surgery a Teen Thing?

Emily was always made fun of for her rather large nose. Then the summer before her senior year of high school, she got a nose job. All of a sudden, the same boys who called her Pinocchio and some other not-so-nice names were asking her out.

Sixteen-year-old Kimberly's triple D breasts may have gotten the boy's attention, but they made exercise -- and even walking -- painful. But a breast reduction has changed her life. Now she can exercise freely -- even jog without the back and neck pain that her large breasts once caused.

For teens like Emily and Kimberly, cosmetic surgery can be a godsend. But for others such as those who are urged by their parents, it may be ill-advised, prominent plastic surgeons tell WebMD. The key is making sure that the teen is emotionally and physically mature enough to undergo the chosen procedure.

Chemical Peels to Liposuction

For a whole slew of reasons -- from its relative safety to its acceptance in society -- plastic surgery is popular among people of all ages. The number of kids 18 and under having plastic surgery rose from just under 60,000 in 1997 to nearly 225,000 in 2003, according to statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

A report that looked at eight years' worth of data on teenagers found that the most common cosmetic procedures in teens are chemical peels and microdermabrasion to treat acne, laser hair removal, nose jobs, ear surgery, breast reduction, breast enlargement, chin augmentation, and liposuction to remove excess body fat.

In 2000, about 50,000 teens had chemical peels, and more than 21,000 underwent microdermabrasion. More than 15,000 teens aged 18 or younger had nose jobs, and almost 12,000 underwent procedures called otoplasty or ear surgery for protruding ears.

Male breast reduction was done in more than 2,200 young men with a condition called gynecomastia or male breasts, while more than 2,100 girls in this age group had breast enlargements -- some of which are done to correct uneven breasts. Liposuction to reduce fat deposits in the trunk or chin was done in more than 6,200 people aged 18 or younger in 2000.

Why Teens Turn to Plastic Surgery

There are many reasons that plastic surgery is increasingly accepted among all ages, from teens on up.

"First, the surgery is safe; there are very few significant complications. Second, our society places a high premium on physical attractiveness and rewards those who are slender, youthful and handsome," conclude study authors Mary H. McGrath, MD, MPH, and Sanjay Mukerji, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgeons at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, in a recent issue of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

"Third, we live in a culture that emphasizes competition and legitimizes self-improvement as a way to gain a competitive edge and lastly, plastic surgery lives up to its expectations."

In places like Brazil, sometimes called the new capital of plastic surgery, nips and tucks are fairly common -- especially among beauty pageant contestants. Juliana Borges, 22, the new Miss Brazil who competed in the recent Miss Universe pageant, had plastic surgery four times and underwent 19 smaller cosmetic procedures. Borges had liposuction, chin surgery, fixed her nose and ears, and also had breast implants. In fact, some were suggesting that if she did win the Miss Universe title (Miss Puerto Rico won), the accolades should really have gone to her plastic surgeon.