American Teenagers and Plastic Surgery

American Teenagers and Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is not a new field of medicine. Traditionally, plastic surgery dealt with fixing abnormalities of the body, but recently people are enjoying the luxury of plastic surgery simply because they are not happy with their appearance. People make appointments with plastic surgeons for procedures such as rhinoplasty, liposuction, tummy tucks, face lifts, and most commonly breast augmentation. These people look forward to desired results from such procedures without considering the risks. Many risks accompany plastic surgery, but they are rarely discussed in the media. Death is even a possible conclusion of the surgery. Why would people subject themselves to such conditions as having their face swollen for weeks, barely being able to walk, and the excruciating pain that comes after they awaken from surgery? Even more important is the question, why are teenagers becoming more and more eager to get plastic surgery operations performed on themselves?

Sometimes teenagers have certain features that can benefit from plastic surgery, but most of the time society makes teenagers have an altered sense of the perfect body image. In reality, the perfect body image is something that does not exist. Plastic surgeons comment about how common it is to meet a young patient who would like to have features of their favorite celebrities. Young women want Jennifer Lopez’s bottom, Jennifer Aniston’s nose, and Britney Spears’ facial features. Young men would like to have Brad Pitt’s facial features. To me, such expectations seem implausible. God made me the way I am. I would not change a thing. But I am sure that at one time the teenagers who are receiving these procedures believed th...

... middle of paper ...

... life is simply to learn to love yourself just the way you are. So the bottom line is: Teenagers should be educated by society on the dangers of plastic surgery. They should be aware of the bad as well as the good. But, when it comes down to the decision whether or not to have plastic surgery, I hope that teenagers will use their better judgment and not the judgment of other people as a factor.

Works Cited

Bermant, Michael, “Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in Teens.” American Board of Plastic

Surgery (2004). 31 Aug. 2004 <http://www.keepmedia.com/Healthday.html>.

Davis, Robert, “Teens' cosmetic dreams don't always come true.” USA Today

(2004). 2 Oct. 2004 <http://www.keepmedia.com/USATODAY.html>.

Dolan, Deidre, “The Kindest Cut: Teens and Plastic Surgery.” The New York Observer

(2004). 4 Oct. 2004 <http://www.keepmedia.com/Register.oli.html>.