Teenage Cosmetic Surgery Case Study

The number of teenagers requesting and having cosmetic surgeries has increased dramatically over the last decade. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) statistics, 63,623 cosmetic surgical procedures were performed on people age 13-19 in 2013. Very few studies examine the risks and complications of these surgeries on adolescents. Teenage cosmetic surgery is known as surgery that modifies or improves the appearance of a physical feature, irregularity, or defect, performed on teens aged between 13 and 19. There is no doubt that cosmetic surgery can correct dysfunctional areas of the body due to burns, disease and disorders. However, there is a thin line between correcting and changing the appearance completely, especially when

The adolescent body image is continually developing during this period. In the case of breast augmentation for example, the FDA approved silicone breast implants only for women aged 22 or older. They pointed out that breast development can continue into the late teens and early 20s (Department of Health and Human Services. 2006). In addition, normal weight gain between the ages of 18 to 21 may increase fat in areas that can be considered for liposuction, when in fact all they need is some exercise and a healthy diet (Zuckerman, D. 2008). The possibility of weight gain during the late teenage years raises questions about whether having cosmetic surgeries should be delayed. Another fact to be considered by teenagers before having cosmetic surgery is the likelihood of having long-term complications. When it comes to breast augmentation, the medical risks increase after having the surgery. Studies indicate that breast implants can sometimes lead to failure to detect around 55% of breast tumors during mammography (Zuckerman, D.

Teenagers have become victims of the media that feeds them with the idea that they must look like models in order to be beautiful. And cosmetic surgery is considered to be the way to deal with low self-esteem and confidence problems The ultimate role of plastic surgery has been described as “to alter the patient’s body image, and thus to improve the patient’s quality of life”, says Mary McGrath, plastic surgeon specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. However, a longitudinal study that examined the case of Norwegian males and females aged 13 to 30, found a dramatic growth in self-satisfaction as the participants got through with teenage years. This indicates that teenagers who are going through a hard time when it comes to self-esteem and body image will feel more satisfied as they grow older. “As teens mature, their body image tend to improve regardless of whether they undergo plastic surgery”, says Diana. After all, self-esteem cannot be cured with a scalpel (Sweeny, C. 2009). On the other hand, studies have found a relation between cosmetic surgery and some mental health problems. According to the NCBI, six long-term retrospective studies have consistently suggested an increased risk of