Being the thin high school cheerleader with radiant skin and perfect cleavage might seem like the most important thing in life when you are 16, but unfortunately, as with other things, the desire comes before the understanding necessary to put our options into perspective.
With all of the hype in the media pushing images of supermodels and movie stars, more and more teenagers are looking to plastic surgery as a quick fix to popularity or to boost self-esteem. The question is, how young is too young for plastic surgery?
The enormous popularity of reality TV shows such as "Extreme Makeover," "The Swan" and MTV's "I Want a Famous Face," as well as an explosion of websites that promote cosmetic medicine, has fueled the desire of teenage girls to alter their bodies permanently. At an age where teenagers are trying to figure out “Who am I?”, it is important to not let the question be replaced with another- “What image do I want to project?”
The idea that plastic surgery can transform your looks and therefore your life is one that can be very captivating to this young audience.
The problem is that many teenage girls, who tend to be both preoccupied and often dissatisfied with their looks, are too young and shortsighted to understand the long term implications of surgery, particularly the risks that implants may pose and the long-term maintenance they require. Among them are the possibility of rupture or permanent scarring, the need for periodic operations to replace or remove the devices, potential interference with breast-feeding and mammography, and unresolved questions about their long-term safety.
Although there is no prohibition against performing implant surgery on patients younger than 18, some surgeons (including myself) are reluctant to do so in part because these young women's breasts may still be growing. Sometimes doctors will perform the surgery in cases where one breast is larger than the other or in an older teenager who has no breast development.
But the overriding issue is whether the patient has the maturity and understanding necessary to take on the risks of surgery, the recovery period, and the maintenance required to keep their outcome at its best.
Making the decision to undergo plastic surgery isn’t as simple as deciding what shirt to wear, which boy to date or what to have for lunch.
There are many factors involved that require a great sense of maturity to understand the gravity of the process. Educating yourself properly on the procedure and risks involved, choosing the best surgeon to perform the surgery, having realistic expectations for what can be done and maintaining proper care after the procedure is complete are ALL vital aspects that cannot be emphasized enough when planning a surgery at any age.
I do believe that with the appropriate education, a healthy perspective, reasonable goals, and a clear understanding of the long term implications of your choices, plastic surgery can be a very positive endeavor. But those pre-requisites are very important to your own satisfaction.
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