Natalie Terry
English 1010
Research Paper
Mirror Mirror
Is cosmetic (plastic) surgery for teenagers the right answer?
As I was thinking of a topic to write about I saw my 15 year old daughter looking at
herself in the mirror and I started to wondered if she was thinking “am I pretty enough.” I think
she is beautiful and tell her so often. In an article by Victoria Thompson she states, “Most teens
love looking in the mirror, spending hours in front of it experimenting with hairstyles, makeup,
and fashion. But thousands of them are so deeply dissatisfied by what they see each year that
they try to permanently change the image reflected in the glass through plastic surgery.”
(Thompson) A Discovery Health writer explains, “It is hard to find teens who are completely
content with their faces and physiques. Add the misery of peer teasing to the mix and many a
youth might jump at a perceived fast fix for their “flawed” body parts.” (writer)
Observing my daughter I started thinking “why would a teen that is not fully matured
have cosmetic surgery?”
The answers vary from individual to individual. According to teens.webmd.com, “Teens
seek plastic surgery for many reasons. One reason many cite is that young people can be cruel,
whether intentionally or not. Most teens seek plastic surgery to improve their appearance or to
increase self-esteem”. (teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery)
One answer why they are turning to cosmetic surgery is stated in Faze Magazine’s article
by Liane Beam Wansbrough, where she states, “visibility: today’s teenagers are growing up with
parents who have had cosmetic surgery, so they see and hear about it more. The media has also
done a good job of making people aware of the procedures available”. (Wansbrough)
So what are the plastic surgeries being performed on teens? We have talked about a couple
of procedures. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery states the most common
surgeries are:

Otoplasty: Ear surgery. Ear surgery is most often recommended for children as they near
total ear development at age five or six. Corrections of the ears prior to the child entering
school helps eliminate potential psychological trauma from teasing of classmates.

Rhinoplasty: Nose reshaping is the most requested aesthetic surgical procedure by teens.
It can be completed when the nose has completed 90 percent of its growth, which can
occur as early as age 13 or 14 in girls and 15 or 16 in boys.

Breast reduction: Breast reduction is frequently performed on girls with overly large
breasts that may cause back and should pain, as well as restrict physical activity. Breast
reduction is usually delayed until the breasts have reached full development.

Correction of breast asymmetry: Surgery can be performed when one breast significantly
differs from the other either in size or shape. Except in cases of asymmetry and post
trauma reconstruction, federal regulations prohibit breast implants for those under 18.

Treatment of Gynecomastia: In some teenage boys, excessive breast development
(gynecomastia) can become a significant psychosocial problem. Excess tissue can be
removed to achieve a more masculine body contour. (ASAPS)
Now I must ask myself “would my teen daughter be a good candidate for cosmetic surgery?”
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery offers these guidelines for evaluating
teenagers who are considering plastic surgery:

Assess Physical Maturity: Operating on a feature that has not yet fully developed could
interfere with its growth, and continued growth could negate the benefits of surgery in
later years.

Explore emotional maturity and expectations: As with any patient, the young person
should appreciate the benefits and limitations of the proposed surgery, and have realistic
expectations.

Check Credentials: State laws permit any licensed physician to call themselves a
“plastic” or “cosmetic” surgeon even if not trained as a surgeon. Look for certification
by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. If the doctor operates in an ambulatory or
office-based facility, their facility should be accredited. Additionally, the surgeon should
have operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure being
considered.

Explore risk and expected recovery times: Teens and their parents should understand the
risks of surgery, postoperative restrictions on activity, and typical recovery times.
(ASAPS)
If my daughter were to come to me and request cosmetic surgery what could I tell her are the
positive and negative benefits of the surgery?
I would have to start be making sure she understands there are risks to any surgery.
According to Linda Ray of LIVESTRONG.COM, “Any cut on the skin is likely to leave a scar.
Most procedures take this into account and skilled cosmetic surgeons take great pains to hide
scars in little seen areas” (Ray) There is the risk of infection, blood clots, and risks with
anesthesia.
She should understand that it will take time to heal. Depending on the surgery she will need
“time off to heal and to be comfortable being seen in public. Healing time may take up to two or
three weeks to return to school or everyday activities” (Ray)
According to Linda Ray she should know, “for the most part patients felt better about
themselves following plastic surgery. Patients reported a boost in self-image and overall wellbeing”. (Ray) Studies have also shown, “negative responses from those who had high
expectations that were not fulfilled by the cosmetic procedure. Others experienced periods of
depression, isolation and anger towards their doctors”. (Ray)
Not coming from a wealthy family it would be important for her to know. “Plastic surgery
can be expensive and is usually not covered by medical insurance”. (Coila)
Most importantly I would want her to realize “plastic surgery will not solve all your
problems. Plastic surgery will not make you a different person. Plastic surgery won’t make
people like you. It won’t make you popular at school. Although your looks can influence some
of you success in life, they will only get you so far. Strive to learn and improve yourself from
within. If people judge you for your looks or clothes, they probably aren’t true friends.”
(teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery)
Boy! What if she chooses to go ahead and have plastic surgery? She should choose the right
surgeon. “A board-certified plastic surgeon can help give a realistic picture of what to expect.”
(teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery) She should be prepared to ask the surgeon:
1. The surgeon’s training
2. How many procedures has he or she done
3. How many are done annually
4. What the results have been
5. Ask to speak to former teen patients or to see “before and after” pictures from past cases
(teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery)
I do feel there are times when a teen would want to have cosmetic surgery. Laura T. Coffey
a TODAY contributor states, “When a teen seeks out plastic surgery to correct a noticeable
physical defect or to change a body part that’s caused prolonged psychological distress that can
be a good thing”. (Coffey) She also goes on to say, “doctors say it is no different than kids
getting braces for crooked teeth”. (Coffey)I would like to share a couple of stories of teens who
opted for cosmetic surgery. I grew up with a boy who was born with a very big chin it made life
very difficult for him. He endured much teasing from kids at school who did not know him. His
family could not afford plastic surgery until he was in the fifth grade. I remember the difference
when he came back to school and the self-esteem he had from that point on. I also feel it is best
for a teen to have breast augmentation if she is not able to do normal activity because of the size
or shape of her breast. My niece was very misshapen and very large. She was not able to buy
clothes that would fit across her front. She and her parents chose to have breast reduction and
reshaping surgery. After the surgery her self-esteem was much higher and she felt more
comfortable participating in actives with her friends.
Were these two plastic surgeries a big deal? Yes. They made a huge impact on their lives. A
lot of teens feel or believe plastic surgery is not a big deal. But as Jillian Bietz from Families on
Line Magazine explains, “Teens are not mature enough to make such a life altering decision. If
teens feel inadequate before surgery, they will most likely feel disappointed afterwards. Not
only is surgery complex and risky for mature adults, it is extremely perilous for younger people”.
(Bietz)
In conclusion, you can see there is a lot to consider when your teen wants plastic surgery.
But, “knowledge is power. After researching all your options, you may realize you don’t need
plastic surgery”. (teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery) I truly believe parents should not
encourage plastic surgery but we should help to build children’s confidence by encouraging them
and loving them for who they are.
Bibliography
ASAPS. surgery.org/media/news-releases/teens-and-plastic-surgery. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Bietz, Jilliam. www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/child-development/teens-plastic-surgery.html. 2010. 31
01 2013.
Coffey, Laura T. NBCNews.com. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Coila, Bridget. LIVESTRONG.COM. 4 MAY 2011. 28 01 201.
Ray, Linda. LIVESTRONG.COM. 12 05 2011. 28 01 13.
teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Thompson, Victoria. abcnews.go.com. 24 Nov 2010. 28 01 2013.
Wansbrough, Liane Beam. www.faze.ca/issue13/teen_cosmetic_surgery.html. n.d. 29 01 2013.
writer, DiscoveryHealth.com. tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/are-teens.too-young-to-go-under-theknife.htm. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Works Cited
ASAPS. surgery.org/media/news-releases/teens-and-plastic-surgery. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Bietz, Jilliam. www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/child-development/teens-plastic-surgery.html. 2010. 31
01 2013.
Coffey, Laura T. NBCNews.com. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Coila, Bridget. LIVESTRONG.COM. 4 MAY 2011. 28 01 201.
Ray, Linda. LIVESTRONG.COM. 12 05 2011. 28 01 13.
teens.webmd.com/teens-plastic-surgery. n.d. 29 01 2013.
Thompson, Victoria. abcnews.go.com. 24 Nov 2010. 28 01 2013.
Wansbrough, Liane Beam. www.faze.ca/issue13/teen_cosmetic_surgery.html. n.d. 29 01 2013.
writer, DiscoveryHealth.com. tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/are-teens.too-young-to-go-under-theknife.htm. n.d. 29 01 2013.