Sue Scheff: Plastic Surgery and Teens

When you hear about plastic surgery, do you think of teenagers? Plastic surgery is commonly heard about in Hollywood with many celebrities, however today we are hearing more and more about it with not only adults, now with teens.

There are definitely some cases of plastic surgery that can physically and emotionally help a teenager. NBC's Today Show contributor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman listed some valid reasons. Take a moment to watch the video. Whether it is a breast reduction for health reasons or extreme circumstances of bullying due to a physical disfigurement, Dr. Syderman explains that in some cases, teen plastic surgery is acceptable.

The most common procedures teens choose include nose reshaping, ear surgery, acne and acne scar treatment, and breast reduction.

KidsHealth.org has listed some reasons why teens consider plastic surgery:

1. Almost all teens (and many adults) are self-conscious about their bodies. Almost everyone wishes there were a thing or two that could be changed. A lot of this self-consciousness goes away with time. Ask yourself if you're considering plastic surgery because you want it for yourself or whether it's to please someone else.
2. A person's body continues to change through the teen years. Body parts that might appear too large or too small now can become more proportionate over time. Sometimes, for example, what seems like a big nose looks more the right size as the rest of the person's face catches up during growth.
3. Getting in good shape through appropriate weight control and exercise can do great things for a person's looks without surgery. It's never a good idea to choose plastic surgery as a first option for something like weight loss that can be corrected in a nonsurgical manner. Gastric bypass or liposuction may seem like quick and easy fixes compared with sticking to a diet. Both of these procedures, however, carry far greater risks than dieting, and doctors should reserve them for extreme cases when all other options have failed.

Some people's emotions have a really big effect on how they think they look. People who are depressed, extremely self-critical, or have a distorted view of what they really look like sometimes think that changing their looks will solve their problems. In these cases, it won't. Working out the emotional problem with the help of a trained therapist is a better bet. In fact, many doctors won't perform plastic surgery on teens who are depressed or have other mental health problems until these problems are treated first.

Source: KidsHealth for Teens

As with many aspects of parenting, communication is key. If your teen has asked about having plastic surgery, listen to them. Find out the reasons why. Is it medically necessary. Are they being bullied, teased or do they feel less confident, struggling with depression over a disfigurement or are they trying to look like the next Britney Spears?

In 2008 in Palm Beach County, Florida, 18 year-old, Stephanie Kuleba, a West Boca High School student, lost her life after undergoing a breast augmentation surgery. Kuleba was undergoing surgery to correct asymmetrical breasts and an inverted areola. Doctors believe this tragedy was due to a fatal reaction to anesthesia during the surgery. - GMA reported on this story in March 208

Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens both emotionally and physically.
Read more - click here.