Tips: Teens and Plastic Surgery

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons strongly believes that no one younger than 18 should undergo plastic surgery. Plenty of teens express a desire to change something about their faces and bodies. Before you give them permission (and the money) to go forward, consider these points:

• Find out why your kid wants surgery. To be more popular? To look like a favorite celeb? Once you get answers, you may discover your teen is just buying into a current media-fueled trend. Or you may find that he or she does need help, just not from a surgeon. Consult a mental health professional if you feel the issue runs deeper than you can handle.
• Check yourself, too. Doctors say a parent who is overly enthusiastic about a child’s plastic surgery is a red flag.
• Consult experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons. A reputable doctor can help you determine if a surgery is appropriate for your teen.

When Courtney Powers graduated from high school last year, she didn’t receive a new computer or a trip to Europe. The North Carolina teen got a pair of D-cup breast implants. Powers earned half the money for the surgery by working at a bowling alley and baby-sitting. Her parents chipped in the rest as a graduation gift.

“My breasts hadn’t grown since I was 16,” says Powers, who underwent cosmetic surgery two days after her 18th birthday. “I was a 36AA and my mom and dad knew I was very self-conscious.”