Aesthetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular among teenagers. This is not to say that every teenager is an appropriate candidate for aesthetic surgery. In general, teenagers can be more prone than adults to unrealistic expectations. They may also lack the level of maturity necessary to make good decisions regarding their need or desire for aesthetic surgery. However, there is no stereotypical teenager. Each teenage patient must be considered on an individual basis.
It is recommended that aesthetic surgeons give their teenage patients and parents a little more time than what is usually required with adult patients. Surgeons need to get to know their patients and understand why they are requesting aesthetic surgery. They need to make sure that everyone in the family understands what the surgery involves. For example, ask the patient what his or her expectations are and determine if those expectations are realistic. Finally, ask them to go home, discuss it with their parents some more, and really consider all the ramifications of the surgery. On their next visit, if the patients are truly convinced that aesthetic surgery is what they want, and they convince the doctor they have the proper level of maturity to make that decision, then they can proceed.
Some of the more common procedures requested by teenagers include: rhinoplasty (nose jobs), liposuction, breast reduction, breast augmentation (the use of implants to enlarge the breasts), and, occasionally, otoplasty (correcting the ears so that they do not extremely protrude). With the exception of breast augmentation, all of these procedures may be appropriate for teenagers. Breast augmentation is typically unadvisable until the child has reached at least 18 years of age.
Rhinoplasty involves shaping the nose so that it better complements the overall facial architecture. Therefore, each rhinoplasty is highly individualized. In general, the procedure may involve taking down a hump on the dorsum (the upper surface) of the nose, redefining the tip, and correcting any problems with the septum (the partition of cartilage and bone between the nasal passages). Boys are appropriate candidates for rhinoplasty around the age of 16 or 17. Because they physically mature earlier, girls are appropriate candidates around the age of 14 or 15.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure used to sculpt the body into a more aesthetically pleasing shape. It is not a substitute for proper nutrition and regular exercise. It is also not for someone who wants to drop down five dress sizes. Liposuction can effectively correct problems areas such as saddlebags or love handles that no amount of dieting and exercise seems to reduce. For some patients, liposuction can enable them to wear a wider range of fashions and clothes, enhancing their appearance and self-esteem.
Although the surgical procedures are different, breast reductions are performed on both teenage boys and girls. In boys around 12 or 13 years of age, we sometimes see a disorder called gynecomastia, which is an abnormal enlargement of the breasts. Gynecomastia will often go away in a few years without treatment. When it does not, liposuction can be used to reduce the size of the breasts and give them a more natural masculine shape. For teenage girls, extremely large breasts can be both physically and socially incapacitating. Breast reduction for women is a serious procedure. Therefore, it’s better to wait until girls are around 16 years of age before the procedure is performed. If the decision is made to undergo breast reduction, the satisfaction rate is extremely high in both male and female patients.
