What If Your Child or Teen Wants Plastic Surgery?

Although plastic surgery is often perceived as something that is sought after if one wants to turn back the hands of time, we have noticed an increasing trend of children and teens who are also seeking cosmetic procedures here at our Bay Area plastic surgery practice.

Is this a good thing? Or it it something that everyone should be alarmed about? It all depends on the circumstances or reasons behind a child or teen’s desire to have plastic surgery. A parent seeking plastic surgery for a child who have too little or too large ears is actually a good thing as this can prevent future cases of bullying. On the other hand, a teen wanting liposuction may not be really a good idea at all as there is still a huge chance that they will lose the “baby fat” through diet and exercise as they reach adulthood.

Common Plastic Surgery Procedures for Children and Teens

The following plastic surgery procedures are considered appropriate for those who are below 18 years old and are commonly performed among children and teens:

• Otoplasty – This is also known as ear pinning surgery. This procedure is recommended to correct ear deformities in children. By and large, ear pinning is performed by the time the child’s ears has fully matured at age 5 or 6. It is also best to have this procedure done before the child enters school to eliminate possibilities of bullying.
• Rhinoplasty – Like otoplasty, rhinoplasty or nose reshaping surgery may be done in teens to prevent future incidences of bullying. In fact, a recent article by The Daily Mail talked about how a New York non-profit organization granted a free rhinoplasty procedure to a 15-year old who have been bullied as “the girl with a big nose” at school.
• Male breast reduction – Gynecomastia or excessive breast development is common among male teens brought about by hormonal shifts. In fact, it has been recently found out in a study that persistent breast enlargement has negative psychological effects (notably reduced self-esteem) among male adolescents. Thus, male breast reduction may be performed to improve quality of life.

Evaluating Teens for Plastic Surgery

If you’re a parent with a teen daughter or son who wants to have plastic surgery to improve their appearance, it is best for you to consider the following:

• Physical maturity of the body part or feature that the teen wants to improve
• Emotional maturity of your child and his or her expecations of the procedure
• Risks of the procedure
• Requirements for recovery
• Credentials of the plastic surgeon, particularly solid experience in performing teen plastic surgery

To learn more about plastic surgery in children and teens, we encourage you to get in touch with Dr. Lavey for a personal consultation. Call us at 925.820.3633 or fill out this contact form to set up an appointment. We look forward to your visit!