Cosmetic Surgery and its Adverse Effects on Teenagers: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Cosmetic surgery, once a procedure reserved only for the extremely famous or wealthy, has been widely accessible by the general public for decades. In particular, many teenagers are opting to have cosmetic surgery, especially after being dazzled by television shows that put cosmetic surgery in an overwhelmingly positive light. However, the mangling of a young adult’s body, in addition to the vanity that cosmetic surgery brings, is simply not acceptable, especially for young people, who have their whole lives ahead of them. Allowing teenagers to surgically modify their bodies however they wish creates bad habits that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. While it would be foolish to deny anyone the right to modify their bodies as they see fit, it is logical to force most teenagers to wait until a certain age before engaging in cosmetic surgery procedures.

Cosmetic Surgery and its Adverse Effects on Teenagers

Contrary to what is often shown on television, cosmetic surgery is actually a grueling, and dangerous, process. Many people only choose to have cosmetic surgery performed because they have self-esteem issues or a medical defect that prevents them from being able to easily operate in society. Whatever the reason, cosmetic surgery involves far more invasive procedures than many teenagers would like to believe. Aside from the obvious scarring, cosmetic surgery can cause a host of other problems, such as blood clots, asymmetry, and, in some cases, serious infections. A teenager who is not well-versed in cosmetic surgery might choose to ignore these side-effects and instead choose to make a decision that could haunt them for the rest of their life; all for one act of vanity.

For this reason, preventing teenagers from undergoing cosmetic surgery must begin at the educational level. That is, they must be made aware of the many downsides of cosmetic surgery. Much in the same way police officers might show teenagers the dangerous effects of drugs, it would be prudent for a cosmetic surgeon to show a class of teenagers the effects of cosmetic surgery. This would help to open their eyes and ensure that, if they do still want to go through with it, they are at least educated as to the risks and drawbacks of it. This education could also extend to other sources of pressure on a teenager's life, such as parents and teachers. Many times, teenagers opt to have cosmetic surgery performed as a result of pressure from parents. Education would help them to understand what cosmetic surgery can, and more importantly, cannot do.

Although education is an important part of keeping teenagers informed as to the risks and drawbacks of cosmetic surgery, it is also necessary to educate the source of much of the exposure that teenagers have to cosmetic surgery: television. To this end, Frederick N. Lukash, MD (2007) explains in an article the importance of education on both the personal and media-wide scales. “The media must be educated on the risks, benefits, and outcomes of plastic surgery, and the depth and breadth of the specialty. If the media paid more attention to plastic surgery's reconstructive aspects, then perhaps a board-certified plastic surgeon would receive more respect and his opinions would be more valued (p.2).” Lukash is saying that many plastic surgeons don’t get the respect they deserve because their field is muddled by people who do not, strictly speaking, need their services. In short, these plastic surgeons are not really saving lives, or even, some would argue, helping people. By imposing education requirements on both teenager and mass-media, these surgeons might be more credible, as they would have more clients who require their services for actual reconstructive purposes, instead of purely cosmetic. Lukash also adds that “teens must be taught that plastic surgery is not a panacea for the everyday angst of adolescence (p.2).” Lukash is saying that cosmetic issues are simply that: cosmetic. Cosmetic surgery will not fix other problems in a teenager’s life. The main benefit of cosmetic surgery, aside from the physical benefit, is the boost to self-esteem, and many times the cost and effort of cosmetic surgery are simply not worth it.

This should not give the impression that all cosmetic surgery is bad, even for teenagers. In fact, according to an article by Samantha Avezzano, Anna Bernstein, Ramses Driskell, Natasha Kirtchuk, Ebban Maeda, Elizabeth Negroii, Emily Olfson, Rachel Olfson, Dara Pohl Feldman, Jessica Weinstein, and Evan Wood (2006), many teenagers who opt to have cosmetic surgery done report a higher level of confidence than before they had the surgery. For example, one of the students they interviewed reported being made fun of in class because of her nose shape. She chose to get plastic surgery in order to correct it and explained that she felt much more confident afterward. These examples illustrate some of the rare exceptions to when cosmetic surgery is acceptable in teenagers. However, the line between what is truly necessary and what is not is a blurry one. Many times a teenager will have deformities or abnormalities that make operating in society very difficult for them, resulting in a loss of self-esteem and a general feeling of worthlessness. For them, cosmetic surgery should not be denied. The problem, of course, is in determining who really needs cosmetic surgery. One possible solution here would be to set up a psychological evaluation program for teenagers who feel that cosmetic problems with their bodies are causing them a great deal of emotional stress. If the psychologist deems it necessary, they can give the go-ahead to allow cosmetic surgery.

One issue that remains problematic for parents and cosmetic surgeons alike: peer pressure. Unfortunately, children, especially teenagers, are extremely receptive to what they see and hear from both friends and things like television shows. As a result, many teenagers have unrealistic expectations as to the realities of cosmetic surgery. For parents, this can become a nightmare if they have to cover the expenses themselves. A rhinoplasty, the most common type of cosmetic surgery, can cost upwards of $5000, and that’s one of the cheaper options for cosmetic surgery. The point is that parents simply don’t have the funds for an impressionable teenager to get a surgery they don’t really need because they saw it on television. Teenagers must be limited in their ability to receive cosmetic surgery because oftentimes it is simply not needed.

This is not to say that teenagers seeking cosmetic surgery is some sort of pandemic that is taking over the nation. On the contrary, a study by Dr. Mokhtar Asaadi found that the number of teenagers receiving cosmetic surgery is actually decreasing, in proportion to the rising population. In addition, in a study Asaadi referenced, by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) found that young adults in the 18-to-24-year-old range, the youngest of those surveyed, were actually the strongest opponents of cosmetic surgery, with a mere 48 percent approving of cosmetic surgery, compared to 60 percent of people aged 45 to 54. This is likely because of different values in the baby boomer age, in addition to the fact that many people of that age have had to undergo some form of cosmetic surgery themselves, thus increasing the percentage of people who support it.

Although cosmetic surgery in teenagers does seem to be leveling off to a degree, the fact remains that there are far too many teenagers receiving cosmetic surgery for unnecessary reasons. That ASAPS estimates about 600,000 teenagers receive cosmetic surgery each year. While some of those are no doubt for reconstructive purposes, it is certain that many are not. The most certain way to ensure teenagers do not receive cosmetic surgery that is not needed is to educate them, their parents, and the media about it. While oftentimes cosmetic surgery is a necessity, the education process would outline what criteria qualify as “necessary,” and deny cosmetic surgery to those who do not have major deformities. This keeps the cosmetic surgeries reserved for those who truly need it. Cosmetic surgery is a serious medical procedure with serious consequences and it is important for teenagers to understand and respect that.

References

Asaadi M. (2004) “Teens Under the Knife” Les Nouvelles Esthetiques p.157-159

Avezzano S., Bernstein, A., Driskell R., Kirtchuk N., Maeda E., Negroii E.,Olfson E.,Olfson R.,Feldman D.P., Weinstein J., Wood E. (2006) “Plastic Surgery Boosts Some Teens’ Self-Confidence” New York Amsterdam News 97 (35) p.18

Lukash, F. (2007) “Plastic Surgery, Teenagers, and the Media” Plastic Surgery Products p.47