Plastic Surgery for Teen Girls: Is it right for your daughter?

February 8, 2010 by Elizabeth Donovan, M. A.
Filed under Health & Body, Hot Pink Topic

Nips, tucks, and lifts have become commonplace in our society among adults, and in particular, women. Women spend an estimated $300 million on cosmetic surgery each year in the United States. Yet, a desire to find the fountain of youth has led some women to extremes and others to invest in cosmetic surgery procedures for their daughters. A study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) found that more than 219,000 plastic surgery procedures were performed on teenagers age 13-19 in 2008. Numbers that continue to grow with each passing year.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, adults and teens usually have two very different psychological motivations for seeking cosmetic surgery. Adults usually have plastic surgery to correct parts of themselves they feel are flawed. Teenagers, on the other hand, usually desire surgery to “fit in” with their peer group. Teenage girls want to look “similar” to other girls while women usually have plastic surgery to “standout” from their peers. This can make it difficult to determine whether or not teenage girls want or need cosmetic surgery.

Though plastic surgery for teens was once scorned by the masses, it is now becoming more acceptable for girls under the age of 18 to change their appearance with a nip or a tuck. And parents who once would never have considered cosmetic procedures for their daughters are finding it easier to come to grips with the fact that the quest for beauty has trickled down to the youngest generation. Girls nowadays who want a nose like Twilight’s Kristen Stewart or a D cup like Jessica Simpson, have access to some of the top plastic surgeons in the country. What was once a distant dream for young girls is now a reality with enough courage, cash, and parental permission. The question then becomes, should your daughter have cosmetic surgery and is she psychologically ready for it?

Is Your Daughter a Good Candidate for Cosmetic Surgery?

Despite the psychological challenges of operating on young patients, there are plastic surgeons who set limits when operating on girls under the age of 18. Many are only willing to operate on girls who would benefit psychologically from specific procedures. “Whenever we’ve operated on a patient under age 18, it was always because of physical issues or deformities and/or psychological issues,”explains Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour, founder of Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgical Group. “If a young female has a large nose or very large breasts, and is self conscious about her looks, experiencing anxiety, will not go out in public or attend school events, and/or is becoming anti-social, that is the right type of candidate for surgery.”

On the other hand, there are many girls who are interested in plastic surgery for the wrong reasons – and the results can prove disastrous for both parents and their daughters. John Mathews* was shocked when he found out his then sixteen-year-old daughter was granted permission by her mother to get a breast augmentation for her birthday gift. “I was extremely upset when I became aware of the ‘Birthday Gift’,” says Mathews. “My daughter was living with her mother out of state. After she received her breast enlargement gift, she was immediately working at Hooters,” confides Mathews. He found himself unsettled and confused about the sudden change in negative behavior from his once honor roll student. After the downward spiral his daughter took after having her breast augmentation, Mathews had a word of advice for parents contemplating whether or not to let their daughters go under the knife, “First and foremost, make sure the child is ready for the changes that are going to take place and when dealing with your teenager be her parent not her best friend.”

Many cosmetic surgeons agree. Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour believes it’s extremely important to consider the stage of physical and psychological maturity of young girls in mind. He emphasizes that there are “wrong” reasons to have surgery occurs “when surgery is being sought where there are no psychological effects or any physical need for the procedure, and it’s done just because she [the patient] wants it,” says Dr. Forouzanpour. “If a young female just wants bigger breasts for aesthetic reasons, then she absolutely would be the wrong candidate for plastic surgery.”

Are there Benefits of Cosmetic Surgery for Teens?

There are times and circumstances when plastic surgery may be a viable option for your daughter and can even help increase her self esteem. Stacie Keegan’s* 15-year-old daughter struggled with managing DD breasts and a 115 pound frame. She constantly found herself riddled with back and neck pain, unwelcome comments, difficulty playing sports, and trying to hide her large breasts by wearing clothing that was too big for her. After watching her daughter struggle with such difficult issues and the constant barrage on her daughter’s self-esteem, Keegan decided to allow her daughter to have a breast reduction – but the decision was not an easy one. “I wanted her to wait until she was older and could make a more mature decision. I was afraid that they would continue to grow and she would end up with disfigured breasts. I was afraid of her having surgery with all the risks involved, anesthesia, infection, etc. It took me about a full year of her begging,” confides Keegan. Keegan finally realized that her daughter was living with chronic pain and feared her daughter would become depressed if nothing was done. She knew it was time to ‘take action.’ Upon interviewing five cosmetic surgeons, she and her daughter settled on one and the results were amazing. “Her breasts are beautiful, just beautiful, in shape and in size (a big B),” says Keegan. “I can’t tell you how happy she is! She wants to join the swim team again this coming summer and is enjoying wearing more stylish clothes.” Both Keegan and her daughter say they would do it all over again.

A Word of Advice for Parents and their Daughters Seeking Plastic Surgery:

Experts agree that self esteem can be greatly increased if the procedure is appropriate and the reasons for the surgery are sound. “Surgical intervention is something that can greatly enhance a young woman’s self worth,” acknowledges Dr. Forouzanpour. But all cosmetic surgical procedures are just that – surgical procedures- that come with real risks as well as benefits. Giving your daughter a nose job for a gift is probably not a good enough reason to put her under the knife. But a procedure that corrects deformities or alleviates pain and discomfort, may have merit. In either case, it’s important for parents to remember that all plastic surgery comes with real risks. If not done right, surgery can result in disfigurement, and in rare cases, even death.

Dr. Forouzanpour encourages parents to help their daughters make a good, sound choice based on maturity, psychological condition, and common sense. “Communication and keeping an open mind are both very important,” says Forouzanpour. “Talk to your daughter and try to understand the real reason behind her desire for the surgical procedure.” Parents should also seek consultation from several qualified doctors and check to see whether or not their insurance will cover the cost (for some procedures, insurance will cover some or all of the cost of the procedure if they deem it medically necessary). And remember, any type of surgery is potentially putting your daughter’s health at stake. Do your homework, find a skilled surgeon, and be willing to say “no” to your daughter if she wants surgery for the ‘wrong’ reasons.

*Names have been changed to protect parents and their daughter’s identities.