Does Social Media Affect Teens decision to go under the knife?
With Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other forms of social media becoming more and more widespread, teenagers are exposed to a wider group of people and opinions than ever before. While this has some positive aspects, it has also made many teens more vulnerable to cyber-bullying from strangers and they face greater pressure about their appearance. Teenagers are comparing themselves, and being compared, to movie and TV stars in ways that are unprecedented. The rise of shows, articles and activities exposed by the social media has also led to the rise of plastic surgery procedures performed among teenagers.
Statistics of Teens Who Had Plastic Surgery in 2010
In 2010 alone there were close to 219,000 plastic surgeries performed on people between the age of 13 and 19, according the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Some of these were treating acne and scars left by acne on teenagers, while the most common was otoplasty or ear surgery, as ears are fully developed in young childhood.
Wisdom from Cool Runnings
Last week I wrote a post about children and the increase in cosmetic surgery. It generated a handful of comments that represented all sides of the issue and I was asked to put some more information out there. In addition to the information here’s a great quote from the movie Cool Runnings.
It’s the movie about the 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team. In the movie the leader of the team, Leon Robinson as Derice Bannock said, “, a gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.” That quote can easily be transferred over to many areas of life.
How Parents Should React To This Situation
Any surgery on a minor must have parental consent, so it is ultimately up to the parents and the families if they want to pursue plastic surgery. Parents are split on the issue of teenagers undergoing plastic surgery, with some adamantly opposed and others willing to do anything to make their child comfortable with their appearance and avoid teasing. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends several consulting sessions between the parents, child and surgeon to identify the true needs behind the surgery, as well as any other options available to the teenager.
Tips and Guide for Parents
When a teenager approaches his or her parents about plastic surgery, the parents must be careful to handle the situation delicately and listen to the teenager, not react instinctively. Many plastic surgeons and organizations of surgeons recommend a number of steps and discussions to have with the teenager:
-Identify what the teenager wants done and why
Have the teenager be as specific as possible about what bothers them and why they think surgery will fix it.
-Research the problem and the procedure.
Not all teenagers will be candidates for surgery, and there may be less intrusive options.
-Carefully go over the description of the surgery, its complications and risks
Explain everything to your child and let them understand things associated to the surgery. It will be better if you discuss it together with a Psychologist.
-Find a trustworthy surgeon.
Ask friends and relatives if they know board certified plastic surgeons. Try to find one who has experience working with younger clients.
-Have a list of questions to ask and specific concerns you want to address.
Find out what the doctor’s qualifications are, as well as how many of the particular surgery they have performed. It is important that both the parents and the teenager are comfortable with the surgeon.
Helpful Readings:
- Cosmetic Surgery and Your Teen – Talking to Young Adults about Cosmetic Surgery
- GirlsHealth.gov
- When your Teen wants Plastic Surgery
- Elective Plastic Surgical Procedures in Adolescence
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