SEARCY, AR. (LP) — When you hear of plastic surgery, what do you think of? A Hollywood star trying to delay the effects of aging? People who want to change the size of their stomachs or other body parts because they see it done so easily on TV? Those are common images of plastic surgery. So what is Plastic Surgery?
Just because the name includes the word “plastic” doesn’t mean patients who have this surgery end up with a face full of fake stuff. The name isn’t taken from the synthetic substance but from the Greek word plastikos, which means to form or mold. Plastic surgery is a special type of surgery that can change a person’s appearance and ability to function. Reconstructive procedures correct defects on the face or body. These include physical birth defects like cleft lips and palates and ear deformities, traumatic injuries like those from dog bites or burns, or the aftermath of disease treatments like rebuilding a woman’s breast after surgery for breast cancer. Cosmetic procedures alter a part of the body that the person is not satisfied with. Common cosmetic procedures include making the breasts larger or smaller, reshaping the nose, and removing pockets of fat from specific spots on the body. Some cosmetic procedures aren’t even surgical in the way that most people think of surgery — that is, cutting and stitching.
For example, the use of special lasers to remove unwanted hair and sanding skin to improve severe scarring are two such treatments. So the main question is, why do teens get plastic surgery? Most teens don’t, of course. But some do. Interestingly, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports a difference in the reasons teens give for having plastic surgery and the reasons adults do: Teens view plastic surgery as a way to fit in and look acceptable to friends and peers. Adults, on the other hand, frequently see plastic surgery as a way to stand out from the crowd. According to the ASPS, more than 200,000 people 19 years and younger had either major or minor plastic surgical procedures in 2013. Hannah Reeds, student at Searcy High School said, “I think teens get plastic surgery as a way to fit in, or fix something they are insecure about.” Some people turn to plastic surgery to correct a physical defect or to alter a part of the body that makes them feel uncomfortable. Other people decide they want a cosmetic change because they’re not happy about the way they look. Teens who have cosmetic procedures such as otoplasty (surgery to pin back ears that stick out) or dermabrasion (a procedure that can help smooth or camouflage severe acne scars) — sometimes feel more comfortable with their appearance after the procedure. “I do believe that some plastic surgery is good, it can help boost someones self-esteem,” said Michael Brown at Searcy High School.
The most common procedures teens choose include nose reshaping, ear surgery, acne and acne scar treatment, and breast reduction. Reconstructive surgery helps repair significant defects or problems. But what about having cosmetic surgery just to change your appearance? Is it a good idea for teens? As with everything, there are right and wrong reasons to have surgery. Cosmetic surgery is unlikely to change your life. Most board-certified plastic surgeons spend a lot of time interviewing teens who want plastic surgery to decide if they are good candidates for the surgery. Doctors want to know that teens are emotionally mature enough to handle the surgery and that they’re doing it for the right reasons. Some doctors won’t perform certain procedures (like rhinoplasty) on a teen until they are sure that person is old enough and has finished growing. For rhinoplasty, that means about 15 or 16 for girls and about a year older for guys. So here are some things to consider, Almost all teens (and many adults) are self-conscious about their bodies. Almost everyone wishes there were a thing or two that could be changed. A lot of this self-consciousness goes away with time.
Ask yourself if you’re considering plastic surgery because you want it for yourself or whether it’s to please someone else. A person’s body continues to change through the teen years. Body parts that might appear too large or too small now can become more proportionate over time. Sometimes, for example, what seems like a big nose looks more the right size as the rest of the person’s face catches up during growth. Getting in good shape through appropriate weight control and exercise can do great things for a person’s looks without surgery. It’s never a good idea to choose plastic surgery as a first option for something like weight loss that can be corrected in a nonsurgical manner. Gastric bypass or liposuction may seem like quick and easy fixes compared with sticking to a diet. Both of these procedures, however, carry far greater risks than dieting, and doctors should reserve them for extreme cases when all other options have failed. Some people’s emotions have a really big effect on how they think they look. People who are depressed, extremely self-critical, or have a distorted view of what they really look like sometimes think that changing their looks will solve their problems. In these cases, it won’t. Working out the emotional problem with the help of a trained therapist is a better bet. In fact, many doctors won’t perform plastic surgery on teens who are depressed or have other mental health problems until these problems are treated first. Plastic surgery isn’t something to rush into. If you’re thinking about plastic surgery, find out as much as you can about the specific procedure you’re considering and talk it over with doctors and your parents. Once you have the facts, you can decide whether the surgery is right for you.
