Cosmetic Surgery is the latest teen trend. Is your child ready? (cont.)

The pros
According to both Solomon and Sliwin, the benefits of getting surgery when you’re young are numerous. Safety first When you’re young, you don’t usually have many other medical problems that may complicate surgeries in older patients. Zit remedy Treating acne at a young age could help prevent permanent scarring. Self-help Dealing with major self-esteem issues at a younger age, when looks are very important, could help prevent emotional scarring later on.

The cons
Feeling self-conscious is a natural part of being a teen, but a lot of these insecurities go away with time, so unless you have a real deformity, it can be tough to know whether you’re making a decision you’ll regret later on. It’s also important to remember that your body is still growing. Parts that may seem too small or too big now, may grow proportionately, looking fabulous as you age. “Operating on someone who has immature facial features can stunt regular development,” says Solomon.

Should you or shouldn’t you?
Both Sliwin and Solomon agree there’s nothing wrong with teens having plastic surgery, as long as they’re mentally stable and have an obvious cosmetic problem. In fact, conducting certain types of surgery on teens could help improve their future social and working situations. “If you can get rid of the one biggie that’s already bothering you, you may be a more stable person later on,” says Sliwin. It’s extremely important to make sure that the teen has a legitimate problem, understandable motives and realistic goals for the outcome of the surgery. A boob job, for instance, isn’t necessarily going to make a teen popular or get rid of low self-esteem.

Age gauge
“Certain surgeries, such as breast reduction, augmentation and rhinoplasty, are best conducted after you’ve reached puberty, says Solomon. That’s when a teen’s body development dramatically slows or even stops.” Solomon says his patients must be 15 before he’ll do rhinoplasty since your nose is still growing until then and better results are usually achieved after puberty.

Liposuction can also be performed on 15-year-olds, says Sliwin. That’s because the number of fat cells in your body is pretty constant at that point. He stresses, however, the importance of assessing each patient individually. Some children have genetic weight problems, while others who have lifestyle problems might better benefit from a date with a dietitian than a session with a surgeon.

For breast surgery, Sliwin requires his patients be 16. “It’s still a very difficult age,” he says. “I’m not sure these 16- or 17-year-olds are adults.” Sliwin says if teens have family support, he’ll perform the surgery when they’re 16. But if they don’t have much emotional support in their lives, he’ll wait until they’re 18.