Teens and Plastic Surgery

According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), teens age 13 to 19 years underwent 219,564 cosmetic surgery procedures in 2013.

The most common reason teens have plastic and cosmetic / surgical procedures are to correct physical traits that affect self-esteem.

Based on the 2013 ASPS data, teens age 13 to 19 have plastic and cosmetic surgery to:

• Reshape and resize the nose and nostrils
• Correct protruding ears
• Reduce the size of overly large breasts
• Even the size and shape of asymmetrical breasts
• Smooth acne pits and scars

What kind of teen is a good candidate for plastic surgery?

The best candidates for adolescent plastic surgery are emotionally stable teens with good self-esteem and realistic expectations about results of the procedure they elect.

In some cases, plastic surgeons will recommend appropriate ages and physical maturity levels for undergoing plastic surgery.

Parental consent is required for all patients younger than 18 years who are undergoing plastic surgery or any other surgery.

In addition to emotional stability, realistic goals for the outcome, and physical maturity, the ASPS recommends that teens rather than parents initiate the requests for plastic surgery. The ASPS also suggests that teens who want plastic surgery take time to think through all aspects of the procedure, including goals and risks.

In particular, it is important that teens understand that while a cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure can help improve self-esteem, it cannot fix deep emotional problems, rid teens of all their concerns and problems, and create a perfect life. The ASPS emphasizes that plastic surgery is not recommended for teens who are prone to mood swings and erratic behavior, including those who are being treated for mental health problems such as depression and generalized anxiety. The organization also recommends against plastic surgery for teens with drug and alcohol problems.

Before having plastic surgery teens should clearly understand the level of physical discomfort and length of time it will take to recover from plastic surgery.

Common Plastic Surgical Options for Teens

Nose reshaping or rhinoplasty to reshape and resize the nose and/or nostrils, refine the bridge, reduce the width of the nose, eliminate a bump, reshape the tip to be smaller, more even, or larger, and open breathing passages.

Things to know about teen nose reshaping:

• Rhinoplasty is usually delayed until age 15 or 16 in girls and age 17 or older in boys so that the nose has reached its adult size
• Insurance often covers some of the cost of nose reshaping that results from an injury or that is associated with obstructed breathing
• Nose reshaping accounts for almost 50 percent of all cosmetic surgery in teens

Ear pinning (otoplasty) to correct ears that protrude.

Things to know about child and teen ear pinning:

• Children age 5 years and older can have ear pinning
• Insurance does not usually cover the cost of ear pinning

Breast augmentation (enlargement) to increase the size or reconstruct breasts with FDA-approved saline-filled implants in women age 18 years or older.

Things to know about teen breast augmentation:

• Only saline implants are approved for women younger than age 22 years; silicone implants are approved for women age 22 years and older
• Girls should delay breast implants until they are finished growing (at age 18 years or older) so that the breast implants can be balanced with a girl’s overall frame and shape

Breast reduction to reduce the size of overly large breasts.

Things to know about teen breast reduction:

• Breast reduction can help alleviate feelings of self consciousness
• Reducing the size of overly large breasts can help eliminate back, shoulder, and neck pain from carrying excess weight on the chest
• Insurance sometimes covers the cost of breast reduction to correct back, neck, and shoulder problems

Correcting breast asymmetry to make the breasts even in shape and size.

Things to know about breast surgery to correct asymmetry:

• Correcting breast asymmetry often involves saline implants to make the size and shape of one or both breasts even
• Insurance sometimes covers the cost of breast reconstruction to repair asymmetrical breasts

Acne and acne scar treatment to smooth and refinish the skin surface with laser therapy or fine sanding (microdermabrasion).

Things to know about teen acne scar treatment:

• In addition to lasers, chemical peels can help minimize mild acne scarring and eliminate brown spots from breakouts

Male breast reduction (gynecomastia)
to reduce excess breast tissue in boys Teenage boys.

Things to know about teen gynecomastia:

• Male breast reduction can help improve self-esteem in boys with excessive breast tissue
• Insurance sometimes covers the cost of gynecomastia

Find a Surgeon Network expert who is skilled at teen plastic and cosmetic procedures.

To ensure best results for teen plastic surgery, it is wise to find a plastic and cosmetic surgeon who has experience working with teens and who understands the many sensitivities associated with adolescence.