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Teens getting plastic surgery for graduation
Categories: Just For Moms, Teens & tweens, Just For Dads, Health & Safety, Media, Education
The class of 2007 is about to graduate and the announcements have starting filling my mailbox. I think cash is an appropriate gift for a new grad and that's what my friends' kids are getting from me. Who wouldn't want cash? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, some new grads are putting something a little more personal at the top of their wish list: cosmetic surgery.
Currently, teens make up just 2% of cosmetic surgery patients in the U.S., but those numbers are growing as more kids are getting nose jobs, breast augmentations, teeth whitening and the like. When Courtney Powers graduated from high school last year, she was rewarded with a breast augmentation. Two days after her 18th birthday, she went from a 36AA to a D-cup. She earned half of the money herself, with mom and dad chipping in for the rest.
Should parents comply with their kid's desires to perfect their physical appearance? L. Kris Gowen, an adolescent developmental psychologist, says that teens aren't equipped to make this kind of decision. "Adolescents generally ground themselves in the here and now and in more concrete thinking," she says. "They don't tend to think of the long-term effects or risks of surgery but, rather, just the concrete result of 'I'll look better.'"
Believe it or not, teens getting plastic surgery is sometimes the result of pressure from the parents. A mom worried about marriage prospects may see getting a nose job as no different than having braces on your teeth and push for surgery. Dr. Brent Moelleken, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon says "Parents who have familiarity with plastic surgery will tend to have children who have more plastic surgery."
I am not a big fan of plastic surgery for adults, but for children I find the idea completely abhorrent. I would hate to think my gift of cash would be used for surgery to 'improve' the appearance of a child.
Currently, teens make up just 2% of cosmetic surgery patients in the U.S., but those numbers are growing as more kids are getting nose jobs, breast augmentations, teeth whitening and the like. When Courtney Powers graduated from high school last year, she was rewarded with a breast augmentation. Two days after her 18th birthday, she went from a 36AA to a D-cup. She earned half of the money herself, with mom and dad chipping in for the rest.
Should parents comply with their kid's desires to perfect their physical appearance? L. Kris Gowen, an adolescent developmental psychologist, says that teens aren't equipped to make this kind of decision. "Adolescents generally ground themselves in the here and now and in more concrete thinking," she says. "They don't tend to think of the long-term effects or risks of surgery but, rather, just the concrete result of 'I'll look better.'"
Believe it or not, teens getting plastic surgery is sometimes the result of pressure from the parents. A mom worried about marriage prospects may see getting a nose job as no different than having braces on your teeth and push for surgery. Dr. Brent Moelleken, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon says "Parents who have familiarity with plastic surgery will tend to have children who have more plastic surgery."
I am not a big fan of plastic surgery for adults, but for children I find the idea completely abhorrent. I would hate to think my gift of cash would be used for surgery to 'improve' the appearance of a child.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karen 5-10-2007 @ 6:16PM
"I'll look better". Hmm, isn't that the reason EVERYBODY has cosmetic surgery, teenager or no?
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Karen 5-10-2007 @ 7:12PM
If nose job or cosmetic dentistry or even a boob job helps their self esteem, why not? I know of a child who was teased throughout school abut her nose. It was big. It was crooked. She received a nose job immediately after graduation and it was clearly a turn around moment in her life. I truly believe it changed her college experience. Reasonable or not it changed her perception of herself and that was enough. It certainly isn't necessary, but if that is what the child wants, I think it is a valid "gift." Like everything else, there can be abuses, but is that what we are talking about here?
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Megan 5-10-2007 @ 10:17PM
Get a grip, parents should know more than anyone that in the real world, right or wrong, appearence does matter. It matters when your child is looking for a job, and it matters when your child is looking for a life partner. Who will employ you and who you can date is dependent, at the very least in part, on how you look.
Just as a fun example, I've recently applied to several similar jobs, and I noticed that I got a lot more calls back when I sent my resume by e-mail rather than dropping it off in person. Once I'd gone through three or four interviews, I noticed that the interviews I was wearing my contacts for went well instantly, whereas when I was wearing glasses, it took some talking to convince the interviewer that I was worth his/her time.
So pop in the contacts, carry dental floss in your pocket, spring for a rhinoplasty is you can afford it, and don't think an interviewer won't look at your face before your resume.
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Jessica 5-11-2007 @ 12:09PM
Ew, Megan, that is so shallow.
No, I would not get my child plastic surgery for graduation or any other gift. Hopefully I will be able to teach my daughter that there are more important things than having perfect boobs or a perfect nose.
That, Megan, she INSIST people look at her for her internal qualities and not settle for allowing people to judge her on her looks.
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Adam Chance 5-11-2007 @ 3:14PM
Parents are resposible for raising a child with negative body image.
If they want a boob job, you have failed.
The plastic surgery centers run ads in my college paper, the sociology department runs counter-ads.
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Nicole 5-11-2007 @ 6:13PM
If my parents had offered to pay for a breast reduction, you can bet I would have taken them up on the offer! I think it really depends on alot of factors, and you can't knee-jerk your reactions.
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