There are plenty of cosmetic procedures adults use to change the way they look, but when it comes to those under 18, doctors are more reluctant to perform surgery. Plastic surgeons can correct deformities, congenital defects and new injuries, but there are also some teens seeking surgeries that are considered unnecessary. This is an unfortunately more common occurrence in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and Beverly Hills, the plastic surgeon capitals of the United States.
In some cases, cosmetic surgery is necessary because of an injury. Doctors tend to be more lax when it comes to these situations. In the case of a 16 year old girl who was hit in the face with a baseball, she was often made fun of for her appearance and also faced health problems. Then, there are cases where teens are looking for surgery to make changes that are not necessary. Some teenage girls request breast augmentation.
Each year, thousands of teenagers have surgeries performed. The most common procedures include rhinoplasty, breast reduction, ear pinning, breast augmentation and liposuction. They also undergo procedures like chemical peels and Botox injections. Guidelines restrict the use of some of these procedures, though some doctors may perform them anyway. When considering a plastic surgeon in Thousand Oaks, always make sure they are board certified. This simple step could mean the difference between a life changing operation and a regrettable decision.
When it comes to breast augmentation, the FDA recommends that teenagers under 18 do not go under the knife; however, this does not stop it from happening. The FDA has determined that teenagers are too young and potentially too immature to make a responsible decision with all the possible consequences in mind.
In some cases, the doctor is willing to perform a procedure on underage patients so long as they are given time to consider their options. An example might be a procedure to pin back a child’s ears because they stick out further than their peers. This procedure can help children avoid bullying, prompting many doctors to move forward with the surgery; however, in some cases the doctor will recommend that the child wait until their teenage years. Cosmetic surgeons in Westlake Village should always carefully consider your concerns, beware of surgeons who want to rush you.
Most doctors consider some procedures to be morally reprehensible to perform on teenagers and very young adults. Botox injections top the charts in this category, but liposuction and breast augmentation are not far behind. These are often impulse procedures that teenagers want to use to look what they believe to be better, but they do not consider that there are long-term effects of each of these cosmetic procedures.
There is more of a gray area when it comes to procedures like a large bump on the nose that is causing some teasing. Rhinoplasty in Thousand Oaks is seen as an acceptable procedure because it is not only cosmetic, but can be a functional surgery as well. Nose problems can often include difficulty breathing and worse complications. Doctors must consider how much the procedure may improve the quality of the teenager’s life. There are no strict guidelines that work across the board as of yet, but there are certainly moral obligations many doctors feel that they must abide by.
