Since the year 2007, 1,339,229 cosmetic surgeries have been performed on the age group of 13-19. In a world where people are judged by their physical appearance, it is common for teenagers to be uncomfortable with their bodies. As a way of conforming to society’s image of physical perfection, more and more teenagers are turning to cosmetic surgery as a solution. The purpose for this paper is to make the problems of teenagers having cosmetic surgery, in order to physically change themselves to society’s standards, known. Teenagers should not be having cosmetic surgery because at this age the majority are too of them are too immature, it is avoiding the root of the problem which makes surgery seem like an attractive option, and it is not a permanent solution to that problem.
Over the years, the number cosmetic surgeries performed in the age group of 13-19 have increased dramatically. In 2007, the total of number cosmetic surgeries being performed on this age group was 224,658. In 2008, the total number of cosmetic surgeries being performed was 219,136. In 2009, the number was 209,553. In 2010, the number was 218,909. In 2011, the number increased to 230,617. Finally, in 2012 the number of cosmetic surgeries performed on this age group was 236,356. The number of teenagers having cosmetic surgery decreased from 2008 to 2009, but since then have continued to increase significantly each year (ASPS).
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There are a few things that plastic surgeons evaluate before considering, cosmetic surgery for teenagers. The physical maturity of the teenage patient is one of three considerations. If the surgeon operates on a feature that is not yet fully developed, it could interfere with the growth of the feature or possibly negate the o...
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Cosmetic Surgery is the procedure done to restore or improve one’s physical appearance. The use of surgery to have an actualization of a want tends to be unneeded since it is not in line with the purpose of reestablishing what was lost or damaged. Although cosmetic surgery intends to be used for restoration purposes, many people have abused it for the sake of vanity. Cosmetic surgery also has good and bad effects on the person in many different aspects.
According to a college student in Korea: “When you’re nineteen, all the girls get plastic surgery, so if you don’t do it, after a few years, your friends will look better, but you will look like unimproved you.” (Straight Talk). The student might have confusion between cosmetic and plastic surgery, but all its meaning is when reaching enough age, everyone should get cosmetic surgery to improve appearance. The statistics in Medical News Today shows that “approximately 65,000 surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in 2008 in the UK” compares to 2003. It is about 50% more than in 2003. Additionally, the official statistics of cosmetic surgery in the U.S. is far more popular. In 2007, there is total of 1,435,444 of surgical cosmetic procedures which included liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, abdominoplast, and female breast reduction. A number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures are higher than surgical cosmetic procedures. The statistic is about 7,113,914 which included botox, hyaluronic acid (hylaform, juvederm, restylane), laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and laser skin
Teenagers take extreme measures in order to “fix” themselves (by having Plastic surgery). Plastic Surgery is a surgical process used to repair deformities and glitches in a persons body. Nowadays, teenagers tend to have plastic surgeries to improve physical characteristics they feel are flawed and/or to fit in with peers, to look similar to others. In fact, it is only the pressure that has been put upon these minors that makes them want to look flawless or perfect in order to feel comfortable in their own skin and avoid any unwanted judgments. Most teenagers are not mature enough to clearly understand the problems and consequences that are accompanied with cosmetic surgery. Therefore, cosmetic surgery should not be allowed for minors.
The media has had an increasingly destructive effect on young people who are becoming worryingly obsessed with their body image. The media is saturated in sexual imagery in which young people have to face every day. The sheer volume of sexual imagery in the media today has resulted in the vast majority of young people to become hooked on looking as near to perfection everyday by using the latest products and buying the latest fashions. This used to be enough but lately the next step to achieving perfection is cosmetic surgery. Everyone wants to look attractive, especially teenagers who are not only put under massive strain to succeed but to look beautiful and climb the ranks of the social ladder, and it seems that the only way to achieve the much desired beauty is to turn to drastic measures.
Plastic surgery is one of the most growing fields in medicine. Reconstructive surgery is one of the branches from plastic surgery and it is defined as surgeries performed to restore facial and body defects caused by a disease, trauma, burns, or birth defects (Nelson, 2010). When it first started, it focused on helping people who are having difficulty blending in society. For instance, during the Renaissance era, in the late 1700s, doctors worked on enhancing the appearance of patients suffering from the nose deformation caused by syphilis using plastic surgery. Enabling them to blend in society and cover the disease. Also, after World War I, because there were a large number of soldiers with disfiguring injuries, the United States of America relied on plastic surgeries to improve the life of wounded soldiers (Nelson, 2010). The other branch of plastic surgery is cosmetic surgery. This type of surgery is performed to preserve or restore normal appearances, or to enhance it beyond the average level (American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, 2014). For the last couple of years, Plastic surgery marketing has focused massively on cosmetic surgery procedures rather than reconstructive ones. This type of advertising is having negative effects on society by increasing the number of needless procedures, changing the true meaning of beauty, and harming females’ self-esteem.
Some people’s obsession with plastic surgery is obviously getting out of control. It starts with only getting one thing fixed or corrected but then quickly escalates and before you know it, a face that once was all-flesh turns into plastic. According to a study conducted by Nigel Mercer (2009), “The number of official cosmetic surgeries has more than tripled to 34,000 since 2003”. The two reasons why plastic surgery should be banned are because of its high health risks, and because of the additional pressure it puts on people to look picture-perfect.
Most of us don't like some aspect of our appearance, whether it's sagging eyes or excess weight in particular areas, to name a few complaints. Lately a record numbers of Americans are doing something about it by having plastic surgery. Since 1995, the number of cosmetic procedures, which range from liposuction to facelifts, has almost tripled (English 23). Is that a healthy choice-or a dangerous trend? Aging has become the field of the future for plastic surgeons whose patients have reasons not always valid in the search for youth and beauty.
In conclusion, the benefits of cosmetic surgery differ between people and situations; any negative thoughts of others may have an effect on a person’s decision to have a procedure done, but it is for the patient to decide if changing their body is the right decision for them. Regardless of the influences on the younger generation, unrealistic ideologies of patients, and moral issues others may have, plastic surgery will continue to be a huge part of society. However, society should be focusing on how to encourage others to seek happiness in whatever they seem fit, rather than choose to destroy the aspirations of others who choose to build a perfect body for
Nowadays, since the number of procedures increases, cosmetic surgery has rapidly developed all over the world. According to an annual report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in 2015, the United States is the biggest market of cosmetic surgery in the world. Near 16 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2015, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction and tummy tuck (“Plastic Surgery Procedures”).
Wolgemuth, L. (2011). People Have Cosmetic Surgery to Make More Money. In R. Espejo (Ed.), Opposing Viewpoints. Cosmetic Surgery. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Retrieved April 6, 2014, from Opposing Viewpoints in Context database.
To many, the notion of a teenager undergoing plastic surgery is appalling and unbelievable. For others, such as eleven-year-old Julia, a nose job was able to help her lead a happier and more normal life. To eighteen-year-old Kristen a breast augmentation is a traditional rite of passage of the family. She claims that she “just wanted to look normal,” and that after surgery, she does. (Sweeny, 2009) In these types of cases, cosmetic surgery can be beneficial to the confidence of teenagers in what Ann Kearney-Cooke calls “an epidemic of low self-esteem among girls.” (Sweeney, 2009) Whether it is a physical deformity, such as protruding ears, or simply a lack of something that other peers have, such as large breasts, cosmetic surgery can help teenagers cope with self-worth in a world where beauty is ridiculously selective. However, aside from the confidence-boosting possibilities resulting from teen cosmetic surgery, there are many reasons why it should not be taken lightly for an adolescent. Although cosmetic surgery can potentially be beneficial, there are also many extreme risks for teenagers, including medical complications and in some rare cases death, and thus should be solely a last resort after meticulous analysis for serious cases. Furthermore, neither the adolescent brain nor body is even fully developed.
Colins, Joan. N.d..”The Pro’s and Con’s of Plastic Surgery”. Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From http://cseserv.engr,scu.edu/StudentWebPages/KNguyen/researchpaper.htm
Goudrea, Jenna. “The Hidden Dangers Of Cosmetic Surgery.” Forbes. 16 06 2011: n. page. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.