The world has had a morbid fascination with the so-called ‘Human Barbie’ doll Valeria Lukyanova since the YouTube video detailing her transformation went viral. Teens especially find the Ukrainian model very interesting. Teenage girls have long struggled with their looks, enduring pimples and braces. They often look for peer validation to assure them of their looks. Shockingly several teens are knocking the doors of plastic surgeons to get nose jobs, Botox, liposuctions, procedures that were usually restricted to their mothers and grandmothers to delay the aging process.

In a report by the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPS), more than 219,000 cosmetic surgery procedures were performed on individuals aged 18 years and below in 2008. The procedures teens frequently go for, despite the health risks related to them, are nose jobs, and correction of protruding ears, too-large breasts, asymmetrical breasts, and scarring caused by acne or injuries.

Why do teens seek plastic surgery?

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, young people can be very cruel. Someone might say ‘Gee, look at that kid’s nose’ without thinking the kind of pain that the statement inflicts. The constant barrage of cruel remarks is enough to drive a teen to go for a cosmetic surgery procedure.

Peer pressure has long been linked with cosmetic surgery among teens. In the last two decades, there has been a drastic and shocking increase in the number of rhinoplasty procedures performed on teens. But surprisingly, it is Botox, the muscle-relaxation, wrinkle-removal procedure that was first approved by FDA for cosmetic use in 2002, that has taken off and become even more popular among teens. It is cost-effective and less invasive form of cosmetic surgery. Its affordability has made it very popular among teens.

Adolescence is the time teens are struggling to make an identity for themselves. One of the biggest things that teens need at this time is to belong. They want to be approved of, especially among their peer group. This makes them do anything to fit in and good looks are the quickest way to get their peers’ approval. It is just not the desire to look good that makes them take drastic steps. It is what the good looks can make them get.

Is it legal?

Although it is perfectly legal for a 12-year-old to undergo a cosmetic surgery procedure for medical purposes but most doctors believe teens do not need cosmetic surgery for a medical reasons. They are urging other doctors to stop performing cosmetic surgery procedures on teen’s girls.

Cosmetic surgery for self-esteem

Teens tend to go for plastic surgery to improve their appearance and boost their self-esteem. Many of them claim that their self-confidence improves once they eliminate the perceived physical shortcomings are corrected.

What can parents do?

Whether parents acknowledge it or not, they are the most influential people in their teen’s life. Even more than the peer group their teen listens to most ardently. Once parents begin to start boosting their teen’s self-esteem, they will not find the need to rely on cosmetic surgery to make them feel good.