Cosmetic Surgery Is Popular Grad Gift
Cosmetic surgery has become a popular graduation gift for both high school and college women. Women and men age 18 and younger underwent 203,308 cosmetic surgery procedures in 2009 and 125,397 procedures in 2010, according to a report by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The slight downward trend reflects the struggling economy. A decade ago, 298,704 teens underwent cosmetic surgery procedures.
The desire for cosmetic surgery is linked to teen issues of poor body image and low self-esteem, particularly in young women. Studies have linked low self-esteem during the teen years to emotional and physical disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, cutting and depression. Child psychologists also warn that low self-esteem can lead young women to make poor relationship choices, putting them at greater risk of staying in an abusive relationship.
The majority of teen cosmetic surgery procedures performed last year were nonsurgical cosmetic procedures involving chemical skin peels to treat acne scars or laser hair removal. The surgical procedures most frequently performed on women and men under the age of 18 were cosmetic ear surgery (otoplasty) and nose surgery (rhinoplasty). Performance of ear and nose corrections are usually recommended as each feature nears total development which occurs between ages 5 and 6 for ears and, for noses, between ages 13 (girls) to 15 (boys).
Breast enhancement cosmetic surgery procedures were also popular among teens, although the majority of the breast enhancement procedures performed last year were of a corrective nature. Breast reduction surgery was frequently performed to alleviate back and shoulder pain in overly-developed young women or treat gynecomastia, excessive breast development, in young men. Of the 4,153 breast augmentation procedures performed on teens last year, 53% were for severe breast asymmetry or congenital underdevelopment or breast deformity. Corrective breast surgery is usually not performed until after the breasts reach full development, generally during the high school years.