Archive for September, 2010
Cosmetic Surgery And Teens – Is It A Good Idea
Are you the parent of a teenager who has recently decided that they would like to undergo cosmetic surgery If so, you may be feeling a wide array of emotions right now. Although most parents in your shoes wouldn’t even entertain the thought, you may be interested in doing so. You may be curious as to whether or not cosmetic surgery and teens go together.
As for whether or not cosmetic surgery is advised for teenagers, it will all depend. All teenagers are not the same. Cosmetic surgery procedures are performed for a wide range of reasons. To help you determine if your teenager is ready for cosmetic surgery, there are a number of factors that you will first want to take into consideration.
For starters, it is important to examine your child’s health. Is your child’s health at risk if they do not undergo cosmetic surgery For example, is your child seriously obese If so, gastric bypass surgery or other weight loss surgeries may be needed. Of course, as a parent, you owe it to your child to help them explore other options. You and your teenager may first want to try more natural ways of losing weight, such as eating healthy and exercising regularly.
Since most cosmetic surgery procedures are performed with the sole purpose of improving appearance, you may not understand why your teenager needs treatment. Be sure to talk to your child about their reasoning. Are they being harassed at school Does your child have a skin growth or unwanted body hair that is resulting in them getting teased at school If so, you may want to inquire about cosmetic surgery. It is important to know the impact that constant harassment and heckling can have on a teenager’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
Before getting your child’s heart set on cosmetic surgery, if you do voice your approval, you will first want to make sure that your child is even a good candidate. Do you know that some cosmetic surgeons will not perform surgical procedures on those under the age of 18 Others do have restrictions, but may be a little bit more lax with them. For example, ideal candidates for liposuction are over the age of 18. This is often due in part to the maturity levels.
Speaking of maturity, is your child mature enough to make a well-informed decision about cosmetic surgery Most teenagers aren’t. Many just know that they want to look beautiful, no matter what the costs. Can your child handle those costs though If your child is thinking about cosmetic surgery just to improve their beauty, it may be a wise idea to let them make their own decision when they turn 18.
Another reason why not all teenagers are ideal candidates for cosmetic surgery is because of the recovery process. If breast reduction is performed, your child will need to get the proper amount of rest. They may also face certain restrictions, such as no heavy lifting or no wearing a bra for a week. Will your teenager be able to follow their post surgery directions right down to the letter If not, they may end up hurting their health and the results of their surgery.
As a reminder, many cosmetic surgeons in the United States have restrictions and rules set for cosmetic surgery and minors. If you do opt for cosmetic surgery for your teen, schedule a consultation appointment with them to see if they are an ideal candidate.
Examining Why You Want Cosmetic Surgery
Your motivations for pursuing cosmetic surgery are important issues that your cosmetic surgeon will discuss with you during a consultation. The reasons behind your decision to change part of your body need to be explored by you and your surgeon to help you attain satisfaction with your cosmetic surgery procedure.
As you consider cosmetic surgery, you should avoid making a snap emotional decision perhaps based on a hurtful comment or unpleasant episode. You also need to learn what you can realistically expect from cosmetic surgery. For example, a tummy tuck can smooth the contours of your torso and significantly alleviate problems you may have with stretched skin, but for some people it is not going to make you super model thin.
Appropriate Reasons to Pursue Cosmetic Surgery
1. Self Improvement Your desire to improve yourself in your own eyes is a reasonable goal. Sometimes people undergo cosmetic surgery simply because it is an available option for increasing personal satisfaction and enhancing self image. For example, you may be dissatisfied with the size of your breasts and therefore seek breast augmentation cosmetic surgery. As long as you want breast augmentation for the sake of satisfying your own desire for a fuller bustline, then you may have a healthy outlook. Basically, it is best to realize that cosmetic surgery will not change how others regard you. Cosmetic surgery is about how you feel about yourself. When we do Beverly Hills cosmetic surgery, we always find that people are happiest when they do the procedure for themselves.
2. Relieve Discomfort Cosmetic surgery can also provide some patients with relief from physical discomfort while improving appearance. For example, if your abdominal skin and muscles are stretched out by multiple pregnancies, then the loose flesh may be making it difficult or impossible to find pants that fit comfortably. Also loose folds of skin can cause skin irritation. In such a situation, a tummy tuck would give you cosmetic benefits and allow you to wear pants in comfort and avoid skin irritation. Beverly Hills liposuction can also provide improvements in many similar situations.
3. Reduce Aging Effects Cosmetic surgery is traditionally associated with the reduction of the signs of aging on the face and body. This remains a primary motivation for cosmetic surgery candidates. No one likes watching their youthful skin and physique fade with the years, and your desire for rejuvenation is reasonable. The important factors in this situation are keeping your expectations realistic and not counting on people to treat you differently just because you improved your appearance with surgery. The unique characteristics of your body and your age will determine how much change can be obtained with cosmetic surgery.
When you go to a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, be prepared to discuss your motivations. This way you will have had a chance to think things through yourself before your cosmetic surgeon describes what is possible and appropriate for you. A careful analysis of your feelings about your body will guide you toward a positive outcome whether or not you ultimately get cosmetic surgery. The procedure can enhance your lifestyle, but always remember that it will not change who you are.