Plastic Surgery - Is it a Good Idea for Kids?

Making sure your child is happy and healthy is a parent's first priority. In the effort to make their kids happy, some parents have drifted into the plastic surgery debate. How young is too young? What's okay and what's not okay? These are some of the questions many parents ask and an experienced doctor will be able to tell you what's right for your child. However there are a few common areas where parents will argue the pros and cons of operations and how the results affect a child. Explore them below.

One of the top reasons parents consider plastic surgery for their children is to help with their self esteem. While some adults will argue that insecurities and teen angst are a part of adolescence and kids just have to suffer through, others disagree. Many parents don't see the point of allowing their daughter to be teased because of her extremely large breasts or their son to be ridiculed for an incredibly large, asymmetrical nose. In these cases, some parents will make an appointment with a doctor for help.

In addition, some parents feel that getting a procedure to change their child's looks is equivalent to taking him or her to an orthodontist to get braces. While a kid's crooked teeth won't affect how he or she eats, their unattractive smile may be less than pleasing to look at, so the parent allows him or her to straighten their teeth with braces.

On the other hand, many would argue there's a huge difference between braces and breast augmentation and feel a child should not be allowed to make such a decision. That's because the teen is still growing and his or her body may still change. Also, parents have to consider whether or not the child is mature or mentally ready to deal with some of the results of plastic surgery. Some kids think it will change their lives for the better, which can be the case. However there are times when the results don't meet certain expectations and the child is in worse shape than before.

Bottom line, the debate over certain procedures for kids rages on and in the end, it will depend on the kid, the parent and their unique situation. For example, there are some types of plastic surgery, such as otoplasty for large ears, that are more accepted for kids and many doctors have no problem handling such a procedure. But for other procedures, such as breast reductions, doctors would rather girls wait until they're at least 18 to ensure the chest isn't still growing and changing.