I'm sorry but I doubt most teens really need surgery that badly with maybe some extreme exceptions. That plastic surgeon is obviously looking out for himself, not for the well being of his patients. And how many teenagers are actually comfortable with themselves at a young age? Even the girl the "awkward" looking girl thinks is perfect probably has something about herself she doesn't like even if she doesn't admit it. I know how uncomfortable with myself I was when I was younger and how I feel more comfortable with myself now compared to then. If I hated anything that much when I was younger, it would have been a mistake if I had actually gotten surgery. And also if you start messing around with your appearance so soon, chances are that person with find more things they don't like and keep messing with their appearance to the point where they look weird and older by the time they're 30.

I have to say that plastic surgery at a young age really isn't good. I hate my nose, I have a deviated septum and what I see as a very angular nose. It took my years to adjust to it, but my mother kept telling me that I would grow into it and I suppose now I'm better with it.
When I was 17 I went to and ENT to have my tonsils taken out and he offer to (in his words) fix my nose while he was in there. Its the only time in my life that I remember really feeling offended by something someone said to me. If he had said fix your septum which is what he meant it would have felt better.
I still think about having a slight nose job, but only to fix my septum and make my nose a little less angular. I'm almost 30 and I've seen so many over the top nose jobs that I can't count them. I think in getting older you realize that its important to be you and be ok with you, if you still want to do it after that point then maybe its ok.

I know many teens don't like certain aspects of their appearance, but it seems so foolish to allow a 15 year old who is so unwise about the fact that even those that we hold as physically perfect aren't even that way themselves due to make up, lighting, and air brushing and photoshop. We should force them to wait until they grow up and mature so they can make an informed decision.

Can't anyone explain tho these girls that they haven't even finished developing yet? This is a slippery slope and one surgery now will just turn into many in order to attain that 'perfection'. I imagine the
psych bills will be a lot more when they are in their 40's and don't know why everything they've done to themselves STILL doesn't make them happy and secure.

Who are the parents that let their teens get these jobs done? Terrible! I mean, there are medically necessary reasons in some cases, but for the most part people will grow into their looks and can make this kind of serious decision later in life.

I really wish people were happy with their looks.

BloodyFuFu, OMG the exact same thing happened to me. I went to a plastic surgeon to have a small possibly cancerous cyst removed (I wanted a plastic surgeon to do it so it wouldn't scar as badly - as it was on my face). He wanted to "fix" my nose (deviated septum) and was telling me all the different things he would do (fix the septum, then take some off the tip, etc, etc). I was already sensitive about my crooked nose and that made me feel a million times worse. My parents thought I should go on and get it "fixed," but I didn't, mostly out of fear of how much it would hurt. Years later, I still don't like my nose, but I have realized that if I got it "fixed" back then (about age 14), then I would have wanted to get everything else I don't like about my appearance fixed later. I don't think I would ever be happy if I relied on my appearance to be happy. Maybe that's just me.

So glad to see so many people vote no. Our society is too focused on outer beauty. These girls need to embrace their whole body and love themselves for who they are.

Obviously their parents didn't spend enough time instilling the idea that you are perfect the way you are. I mean, honestly, when I was younger, I used to think I had a huge nose. I still am not super pleased with my nose, however, my mother made sure she told me how beautiful she thought I was.

My only self-esteem issues came from males not interested. I mean I learned later in life (well, I'm only 22, so a few years ago) that the girls that developed earlier in life often struggle with their weight when they get to college (when they are less than active).

I mean I used to be the flat chested skinny girl, and now, after hours and hours in the gym, I feel fabulous, I'm healthy, and I love myself!

But yea, I always tell girls that are worried about their boob size that if there were no flat chested women, there would be no Victoria's Secret (yay for push ups!). My motto: Don't modify when you can accesorize!

I think if my child had a major issue like some kind of birth defect that was on their face I would consider plastic surgery but those cases are rare and I'm sure don't make up most of these numbers for surgery in teens. I think its appalling the number of parents who allow thier daughters to get boob jobs and lipo in their teens!

Going through akward stages in our lives is part of the growing up experience and helps us become better people.

A breast lift at 14? Flog the surgeon AND the parents. The world has gone completely mad.

I have a friend who got a breast reduction at 16. This was a procedure to ease back problems she was enduring due to a large chest on a little frame. In her case it's totally acceptable. However, I think someone should wait until they are at least 18 or out of high school to decide if they should go under the knife. I hardly think that having thicker tighs than I'd like have caused self esteem issues. If anything theyve taught me that no one is completely satisfied and that others are too busy worrying about their own problems to worry about mine. It builds character. If an adult decided to spend his/her own money on plastic surgery then go ahead it's your money and your body whereas a child using their parents money do not.

Aside from the obviously okay plastic surgeries -- for hairlips, deformations, to fix pain, etc., I think teenagers should be given a chance to grow up before they make that kind of decision. And more importantly, WE SHOULD BE MORE KIND ABOUT OTHERS' APPEARANCE. DO NOT MAKE FUN OF THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK. DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN MAKE FUN OF THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK. It's mean, and it makes you a bad person. That being said, I'm okay with plastic surgery, if you're otherwise psychologically healthy. I might get a nose job if I could afford it, but instead, I'd probably give the cash to the smile train. On the bell curve, most people are average, and average is attractive. Humans like looking at humans. Look more kindly.

I have to agree with most of the other commenters. I don't think that a 14-year-old girl is really capable of making that kind of a life-changing decision, and I imagine it just ingrains the idea that you can always "get fixed" what you don't like for the rest of your life, which is unrealistic and expensive! Plus, I don't think that teenagers are physically ready for plastic surgery--breast lifts?? They probably haven't even finished developing!!

That said, I had a breast reduction surgery when I was 16 and it was the best decision I ever made. That, though, was due to medical necessity as well.

This is riduculous!
Kids should wait until they are grown adults to make this decision.
First of all, I am a beleiver of "don't elect for any surgery you don't need". I read a stat once that said 1 out of every 30,000 plastic surgeries end in death. I don't think a cuter chin is worth that!

As parents you should be telling your children that they are beautiful, that no one is perfect. And who ever said they are still developing.. so true! How many little boys did you know that had to "grow into" their ears!

Unless it is a medical emergency.. no TEEN should be getting plastic surgery.

Ugh that's insane. When I was a teen I hated my big nose and my weird feet. Now I feel like my nose sort of connects me to my Italian heritage, and no longer think twice about whether or not my feet are perfect. Most of these insecurities girls have are just signs that they don't fully accept themselves yet- and surgery can't fix that anyway.

Teenage plastic surgery is ridiculous! I agree with many of the previous comments - unless the child is born with a major defect or has incurred serious physical trauma and plastic surgery is done for medical purposes, then it is unacceptable!

What are we teaching girls when we tell them they need D cups at 16, or that a nose job on a 14-year-old is the way to go? The only way I would ever let a child in my care have cosmetic surgery done is if it was a reduction (ie if she had double J cups that caused her back pain), or if it was necessary.

I mean, I still wouldn't even consider plastics - my mom's face changed steadily and drastically until she was in her late 30s!

Most of these comments have said everything that is really important about loving and accepting who you are.

It bears repeating, though, that TEENAGERS ARE NOT FINISHED GROWING. Elective and unnecessary surgery can - and frequently does - have unanticipated, possibly dangerous, effects on young bodies.

plastic surgery for teens?????? unless it is sumthing medical they should love wut they have, my mother was born with a birth defect and shew had to have plastic surgery at 17, and every1 thought she was spoiled, it is stupid to be a rich little 16 yr old and get your bobs done cuz ur unhappy!!!!!

I don't believe that plastic surgery should be given to 14 year olds, but I do believe that it's ageism to say that a 14 year old wouldn't know her own priorities. Obviously this is not only the 14 year olds decision because she has to have legal permission from her parents/legal guardian and her doctor. Therefore, this all reflects back on either the 'adults' of the situation and the mental/physical needs of the child. It isn't changing who you are to fit in per say, but improving your self confidence which is abused by the fashion and beauty world everyday with stick thin, big breasted models. In society, perfection is key, no matter how much people deny it, appearances matter a lot more than personality in many more cases than we are proud to admit.

Teens should not be getting cosmetic surgery. The only exception to this would be if they were in an accident or had a deformity of some sort. If you fix your low self esteem with surgery it's saying that only your physical attractiveness is important. All teens go through a period where they aren't pretty or attractive enough and you learn to get over that and it helps you become a stronger, more self assured adult. I wouldn't even know what to do to my face or body to enhance it surgically now and I definitely wouldn't have known when I was a teenager.

i'm a little half and half. it could help self esteem wise, but i don't think it's really healthy for teens to get plastic surgery so young.

I don't think this is about developing coping skills. In your teenage years you are apt to make a lot of mistakes and rash decisions as is. I don't think it's good to ad to that list a nose job and a tummy tuck before 17.

99.9% of teenagers hate a bit of their body and 99.9% of them are over it by 18. they need to get on with life imo

Thhis is insane; While it might get rid of the problem, it doesn't teach you to love yourself or to embrace differences and the huge problem is these girls haven't finished developing yet! Many girls grow into their features by the time they hit 18-25 and their stunning.

The ONLY time I understand some procedures, is if your 16-17 is thin yet has a large chest that causes severe back pain; then I agree with getting a breast reduction because w/o that your back can be damaged. If she a nose with severe and I mean a very severe bump or crooked nose, then when she turned 16-17 I would let her have the option to correct it. However the alignment of the nose would have to be very, very off center since I would almost never recommend a nose job to somebody; I always want people to choose to be themselves than something a surgeon re-created.

When I was younger, I told myself that I wanted a nose job because I find it big but now that I'm older, I've changed my mind. I just like the way I am. =)

We are still not too sure of long term effects on the thing and when you are a teen, your face changes drastically in the early 20's so why, ohhhhh why would you let a teen get themselves carved?

I'm 15, and there's no way I could choose different facial features for myself :0
I think if a teen gets disfigured in an accident or something, it's understandable. But if you're not done growing, messing with features that you'll probably grow into is a terrible idea.

I'm 17, and sure, I've been unhappy at times with how I look, but I'd NEVER want to change who I am. Besides, don't your looks continue to change well into your 20s? Unless you've been severely deformed by some sort of accident or medical condition, I see no reason for plastic surgery.

I live in Hollywood, so I see and know tons of people who have had plastic surgery, and it almost NEVER looks natural. In fact, I know quite a few people who wound up looking way WORSE after a surgery. The worst is boob jobs for young girls. I was an A cup forEVER and seriously just grew into a C. It's insane to get that done at 14 when you're still growing.

Also, if anyone is being made fun of for how they look, they should know that THEY are not the ones with the problem. The kids who are mean and shallow enough to do that are the ones that should be "fixed."

I think the patient should at least be 18 years of age. Unless of course it's an extrem case, such as a burn victim or a girl experiencing pack pain a previous poster mentioned.

Also, doesn't anybody else think it's weird that parents buy their daughters a boob job for their graduation? I've found this to be very common. It's like they're saying, we're proud of you honey, now here's a bigger pair of breasts to help you in the real world. Weird! I couldn't even imagine asking my dad for that, ick.

lol, I meant back pain. What's pack pain?

No way!

When I was younger there were a lot of things I wanted to fix, specifically a bump in my nose. I despised it up till I was 17, and would have given anything to have it removed. The thing is though no one ever noticed the bump for the longest time, then once I pointed it out to a friend who simply told me it was "cute and added character to my face and I'd be crazy to have it removed so I could look like just another plain jane." Now I embrace it and love it, because it's true I don't have a common nose and I like it. I learned to cope with it, and it's also helped me to cope with other things and to look past my flaws and the flaws of others. I'm happy with myself.

I understand why some teens would want cosmetic surgery. I was not cute as a kid, and I thought about it sometimes. That said, plastic
surgery is dangerous, will not fix self esteem issues, and shouldn't be done on people who are still growing.

I tried to go fix my nose when I was 12(and no it wasn't THAT obvious to begin with) and the doc told me I was still too young for it so I went home crying and ranting but then at 22 I was looking for a job and fresh graduate and plenty of time so got it done.
Maybe they shuold wait for a while too.

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I think that it's definitely reasonable for SOME teens. If they're being severely bullied at school(and I know how it feels), I wouldn't let my child live with that as long as I could find some way to hustle the money asap.

I think it's totally ludicrous that a plastic surgeon did a breast lift on a 14 year old though. That's just plain unsafe whereas a good bra and maybe a change of wardrobe would help her immensely.

I myself plan to get an umbilicoplasty one day in the future to change my outtie belly button into an innie. That's something that has bothered me from I was very young and it continues to affect what clothes I chose to wear to this day.

And dealing with teasing can be good for building up character, but not necessarily. I have never done plastic surgery but my mom let me do laser hair removal when I was around 10 or 11. That was something that I was incredibly self-conscious about and was bullied constantly my peers, but especially male classmates. To this day, I still have very low self-confidence. I am a naturally thin-skinned and very sensitive person and honestly, I still feel scarred from it. Its hard for me to accept a compliment given by a male peer and I have made the mistake of sabotaging some potential relationships because of this. I just can't get over the fact that not everybody is out to hurt me or make fun of me. I don't ever want my future daughter(or son) to feel this, and as long as it's a reasonable request, I'll try to support them.

Most people that say teens don't plastic surgery because the bullying is good character building but that's because they didn't need it and never dealt with teasing or other things like it. A friend of mine almost killed them self because of the immense teasing that they went through. I was her only friend in the school and when we walked through the halls people would say "here comes Pinocchio", "is she a real girl", or even "how many lies did you tell today" Even though i was there for her what they said hurt her and my being there wasn't enough. she now has to see a therapist everyday and take medication because she started cutting. So i think that adults need to get a clue because teasing NOW is nothing like it was THEN. If adults had listened when she had complained or her mother and father had let her get plastic surgery maybe she wouldn't have become what she is now and then everyone would have known how sweet she was. I think people should be allowed to do what they want to their bodies.