Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon: Just Say 'Maybe' to Teen Cosmetic Surgery

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Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) July 22, 2007 -- In recent months, a growing number of stories in the mainstream press have purported to reveal the evils of teen plastic surgery, making it seem like tens of thousands of teens each year undergo dramatic and risky procedures so they can look like the rich and famous. Dr. Stewart Wang, a plastic surgeon in Southern California, has seen his fair share of teen patients who are looking into cosmetic surgery for the wrong reasons. But in spite of the media reports, teen plastic surgery can be beneficial, and Dr. Wang believes it's important that teens don't get a negative idea of all plastic surgery procedures.

"No doubt, some cosmetic procedures aren't right for the vast majority of teens," says Dr. Wang. "For instance, unless it's an exceptional case, I don't perform breast augmentation on anyone under 18. But other procedures can offer huge quality of life improvements to my teen patients."

By now, most Americans have heard the stories about parents giving their 16 or 18-year-old girl breast implants for her birthday, stories that have struck a nerve and touched off controversy. But despite the media hysterics, teen breast augmentation remains remarkably rare. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), only 9,104 breast augmentation surgeries were performed on 18-19 year olds in 2006, which represents only 3% of the 329,000 augmentation surgeries performed over the year. The ASPS does not track the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who underwent breast augmentation, but this number is certainly even lower.

In reality, many other teen surgeries are much more common than breast augmentation. Rhinoplasty is the most popular teen cosmetic procedure, accounting for over half of all teen procedures in 2006 according to the ASPS. While this procedure is the most popular, it is also not without controversy. Some surgeons believe that nose surgery should be performed only on patients age 20 or older. Dr. Wang generally prefers to wait until patients are older for most facial surgery, since making permanent changes to your face is a very serious decision.

Other popular procedures include male breast reduction to correct gynecomastia and otoplasty, or ear surgery, to pin back ears that stick out far from the head. Dr. Wang believes that these surgeries are often necessary to improve a teen's self esteem and avoid taunting and teasing. He also commonly performs double eyelid surgery for Asian teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19, though he counsels these patients to carefully consider their surgical decision and talk it over with family and friends.

"I think for every teen patient, it really comes down to a case by case decision," adds Dr. Wang. "For me, the key variable is maturity. Some teens come to my office having unrealistic goals, and they can't provide a good reason why they think cosmetic surgery is right for them. Others come in and I can tell they've done the research, they've thought about their decision, and they understand what they're getting into. A mature teen is always a better patient."

Within the cosmetic surgery community, a debate has begun about how to address societal concerns about teens going under the knife. Dr. Wang encourages plastic surgeons to take an active role in helping to educate teens about being mature and making carefully-considered decisions. "Given the media images and peer pressure, education is essential," says Dr. Wang. "Someone has to counter the message that teen cosmetic surgery is a magic wand, but you don't want to scare teens away entirely. Any surgery is a serious responsibility, not a bunch of glitz and glamour."

While plastic surgeons have an important educational role, parents also need to do their part steering teens in the right direction. Many plastic surgeons like Dr. Wang are happy to meet with parents to talk with them about what to say to a teen considering cosmetic surgery, and to provide them accurate, reliable information to share.

"Like so much in life," adds Dr. Wang, "teen plastic surgery is not a black-and-white issue. Some teens see great benefits and improved self esteem, while others who undergo the more dramatic procedures are likely to regret their decision down the road."

Wang Plastic Surgery (www.wangplasticsurgery.com) maintains three cosmetic surgery offices in the greater Los Angeles/Southern California area--Alhambra, Arcadia, and Upland, California. Dr. Stewart Wang is a board-certified plastic surgeon and diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The practice offers a complete array of cosmetic surgery and medical spa options.

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