Cosmetic Surgery

Many female teenagers crave to look perfect, and are determined to do anything they could to get what they want. They have considered performing cosmetic surgery, and many of them follow through with the surgery. The increase of bullying and pressure have extensive effects to the victim, and one of those effects is plastic surgery. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics, nearly 219,000 cosmetic surgery procedures were performed on people ages 13-19 in 2011 (“Plastic Surgery For Teenagers”). Physical attractions is promoted everywhere we go; on highways, in the magazines, and in entertainment. It’s as if looking enticing is the only quality that is accepted in our society. Teenagers are pressured to look attractive for attention and their peer’s approval. Socializing is substantial during teenage years, and if someone has low-self esteem because of how they look, then cosmetic surgery seems to be the easiest option for themselves. The media influences teenagers to get plastic surgery. The overuse of the internet and TV tells them that being thin is preferred in society. They believe the only way to achieve being thin is getting liposuction. Many may believe that cosmetic surgery is beneficial, but it’s unreasonable, irrelevant, and dangerous. The government should be able to create a law that puts an age restriction on cosmetic surgery so less teenagers harm themselves.

Many parents of those teenagers that follow through with cosmetic surgery don’t realize the dysfunctions that it causes to the body. Teenagers need to be aware of the complications and risks involved when they undergo cosmetic surgery. They are still growing at a young age and could affect the way they grow. The final results of the surgery, combined with the fully mature growth, can come out looking worse than before. Surgery is surgery, and many risks are involved. According to Nancy Etcoff, psychologist at Harvard Medical School and author of Survival of the Prettiest, “Plastic surgery isn’t a pure benefit. It isn’t someone waving a magic wand and teenagers look better. They’re subjecting themselves to potential dangers” (“Plastic Surgery: Beauty or Beast?”). She is saying that cosmetic surgery isn’t always just about the outcome of looking good, cosmetic surgery is an easy way to develop dysfunctions in the body. Possible outcomes that may come plastic surgery are blood clots, brain damage, heart attack, stroke, and even death. “The pretty high school cheerleader sought surgery to correct inverted nipples, and breast asymmetry in 2008, but died on the operating table of a rare genetic disorder, malignant hypothermia, that was triggered by the anesthesia” (“What Children Will Do to Look ‘normal’”). This illustrates one of the dangers of cosmetic surgery. Teenagers are often unaware of the long lasting health consequences of tanning, smoking, and other unsafe behaviors, and are less likely to pay attention to