As the number of cosmetic procedures in young adults continues to grow, psychotherapists dig for the answers as to why so many teens turn to cosmetic plastic surgery. The main reason at hand seems to be more than looking beautiful – it’s a search for happiness and self-confidence through knives, suction tubes, and silicone.
The most common reasons behind undergoing such procedures are:
•The pursuit of happiness: By the 1800’s, it was already a common belief that the plastic surgeon could cure unhappiness through cosmetic surgery.
•The negative effects of too much or too little parental praise: Too much parental praise will make children feel like they can not live up to their parents expectations. Dr. Rita Freedman once wrote that “parental praise is a crucial part of the socialization process, it can build self-esteem, but it can also backfire.” Not enough praise, can make children feel insecure at a young age and that insecurity will carry on into their later life.
•Parents’ acceptance of plastic surgery: Surgeons have seen a trend in which parents who are in favor of plastic surgery encourage their kids to consider cosmetic plastic surgery because they want the “best for their children.”
•The media: Teenagers’ favorite celebrities and idols are basically walking advertisements for cosmetic plastic surgery.
•Society’s perception of certain physical attributes: Society’s positive and negative perception of certain physical attributes such as hairy or bald, fat or thin, large nose or small nose, male or female, etc. plays a large role in teenage clients' decision to undergo cosmetic surgery. Modern society’s perception of each socially defined category is constantly changing! What is popular this year, may not be next.
As I was doing some reasearch on the issue of children observing their parents - especially their mothers, I came a cross a startling statistic, "[a recent] study shows that the majority of ten year old girls are already afraid of becoming too fat." I'm sure that most parents don't realize the effects their actions can and will have on their kids in the future...
Some things to think about:
If you are a parent reading this, how would you feel about your teenager undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery? Would you push his or her decision towards it?
If you are a teenager reading this, in what ways are you influenced?
Citations:
Bionic Women: How Cosmetic Surgery is Changing the Modern Female - Thiedman, Laura B.
Making the Body Beautiful: A Cultural History of Aesthetic Surgery. - Sander Gilman
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Wow, I had no idea plastic surgery had been around for so long. I think this information says a lot about human nature and especially the nature of our society. We're obsessed with finding easy fixes because we are too lazy or too scared to really address the matters behind them. Plastic surgery is just an easy fix that in the long-term doesn't solve problems like low self-confidence. Its also sad that parents don't see this and will allow their teens to get plastic surgery.
ReplyDeleteplastic surgery is just crazy and not even necessary in teens unless completely needed which most of the time its not, if you must have cosmetic surgery you should wait until you older and your sure that you want to go through with it.
ReplyDeleteWOW, I do not believe that a parent would think that cosmetic surgery is what is "best" for their children. I know my parents would not think cosmetic surgery is what is best for me at all. I think that societies view of beauty or physical attributes really shouldn't matter because everyone is different and looks different and that is what makes us who we are! I was so shocked to read about the ten year olds who are worried about becoming fat. That is not something a 5th grader should be worrying about!
ReplyDeleteThis is terrible! I do not think teenagers should resort to plastic surgery. Teenagers change their minds like every other day. When their an adult they may not even want that augmentation anymore!
ReplyDeleteI find it incredible that plastic surgery was on the minds of those living in the 1800's. If people have to have cosmetic surgery to feel good about themselves and to be happy, there clearly is underlying issue that is much deeper than a fix to the body. More needs to be done to prevent the promotion of plastic surgery.
ReplyDeleteIn media, it's not just the supermodels and stars that promote cosmetic surgery. It's so popular as part of TV shows, it's scary. Nip/Tuck, reality TV...even shows that don't focus on it mention it and make it more commonplace (like in House M.D., where one of the main characters is a plastic surgeon).
ReplyDeleteWhat effect will teens having surgery now have on them in the future? Are there adverse medical effects later in life?
yea, i definitely understand wanting to do it because of a parent. like my mom constantly calls me fat(i'm a size 2 or 4) and i think about liposuction sometimes like maybe how happy she'd be if i was a 0
ReplyDeleteThe 1800s? I would never think that they even knew how to preform elective surgery esspecially safely! Also, I dont think kids realize how much free time most celebs have to work out and get that size zero, its all so crazy!
ReplyDeleteIt's terrible that parents are part of the underlying issues that cause teens to turn to plastic surgery. Parents should support their kids the way they are. Teenagers have to face enough insecurities without their parents adding to it.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent, I have often wondered if mothers really realize the impact of how they address their own body images has on their daughters. Several years ago, a friend of mine had breast augmentation. She also had a 13 year old daughter who was dealing with the normal insecurities of being a teenager. Now, ten years later, the daughter has had her nose and ears "done" and is contemplating some body reshaping measures. I don't know whether this would have happened anyway but I have to think that usually children follow by example. As a parent, I think it is important to really think before speaking ( i.e. "I'm so fat" etc ) and certainly before acting ( fad diets, surgical procedures ). We have to show that not only are we ok with ourselves but with our children - who are beautiful from birth.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder teensagers body images are so distorted today! The pressures to fit in and live up to our societys standards are ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this information. As a mother of three children (2 teens and younger middle-schooler) it is just so shocking to know that your actions can have such detrimental affects on your teenagers self-esteem... I will definitely have to watch my mouth before I speak negatively about my weight in front of them!! lol
ReplyDeleteThese reasons are so accurate! I know I sure have been influenced by all of these societal pressures.
ReplyDeleteNINA AUGUSTINE
ReplyDeleteThese reasons are pretty accurate, but it's really all up to the individual. Some people are just generally uncomfortable with their appearance, and feel that to gain popularity, they must change the way they look. Others simply undergo cosmetic surgery to correct something that was brought about by an illness. I, for instance, had club foot and therefore am undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure on my leg to correct the symptoms of the issue.
NINA AUGUSTINE