Turn on your TV and you will see a bunch of shows that glorify plastic surgery as a miracle cure for looking good. Those shows are almost always less than accurate in explaining the dangers of plastic surgery, the major risks involved with any type of surgery, or the possibility of bad cosmetic results. Furthermore, as a teen, you should be very careful about cosmetic plastic surgery, if you consider it at all. Plastic surgery is a serious procedure and if you are thinking about having it done, use caution. Plastic surgery is permanent in most cases, and what you do now will be there for your whole life. There are two reasons for plastic surgery:

• Reconstructive – plastic surgery done to fix a birth defect, scarring from an accident or scarring as a result of another health-related surgery; for example, getting your nose fixed after a bad bike accident or having surgery to repair a lip deformity (cleft lip) you were born with.
• Cosmetic – plastic surgery to enhance your looks; for example, having nose surgery because you want it to be smaller, or getting breast implants so that you feel more attractive.

Whether you think you need or want plastic surgery, read more so you’ll know what you’re getting into.

Made popular by Hollywood, cosmetic plastic surgery is becoming as commonplace as blonde highlights. What the movie stars don’t tell you is that plastic surgery is extremely painful and dangerous. As with all surgery, there are risks of complications caused by extra stress on the body. And the nature of plastic surgery makes the risks even higher.
There can be some practical benefits from plastic surgery. Young women might consider breast reduction surgery if their breasts are uncomfortably large. Many times very large breast size can cause back pain, bad posture and other conditions that weaken the body. For girls with severe acne scars, there is dermabrasion, which is a surgical procedure that scrapes away the top layers of skin in order to remove the scarring. In cases like these, plastic surgery is an accepted and often recommended form of treatment. Regardless, these procedures are very serious and are generally appropriate only in extreme cases. The key is to talk with your doctor in order to see if reconstructive plastic surgery is the right choice for you.

Some girls your age consider plastic surgery to improve their physical appearance. Teenagers consider procedures such as rhinoplasty (nose jobs), liposuction (removing fat tissue under the skin) and breast implants when they are faced with pressure to look a certain way. Although there are plastic surgeons out there who might perform these procedures on teenagers, most will advise strongly against it. Remember that breast implants are only approved for women over the age of 18. The bottom line is, you are still growing. What seems weird, big, small or ugly now will probably fit in just fine when you have grown a bit more. And, if you undergo a serious surgery that reconstructs your bones and tissues now, there may be complications as your body continues to grow.

If you are determined to get plastic surgery, take plenty of time to consider your decision. Make sure you have all the information—the risks, recovery period (including bruising and discoloration), short and long term effects, and alternative treatments. Most doctors also advise their patients to get counseling before any major plastic surgery procedure.

• What is Body Image?
• Accept Your Body
• Media Influence
• How to Have a Health Body Image
• Eating disorders
• All Different Body Types
• Teen Obesity