Thanks to the ever-trending Snapchat & Instagram pretty filters, it has made girls realize that you need specific few features- a fuller “Kylie Jenner” lips, large doe-eyes, crystal clear to look beautiful.
A survey from the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) featured by Time found that surgeons had seen a 31% increase in patients requesting surgery to look better online.
The grave situation is that the amount has increased at a staggering rate among the minors.
Some 229,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on patients aged 13 to 19 in 2017. Cosmetic surgery procedures at large jumped 11% in 2017, with patients spending more than $6.5 billion.
And believe it or not, digital media especially social media has a lot to do with it.
Plastic Surgery in Developing Teens
A major concern about plastic surgery on adolescents is that teen bodies developed throughout those years. There are several pieces of research that have been carried out to understand the risk of giving minors plastic surgery.
What is more annoying is that this has begun to transform into a cultural phenomenon, like a television show on surgical makeovers to procreate the idea of “perfect figure” into young girls.
Do you remember how many girls want those Kylie Jenner lips back in 2016? They were going through lip fillers, botox. Some even tried to suck some bottle cap, injuring themselves badly.
With that one confession, Kylie actually made getting fillers & botox “okay” among teenagers.
The Risk of Cosmetic surgery
Imagine a 10-year-old boy going through breast implant, liposuction, and genital plastic surgery to turn “pretty”. Or a 7-year-old girl going through treatments in order to be a model?
Sounds horrific right? But not too many parents apparently.
Studies have concluded that parents themselves fund thousands of dollars on these wishes.
But you can imagine that someone going through such surgeries obviously will have severe effects on the body. Most girls have at least one serious complication within the first 3 years, including infection, hematomas, & seromas.
For example, doing a breast implant on a 7-year-old girl will hamper the milk ducts that are yet to develop in her body. This can lead to capsular contracture.
Also, breast implants can last for 10 years, so an adolescent will require a repeated number of procedures throughout her lifetime in order to make herself “attractive”.
Also, there was a steady rise in liposuction among minors, especially in America. Liposuction also carries potentially serious risks. Primary risks include infection, damage to the skin, nerves, or vital organs, fat or blood clots that can eventually lead to death as an excessive amount of fluid loss can make the body go in shock; a lot for a teenager’s body to handle.
The difference between reconstructive surgery & cosmetic surgery
Yes, there is a huge, huge difference between the two!
Elaine Ducharme, Ph.D., a board-certified clinical psychologist, explained,
“Plastic surgery can involve reconstruction of a body part to correct certain types of defects, such as birthmarks, cleft lips, ear deformities and other things such as scars from burns or animal bites,”
Now how it is different from cosmetic surgery?
Well, Dr. Ducharme said, “Another type of surgery, generally referred to as cosmetic, is done to make a person feel more satisfied with their body and appearance. This type of surgery includes breast implants, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty, and others.”
The impact of digital media in this epidemic
Nowadays, we capture & document each & every aspect of our lives.
Inevitably, there is a strong correlation between social media & the way we see us!
With its many boons, social media has also brought about an unprecedented wave of digital “self-love” reflected in selfies and other social images.
There are people who want to look like their favorite “filters” as well. Yes, can you believe that?
Individuals can also take advantage of various social apps to dictate how they are perceived by others – for better or worse.
For instance, say a girl with chubby cheeks & curly hair. It would have been a minor problem in the past but now, thanks to social media & the whole “sleek” look trend going on she may have trouble being the “popular girl” or be called a “fatty”.
This constant pressure by the peers, her idols, maybe even her family will make her think that she needs to have a facelift!
Teens basically except that getting a few surgeries may improve their self-confidence. But does it actually help?
There is no proof of that happening!
In fact, it may be detrimental at times. Psychology says that people at the age of 11 to 16 often have difficulty with their body, but it gets better when they reach around 18.
Also, surgeries at such a naïve age may make them dissatisfied later in life which will lead to another set of surgeries or worse, to remove the implants or whatever the procedure has been done!
Celebrities influencing to embrace plastic surgery among minors?
When you hear that your favorite actresses like Kaley Coco, Robin Wright, even Lisa Kudrow, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian; the royalties of Hollywood are receiving plastic surgery at their teens; obviously you want to follow their footsteps!
On average, a Millennial will take up to 25,700 selfies during their lifetime.
But good or bad, social media influence is here to stay.
The decision is with the parents to get more information. Look, it is okay to make changes if it is what you want, but if you’re just trying to impress others, it might not be needed but has a certain age & with lots of information.
Use social media for positive changes. Looking beautiful is your choice but what is more important is to love yourself first.
Understand that at what age you are in & that your body will go through many changes. Informed consent would enable teens and their parents to decide carefully what is best for them.
How do you feel about minors getting cosmetic surgeries? Tell us at Skyram Technologies.
Also, for more such blogs read here!
