Teenage Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is becoming more prevalent among teenagers looking to boost their self esteem or speed up the natural process,

In addition to safety issues, there is concern about the growing use of breast implants among teen-agers. Health officials worry that teen-agers and their parents may not realize the relative permanence of the changes caused by the devices.

They also want to be sure that teens are physically ready - that is, they’re finished developing - and that they are psychologically mature enough to handle the outcome of surgery.

“I didn’t know my breasts were still growing when I signed up for the surgery,” admits Kacey Long, who got saline-filled breast implants in July 2001, when she was 19.

Prior to her surgery, the college student from Ennis, Texas, was a 34B - a breast size she thought would be with her for life.

Teenagers who are dissatisfied with their bodies see breast implants as a harmless - and, according to Long, “fun” - thing to do to improve their self-image.

Long says she felt that her body was too “bottom heavy” for her breasts and wanted to “even out” her figure.

“But I never thought about my implants being dangerous,” she says.

A friend’s mother worked for a plastic surgeon for 12 years and told Long she knew of no problems with patients who had gotten the implants.

“I really thought that I had inside information, and that these devices were completely safe and maintenance-free.”

Following implantation, Long went to a 34D. But complications convinced her to have the implants removed a short time later.

“I had shooting pains in my arms, excruciating pain in every joint, bone, and muscle of my body, I was exhausted all the time, had no energy, lost my hair, and had pains in my chest, heart, and ribs. I had trouble remembering things and thinking clearly, and the list goes on,” she says.

“Before the implants, all I had was allergies.”

Many of the changes to the breast that occur with an implant cannot be undone.

If a teen chooses to have her implants removed, she may experience dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes.

Three years later, Long’s breasts measure 36 - one size larger than before she was implanted - suggesting that her own breasts continued to develop even after the implants were removed.

“When you’re making a decision that can impact your life at 19,” Long advises other young women, “you need to research the subject like you’re 50 years old.”

Ongoing clinical studies for unapproved saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants do not allow for those younger than 18 to receive the implants for augmentation purposes.

Some of these clinical studies even limit reconstruction and revision uses to women 18 and over.

More and more women are considering natural breast enhancement over surgery.

Lucille Sorella has written a book for women who are considering natural breast enhancement over surgery.

Read more about Lucille’s book here.