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Report Says Some Teens Consider Cosmetic Surgery to Combat Teasing

Good Morning America recently looked at how some teens are considering cosmetic surgery in order to avoid teasing or bullying because of their appearance.

One teen that did go through with surgery is high school senior Erica Morgo. She said that she was bullied by her classmates in middle school because of her nose. “They would call me Pinocchio. And in school, in class, people would point it out. I felt helpless. I felt like a loser,” she said.

Erica’s mother, Dana Manzella, allowed Erica, then 15, to undergo nose surgery.

“I think that was definitely a good decision, because it brought her back — her self-esteem back up to be able to do activities that she did before, with comfort,” Manzella said.

Good Morning America reported that nearly 90,000 teenagers had cosmetic surgery in 2007, and doctors say the numbers are growing.

“I do see a fair amount of parents coming in with their child because of bullying and teasing and feelings of self-consciousness,” said cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Fiorillo. While his preference is for the teens to work out the issues first, he says there are certain situations where people are mature enough. “And surgery is a final resort,” he added.

Some of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for teenagers include nose jobs, breast reductions, breast augmentations and ear tucks.

Michelle Martin, another teen featured in the segment, waited until she was 19 years old to get a breast augmentation after years of being teased for having a small chest.

Martin said the painful recovery and scars from the surgery were a small price to pay to make up for the scars left by years of teasing and feelings of inadequacy. She said she “absolutely” feels prettier.

“This was just something to make me feel better. To make me happy. To make me feel like a beautiful woman,” said Martin.

Would you accept free cosmetic surgery?

Whether it’s positive or negative, most people have strong opinions about cosmetic surgery. But would the offering of free cosmetic surgery sway more people to opt yes?

Interestingly enough, an independent survey in the UK indicates that most Brits would opt no, even if cosmetic surgery were entirely free of charge.

The survey, which was conducted by Fabriah.com, a beauty retailer that sells anti-aging skin care products (which may have swayed the results), polled 750 women in the UK. Of the 750 participants, 44 percent said they would say “yes” to free cosmetic surgery – but only if they knew the surgery would make them look younger or more attractive.

Opinions of Cosmetic Surgery Vary Across Age and Geographic Location

The results also indicated different levels of acceptance among age groups. By and large, the 18-30 year old group was thee most likely to consider surgery, while those over 55 were the least likely.

Additional factors, such as living in an urban or rural region also affected responses: urbanites were more likely to consider cosmetic surgery than those in the country.

Cosmetic Surgery Becoming More Mainstream

Even though most participants said they’d prefer to age gracefully, the numbers (44 percent) still seem to support the belief that cosmetic surgery is slowly becoming the norm.

And because the study only surveyed women, it failed to take into account one of the fastest growing demographics in cosmetic surgery: aging men.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, male cosmetic surgery – which accounts for 10 percent of all surgery – is growing faster than ever. The rate of male breast reduction in particular, has doubled in the past five years.

Cosmetic surgery doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. More than 9 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the US last year, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery, a one percent increase from the previous year.

New You Magazine – Tips on Health and Cosmetic Medicine

New You is a new consumer publication produced by The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, with quarterly publishing scheduled to begin this month.

With visually stunning images and expert information, the AACS hopes to overcome the stigma sometimes associated with cosmetic surgery. Each issue will bring readers cutting-edge information about proven cosmetic procedures.

Here’s what you’ll find in each issue:

• Real patient stories, before & after photos, and interviews with top cosmetic surgeons
• How the latest techniques in cosmetic surgery can provide a more youthful appearance
• How to avoid negative results and stay safe
• How to choose a trustworthy physician

Where can I find New You?

The primary distribution of New You will be in the waiting rooms of 2500 practicing cosmetic surgeons. An additional 50,000 copies will be distributed to newsstands and other medical professionals.

For more information, visit newyoumag.com