It’s bad enough when adults feel they must transform themselves surgically to enhance their lives, but when teens do it, society knows there’s a problem.
That’s exactly the situation medical professionals see every day in their plastic surgery and botox clinics. Teens as young as 13 are having injections to reduce or prevent the appearance of facial lines. In 2009, nearly 12,000 injections were given to children ages 13-19 (Good Morning America).
One benefit of botox is the price. Patients will shell out only $100’s versus $1,000’s for plastic surgery.
Social commentators cite the influence of media figures seeking perfection and older actresses trying to defy age to compete with younger girls for roles.
Peer Pressure On Teen Botox Use
The Today Show recently ran a feature about teen plastic surgery. To some, having work done is no more worrying than getting braces, they argue. Would an orthodontist question whether you are letting peer pressure and bullying make the decision for you? At the end of the day, when bullying becomes too much and all a teen sees is her nose, his ears, her huge breasts, then that can be damaging to self-esteem say teens and some surgeons.
Some professionals will send potential clients for therapy first. This provides the chance for the teen to explore his or her (usually her) reasons for having work done. These can include wanting to look like a particular actress or even pressure from a parent. Another benefit is the report which shows a teen’s maturity to make this decision and will help the plastic surgeon choose which direction to take. In the case of a girl whose breasts impede sports and cause back-ache, the choice makes sense. Doctor’s sometimes refuse patients who, at 15, want bigger breasts or liposuction.
Not just teens but doctors can feel pressure from their peers – in this case, to refuse purely aesthetic enhancements to teens. This goes for botox too. No one knows the long-term effects of injecting one’s skin. Approved by the FDA in 2002, botox is mainly associated with older women. There is no data on what teens will have to do to maintain their skin once they start.
Regrets and Denial
Lisa Rinna, wife of Harry Hamlin, has publicly voiced her regrets about having too much botox and other work (Huffington Post). Heidi Montag has made similar comments in recent weeks.
Not every star caves in to the pressure to be perfect. Teri Hatcher recently went on Facebook showing photos of her face, straight from the shower and without make-up, to prove she hasn’t had work done. She declares that women are beautiful without going under needle or knife.
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Tags: Teens, Teens Botox