| - | What is the right age for plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is safer, more affordable, but risks still exist By Lisa Kramer | Summary: Despite the popularity of plastic surgery procedures and a temptation to have it as soon as you can, younger women may want to wait till they are at least 18-20. Plastic surgery can literally change who you are and not all women are ready to face up to their new personality till they are old enough to appreciate the emotional changes brought about by cosmetic procedures. (Related: Liposuction for obese kids) | | | | |
| A common question asked about plastic surgery is about the right age to get it, particularly when it is a cosmetic procedure rather than a corrective/reconstructive procedure. There is a lot of buzz in the media that plastic surgery is no different than a trip to a day spa or a salon and that it is best to get plastic surgery done as early as you can so that you can enjoy the benefits of plastic surgery longer. (Related article: Plastic surgery decisions are not easy for young women)
 It is for these reasons that we have received from women who are not yet even 18 but want to have one or the other plastic surgery procedure. In most cases, the parents or family members of these women are willing to pay for their procedures. But having plastic surgery when you are not old enough to decide what to do with your life is a bad idea (Reasons for plastic surgery) unless it is a corrective procedure in which case your doctor is the best person to decide what procedure you should have and when. While controversial, but when Ashlee Simpson had her nose job, she was old enough to make her own choices. “Contrary to popular belief, people 18 and younger make up only 4 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. Although the numbers have increased over the years, teens continue to be a small percentage of the plastic surgery population,” says ASPS President Scott Spear. Dr Cap Lesesne, the author of the book "Confessions of a Park Avenue Plastic Surgeon" says that it is best to start early. You heal better, and you don't need to do as much. "You can actually change the way you age," he says. How early is early? "If you do something like a mini-facelift in your early forties you will get much better results than if you walk into a plastic surgeon's office age 70 and say, 'Do me over,' he said in an interview. (Related: Teenager plastic surgery still rare)
According to a new policy developed by the American Association of Plastic Surgeons specifically for younger patients, physicians need to determine if their potential patients are emotionally and physically mature enough to have the surgery, understand the surgery’s potential risks, benefits and possible complications, and have realistic expectations of what it can accomplish. Specific recommendations included in the policy are: Adolescent candidates for purely cosmetic procedures should be at least 18 years old. The procedure should be delayed until the patient has sufficient emotional and physical maturity to make an informed decision. (Related article: Can I have plastic surgery safely?)
What can you do in the meantime? - Research is always helpful in better understanding what your options are and if there are any risks associated with the procedure. Visit the websites of plastic surgeons, clinics, medical journals, etc. to increase your knowledge base.
- You may also be able to better understand through research if you really need the procedure. While you may be teased by your classmates, when you are young, for a small/big nose or a hump on the nose or underdeveloped breasts or any other body part, as you grow older, you might actually realize that your body is just fine. Not all women grow at the same rate and it is only around ~20 or so that your body is fully developed.
- Take better care of your body. Apart from eating right, you must exercise regularly and sleep well. It also helps to smile more often and stay stress-free.
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