Teenagers Lead Searches for Plastic Surgeries

In the world of plastic surgery, various dreams are realized. Women and men seek clinics in search of body improvements that are sometimes unattainable. "Usually diets and physical activities do not satisfy a person's desire for a better appearance, or there is some imperfection caused by an accident or other reasons that motivate the search for surgery," says plastic surgeon and full member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, Humberto Pinto. A survey by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) in 2019 found that young people between 13 and 18 years old are increasingly seeking plastic surgeries. Brazil leads the ranking of surgeries performed on this demographic. In the last 10 years, according to the SBCP, there has been a 141% increase. According to plastic surgeon Humberto Pinto, all care is necessary, "first because there is a minimum age for any surgery, which is being over 18 years old, or if younger, they must be accompanied by their parents. But even so, before making any decision, it is essential to evaluate the expectations and reasons for seeking the procedure, taking into account the person's maturity both physically and psychologically," says the surgeon. The current generation of teenagers has been born into a technological world, so the digital universe is relatively vain, and image is everything. "There is a concern with the photo, the posted video, acceptance in the school group, and many children turn to their parents for an alternative because they feel rejected or out of standard, thus the most sought-after procedures are rhinoplasty (nose surgery); otoplasty (ear surgery); breast surgery and liposuction," points out the doctor. According to plastic surgeon Jefferson Vaccari, also a full member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP), teenagers can indeed undergo plastic surgery, but various aspects must be evaluated beforehand, especially regarding physical and emotional maturity. "One of the characteristics of this phase of life is immediacy. Their motivations must be carefully evaluated, as well as all the pros and cons must be discussed," he says. "Protruding ears (otoplasty), for example, can be operated on from the age of 7, which is when they are fully formed. Here, they are usually patients who suffer at school, have trauma, and feel bad," Vaccari states. Even during the pandemic when physical attendance at school is no longer happening, many young people still pursue the dream of plastic surgery and are just waiting for the situation to normalize. "For some, wearing a mask has increased the problem; we have cases of teenagers complaining about the elastic on their ears and even the shape of their face being highlighted due to the fabric," says Humberto. A good conversation at home is worth it before the visit to the clinic.