Teen plastic surgery is on the rise.
Parents are giving teen plastic surgery for graduation and Christmas gifts and I’m wondering what message is this sending to our teens? Even within my own circle of friends, plastic surgery comes up quite a bit.
Maybe a little Botox here, a little there and usually I always say “I’m working hard on feeling good about myself just the way I am” and if I get surgery it says something is wrong with me.
I work very hard everyday to help teens and young women have an understanding that they are okay, just the way they are.
I totally understand corrective surgery but I’m questioning surgery to make you look more like a model: bigger lips, breasts, skinnier bottom and legs, especially if you’re a teen. Things change, looks change as we get older and we don’t really know what the long term effects are going to be.
Parents before jumping into teen plastic surgery to please your teen, look at the reason why they want it. Is it to fit in better, to look more like the media expects us to look, why? We as parents need to spend more time helping our teens feel good about themselves. If they have areas they aren’t happy with, this is a good time to talk about why. Start educating them early about how girls in the media are not what real women look like. They are photo shopped to look thinner, smoother and wrinkleless. Some of the models aren’t eating enough to keep themselves healthy.
We come in all shapes and sizes with unique features that make us who we are. This video below is disturbing about a teen who died after surgery and what teens would go through to make themselves look better. If I had surgery for everything I was ever made fun of, I wouldn’t even look the same. I’d be 4″ taller, different teeth and I would have hair implants and reconstructive foot surgery because some guy said I had the ugliest feet he’d ever seen. Instead of working toward changing my looks I’m spending the time to love myself for who I am. It’s the key to being happy.
Plastic surgery may make you feel good about that particular issue, but it’s not going to miraculously heal your body image of yourself. Actually, it may lead to more plastic surgery, and more plastic surgery. Parents help your teens have a better sense of self so they can have true happiness.
