The Necessity Of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is a controversial topic for every age group often related to thoughts of vanity and self-serving rationalization. What has changed over the last several years though is the increasing amount of surgeries being performed on individuals eighteen years of age and under. While many consider plastic surgery to be unnecessary in all non-medical cases for minors, plastic surgery is ethical in special cases including individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight, identify as transgender, or face bullying and discrimination. The amount of extreme weight-loss patients who are teenagers choosing to remove excess skin through cosmetic surgery is increasing. Though the surgery is unnecessary, the surgery improves the self-esteem …show more content…
The surgery included forehead contouring and a cheek augmentation. After the surgery, Raiden’s confidence increased and she feels more comfortable in her body. The number of transgender patients has quadrupled in the past five years, according to the Human Rights Campaign; these teens and young adults have turned to plastic surgeons to help in their transition.While some may argue that plastic surgeons are willing to perform surgery on anyone for their own financial purposes, “patients under the age of eighteen must receive parental permission before undergoing medical procedures. They must also receive professional counseling” (Sears Doctors help more transgender teens, young adults feel like themselves for the first time) Reputable plastic surgeons with teen patients recommend at least four sessions with a therapist with knowledge about plastic surgery before moving forward with any procedures. The reason for these sessions is to determine the emotional maturity of the patient as well as uncover other inappropriate reasons for wanting plastic surgery. Many transgender teens use hormones to delay the proponents of puberty to give them “a unique opportunity to mature before committing to a gender transition” (Ford This Is What Happens To Transgender Kids Who Delay Puberty). A new study found that the results of these treatments are positive. Dutch scientists closely monitored fifty-five …show more content…
& Kuhfeld M. Child Trends). For years, bullying has existed in schools throughout the United States. In today’s society, individuals judge others based on appearance-they mock others, they abuse others, and in some instances, they make others feel as if they are not worthy of being alive. For example, a six-year-old boy from Utah who received free plastic surgery, Gage Berger, was bullied constantly for his large ears. Prior to his Otoplasty--a cosmetic ear surgery that can change the position of the ear--Gage was the subject of “unwanted teases and taunts” (Tan 6-Year-Old Boy Gets ‘Life-Changing’ Plastic Surgery to Stop Bullying Over His ‘Elf Ears’). Gage’s father, Timothy Berger, revealed his “playful, outgoing” son had changed. Gage became quiet and reserved and didn’t want to go to school. Timothy and his wife, Kallie, began to research Otoplasty because they didn’t want the bullying to permanently damage Gage. They met with Dr. Steven Mobley, who runs the Mobley Foundation for Charitable Surgery in Salt Lake, Utah. The foundation provides free cosmetic surgeries for bullied students. Many believe being only six is dangerous for plastic surgery; however, “the ear is then 70 to 80 percent the size of its full adult size” (Tan). Mobley did not change the size of Gage’s ear-he only repositioned it. Mobley and a specialist