Statistics from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery casts some light on this often misunderstood subject. A common assumption is that teenagers are undergoing more and more inappropriate procedures. The statistics gathered however, tell a different story.
For those 18 and under:
Ten Years Ago: there were 220,077 procedures in 2002 representing 3.2% of the total;
Five Years Ago: there were 178,041 procedures in 2006 representing 1.6% of the total;
Last Year: there were 131,877 procedures in 2011 representing 1.4% of the total;
This Year: there were 130,502 procedures in 2012 representing 1.3% of the total;
So in fact, the numbers are decreasing. Many of these patients are being treated for congenital abnormalities, severe breast asymmetry, or abnormal breast tissue in men. The most common procedure in 2012 was otoplasty, or ear reshaping. While ear shape may seem trivial to some, it can be a source of incessant teasing to young people, and the surgery to improve or correct it is not at all extreme, often done under local anesthesia in the office.
While some teenagers are good candidates for surgery such as liposuction, the careful screening by Board Certified Plastic Surgeons leads to nearly all of them being turned away and reassured instead.
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