Popular Trends in Adolescent Plastic Surgery
When most people think about plastic surgery they think of all the ways that it can help alleviate the signs of aging. However, more and more are coming to realize that the same facial and body contouring procedures can also provide significant benefits to young people as well. According to annual statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the number of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures performed on patients aged 13 to 19 continues to grow each year, largely due to the popularity of two potentially life-altering procedures: rhinoplasty (or nose surgery) and breast reduction.
Rhinoplasty to Improve Respiration
Surgery to alter the size or shape of the nose, commonly known as rhinoplasty, alone accounts for nearly 50% of all cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed on teenaged patients. While such procedures can obviously improve the overall appearance of the nose, they are more frequently done to improve air flow through the nose, particularly in cases where a naturally deviated septum or damage from facial trauma partially blocks the breathing passages. The tissue and cartilage folds that make up the nose can be extremely complex and any procedures that are performed before the nose is fully grown can potentially hinder its ongoing development, so nose surgery is best performed by a board certified plastic surgeon with a great deal of surgical skill and experience performing rhinoplasty procedures in order to achieve optimal results.
Breast Reduction to Reduce Back and Neck Pain
Breasts that are overly large can place excessive stress on the neck and back, potentially causing poor posture, skin irritation, and even chronic pain. By removing excess skin, fat, and glandular tissue, breast reduction surgery can reduce the weight of the breasts and help alleviate these painful and irritating symptoms. In recent years, these procedures have become increasingly popular with patients between 13 and 19 years of age, particularly with young women who have found that their involvement in sports or other physical activities has been hindered by disproportionately large breasts. Moreover, during puberty young men can sometimes suffer from a condition known as gynecomastia, which results in enlarged breast tissue. Male breast reduction procedures can help remove this excess tissue, restoring confidence by creating a more normal appearance.
Both of these procedures have been proven to be safe and effective for teen-aged patients, and in many cases, because younger tissue generally heals more quickly than older tissue, these patients require shorter post-surgical recovery times. Regardless of the procedure, all prospective adolescent patients should have a discussion with their parents about their concerns and aesthetic goals before undergoing any plastic surgery procedure. From there, a thorough preoperative evaluation and discussion of expectations, along with computerized plastic surgery imaging to help avoid the misunderstandings, can help avoid any postoperative disappointment. If you are interested in discussing a plastic surgery procedure, viewing before and after pictures, or learning about the many forms of insurance that we accept and the variety of financing options, including Alphaeon® and CareCredit®, that we can provide, feel free to contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery in Alpharetta or at one of our other Atlanta area offices located in Sandy Springs (Northside), Newnan, or Cumming, to schedule a consultation.
