Crain’s New York Business recently examined one of the latest trends in plastic surgery: cosmetic surgery among teens as a graduation present.
The story reports that the demand for plastic surgery among teens has swelled in the last few years, and plastic surgery is sometimes given as a high school or college graduation present to young women.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 8,199 U.S. teenagers aged 18 and 19 had breast enlargements in 2009—more than triple the number in 2001. This increase was seen despite the recession, at a time when there was a drop in the overall number of plastic surgeries.
Teens make up just 2 percent of all cosmetic surgery patients in the United States, but their numbers are growing, which Crain’s attributes to reality shows like Extreme Makeover and daily press coverage of celebrities’ bodies.
“In the past few years, I’ve seen more younger people doing more plastic surgery than ever before,” says Dr. Andrew Jacono, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New York City. “There’s a lot of pressure on young people to look a certain way, and when kids go away to college, it’s a chance to start all over.”
Nose jobs, liposuction treatments, and breast augmentations are among the most popular procedures for teens. “Breast surgery is at the top of the list for graduates now,” according to Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. Mauro Romita.
Stephanie Michelle, who just graduated from the University of Buffalo, first asked for a nose job for her high school graduation present, but her parents told her to wait for her college graduation. Now that she’s earned her degree, the family is researching doctors.
“This is the perfect time to do it,” says Ms. Michelle. “I am going to be on my own and moving to the city and becoming an adult.” View the full story on this trend at Crain’s New York Business.
