Teenagers and plastic surgery! If you believe the media, it seems as though this is a new, explosive, and possibly
frivolous phenomenon. The truth is that plastic surgery has been around for a very long time and, with the right
patient, it provides an invaluable service for emotional growth and development. It is important for us as plastic
surgeons not to confuse self-esteem issues with adolescent whim.
With younger patients, their central focuses are now and always have been self-esteem, body image, peer
pressure, and peer acceptance. Many well-documented studies verify the negative psychological influences that
perceived physical flaws can induce.1–3 Many of these studies also center on how adults impart values and
judgments on the younger set based on physical appearance. Even in the newborn nursery, the more attractive