Adolescent Cosmetic Surgery: What Determines Medical Necessity

Cosmetic surgery is certainly the rage of the last few decades, and for good reason. It has become more and more available to those beyond the realm of Hollywood, and is certainly not taboo. In fact, it may be taboo to not consider cosmetic surgery in some circles. The medical specialty is now even being used as a way to get children and/or adolescents back on the right emotional track. Even if some conditions do not medically necessitate surgery, more adolescents are going under the knife for the benefit of self-esteem, which is arguably as important to development as any other health aspect.

Some surgeries that youngsters are likely to desire are simple ones like otoplasty, scar or birthmark removal, or even blepharoplasty. Otoplasty, which is commonly referred to as ear pinning, is a purely cosmetic procedure during which, as the name suggests, protruding ears are “pinned” into a more “normal” position. Even young children are often candidates for this procedure.

Another common cosmetic surgery sought by adolescents is the correction or removal of birthmarks, particularly those on the face or parts of the body such as the forearm that cannot easily be hidden under clothes. Imagine being a young girl with a birthmark that covers the entire arm. This young girl is likely to want to keep the area covered which makes the entire summer season an emotional nightmare for her as she dodges swimming parties, dons a shawl to the prom, and does not try out for sports that require uniforms that will expose her birthmark. This birthmark could be robbing her of her childhood and perhaps of potential opportunities to excel. It seems silly to an adult, but the situation to the child is serious, and her feelings should be respected.

For children who are seeking cosmetic surgeries there is sometimes a fine line as to whether a prospective procedure will be deemed medically necessary or elective. Professionals will argue that anything keeping a child from engaging in normal daily activities, whether via choice or medical inability, can be approached as a medical issue that necessitates surgery in order to promote both normal physical and emotional development.

Of course there are some procedures that are certainly not elective. Birthmarks on the face that have the potential to prohibit normal eyesight, speech development, or nutrition are absolutely disallowing natural development and should be treated as medical issues. Cleft palates, cleft lips, or even a condition known as ankyloglossia can keep a small child from thriving and from communicating. Social stigma surrounding how a person looks can be disheartening to a child, but whether to help your child adjust by moral or life coaching alone in or in conjunction with cosmetic surgery is a choice to be made among a parent, a doctor, and the child. If; however, speech or growth is inhibited or if physical incapability exists because of a condition, a child should be encouraged to embrace cosmetic surgery as a medical necessity for normal development.