Plastic surgery in Singapore, especially for cosmetic reasons, has become very popular in recent years. Adding to its popularity are celebritiesin Hollywood and Korean Entertainment who have now become more open to plastic surgery to enhance their appearance or correct physical flaws, thereby also increasing the desire of fans to also have the same look and get cosmetic enhancements like their idols.
Teenagers nowadays consider plastic surgery at an early age
With the rise of popularity of plastic surgery in Singapore, therealso comesa widening of the age bracket of people (mostly women) who are undergoing plastic surgery procedures. Reported data have shown that the percentage of teens having plastic surgery procedures has grown in percentage and a lot of teens aged 15 to18 are opting for plastic surgery.
The younger group has now been more concerned about how they look perhaps due to social media influence and peer pressure. Some studies have shown that a lot of teens feel insecure about what they consider as an unattractive appearance, and in worst cases, some experience being bullied or an outcast due to their unappealing physical appearance. That is why some teens turn to plastic surgery to enhance their beauty and gain self-confidence. Also, most parents in Singapore are really supportive and are more than willing to let their children have the procedure.
It’s the parents’ job to guide their children
Speaking of parents, for matters and decisions involving plastic surgery, it is a parents’ job to guide their children and understanding the reasons why their child wants to undergo the procedure. It is vital that parents also weigh the pros and cons before actually letting their teens get any plastic surgery procedure done. Risks of having the procedure should always be looked out for by my parents.
In Singapore, all patients under 21 years old are required by government regulations to have parental consent before any plastic surgery procedure is done thus forcing parents to really think things through before giving consent. It is better to have a serious talk first with your child why he or she is requesting for plastic surgery, to better understand the heart of the matter.
Now, if your teen has started requesting for a surgical procedure and you are wondering how to go about it, the following considerations might help. These are among the points we also consider at Dream Singapore for teens who are interested in undergoing plastic surgery. Of course, consultation is required to further see your options and you are always welcome to schedule an appointment at our clinic.
For parents, consider the points below if your teenager is asking for plastic surgery:
- Teens must voice out a specific concern and have realistic goals.
For parents, listening to your child’s concerns is really vital. Saying “No” right away is not really a good approach as you might miss the importance of the concern. As a parent you should be able to understand what it is that your child really wants out of plastic surgery. You might want to check if your child has specific concerns like if there is a part of their body or face that bothers them.
For example, is your child complaining about a lump in the nose that bothers them? Lumps in the nose are not a usual appearance and that is a specific complaint, making your child a good candidate for plastic surgery. Also, a good candidate should have realistic goals on why he or she wants the surgery: are they trying to fit in with his peers or wants more popularity? A better understanding of the reasons why your child wants plastic surgery can help you determine your plans to solve the matter like a visit to a plastic surgeon to discuss what are the most achievable options.
- Teens must show maturity in understanding the procedure, risks, and consequences.
Plastic Surgery may involve a lot of risks and outcomes and your child should be able to handle and accept the matter. Some surgical procedures require a longer time to complete and healing time might take a while, thus if your teen cannot commit to be available for the whole duration of the procedure or follow the required time and limitations for surgery and healing, then he or she is not yet ready. We always advise parents to help their children understand the role in the success of the procedure.
- Teens, not the parents, must initiate the request for surgery.
Parents should never suggest plastic surgery for their children – the idea must come from your child. As a parent, we don’t want our own experiences to be experienced by our children and we naturally try to protect our them from any emotional harm, thus we might suggest plastic surgery. However, a parent must also remember that perspective differs from person to person. For having a single eyelid for example, your child might not be bothered like you were when you were his or her age. There should always be patient consent.
- If teen asks about cosmetic procedures particularly on the ears, nose or breasts
Again, the parents must understand what their children feel and why they want changes on their ears, nose or breasts. Parents should gauge if a certain procedure might affect the activities his or her child does. After thorough discussion, both parents and teens must agree if plastic surgery is indeed the best option. That is then you can pay a visit to a trusted plastic surgeon to plan out the best treatment approach.