Isa del Rosal, a junior at SMU, decided she wanted to “fix her lumpy nose” at the age of 16. Her father was completely against the idea. However, her mom understood and agreed to the surgery. Isa has since had three total rhinoplasties, all of which were performed in her hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico. She broke her nose twice after her original surgery and said she was very lucky to have three successful surgeries. “I love it and wish I had done it sooner,” said Rosal.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 47,395 nose-reshaping surgeries occurred in 2005 on men and women 18 years of age and younger. In 2005 total cosmetic procedures were up 15 percent among ages 19 to 34. Botox injections increased 388 percent between the years 2000 and 2005. Augmentation mammaplasty (breast augmentations) increased 37 percent in the same time frame. In the same year and age bracket 142,072 breast augmentations occurred. Last year there were 3,581 breast augmentations performed on women ages 18 and younger.
Plastic surgery is no longer exclusively for the wrinkled and the aging. One of the most popular high school and college graduation gifts in recent years has been plastic surgery say some doctors and patients.
Rhinoplasty (nose reconstructions) and augmentation mammaplasty (breast augmentations) are among the top requested surgeries. It seems women in particular are more and more concerned with their image than ever before.
“Take the show ‘The O.C.’ for example. People in their 20s are playing people in high school,” said Dr. David Caplin, a plastic surgeon in St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Caplin believes a lot of young people turn to plastic surgery because they are looking to emulate the stars.
“Overall, the way things are changing in our society, older people really want to look younger, and younger people really want to look older,” said Dr. Caplin.
The number of young adults seeking plastic surgery is at an all time high, according to Dr. Caplin. Young female adults ranging between ages 17 and 22 often inquire about breast augmentation, liposuction and nose reconstruction. Injectables, also known as fillers, are the most popular among the 22 to 27-year-old patients he says. This includes Botox, lip enhancements and, most recently, lipo dissolve.
Dr. Caplin recently had a 17-year-old girl ask for a breast enlargement.
“I told her to come back in a year. She scheduled her appointment on her 18th birthday,” said Dr. Caplin.
The use of certain types of breast implants is not allowed in women under the age of 18. According to Dr. Caplin, many young girls want the procedures done during the summer, after high school graduation and before their first semester of college. Even after they’ve reached the age of 18, very careful screening is necessary to make sure the young women are mature enough to make the decision, said Dr. Caplin.
“If they are doing it for the wrong reasons then you don’t want to operate on them,” said Dr. Caplin. Many of the surgeries turn out to be positive experiences for young girls. Whitney Welch, another SMU student, had a breast lift and implants, as well as liposuction on her stomach and love handles in June 2006.
“I really hated seeing myself in the mirror and I hated going clothes shopping,” said Welch.
She decided to have her surgeries three years after having her son, Jonathan. Welch said her breasts got a lot bigger when she had Jonathan and after she stopped breast-feeding, they had a horrible texture to them.
Welch also said she was not fond of the “pooch” under her belly button and she could not get it to go away.
“I was 20 years old with the body like a 40-year-old woman. It just wasn’t natural,” said Welch.
Ms. Welch’s mother also had her breasts lifted and implants, as well as a tummy tuck, within the same week as her daughter.
The total cost of Welch’s surgeries was $8,300. Her stepfather paid for her surgeries as well as her mother’s.
Ms. Welch said her mother was big on hiding the fact that she had surgery, but said of her own experience, “It’s my body. If I want to fix it I will.”
Courtney Coffin, a senior at SMU, had gastric bypass surgery (also known as stomach stapling) at the age of 19. After her freshman year of college, Coffin, five feet and 10 inches tall, weighed 246 pounds. She is now 21 years old and weighs 140.
“I had high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, plus a long history of heart problems and diabetes in the family, as well as a nagging mother who told me on a daily basis that I looked like I was pregnant,” said Coffin.
Ms. Coffin said that growing up she struggled with her weight and was everyone’s best friend.
“I had the personality of the pretty girls … it made up for my looks,” she said.
Ms. Coffin’s grandmother, mother and aunt all underwent the same procedure at one time or another. It was a family thing, she said. Coffin said her doctors informed her she was one of the youngest people to ever receive the surgery.
With many cosmetic surgeries, there is little to no potential harm in having it done at a young age. However, Coffin’s surgery was far more intense, she said. The only real risks that came with her surgery are complications that may occur if she were ever to become pregnant. According to her doctors, Coffin’s body will feed all of the nutrients to the infant, but little to her. She will have to be monitored closely.
Ms. Coffin, who was athletic her entire life, began working out as soon as her doctor cleared her to do so. She had a fear of loose skin and looked at her surgery as a jump off point to help her maintain the body she always wanted but could not achieve.
“I look at it as an investment in my health. I’m not going to have the complications that being overweight has,” said Coffin. “I’m not ashamed of my surgery, but it’s hard to tell people about it when I’m caught off guard because I know how judgmental people are. I don’t want them thinking I took the easy way out.”
Coffin still works hard to maintain her body image. She drinks diet soda and avoids fattening foods. She is careful not to push the limits of her surgery, she said. According to Coffin, the surgery was a complete success. It turned out exactly how she wanted and perhaps even better.
“I receive positive feedback from people I’ve known since preschool, who say my personality hasn’t changed a bit even though my appearance has,” said Coffin.
