Are you the parent of a teenager who has recently decided that they would like to undergo cosmetic surgery? If so, you may be feeling a wide array of emotions right now. Although most parents in your shoes wouldn’t even entertain the thought, you may be interested in doing so. You may be curious as to whether or not cosmetic surgery and teens go together.
As for whether or not cosmetic surgery is advised for teenagers, it will all depend. All teenagers are not the same. Cosmetic surgery procedures are performed for a wide range of reasons. To help you determine if your teenager is ready for cosmetic surgery, there are a number of factors that you will first want to take into consideration.
For starters, it is important to examine your child’s health. Is your child’s health at risk if they do not undergo cosmetic surgery? For example, is your child seriously obese? If so, gastric bypass surgery or other weight loss surgeries may be needed. Of course, as a parent, you owe it to your child to help them explore other options. You and your teenager may first want to try more natural ways of losing weight, such as eating healthy and exercising regularly.
Since most cosmetic surgery procedures are performed with the sole purpose of improving appearance, you may not understand why your teenager needs treatment. Be sure to talk to your child about their reasoning. Are they being harassed at school? Does your child have a skin growth or unwanted body hair that is resulting in them getting teased at school? If so, you may want to inquire about cosmetic surgery. It is important to know the impact that constant harassment and heckling can have on a teenager’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
Before getting your child’s heart set on cosmetic surgery, if you do voice your approval, you will first want to make sure that your child is even a good candidate. Do you know that some cosmetic surgeons will not perform surgical procedures on those under the age of 18? Others do have restrictions, but may be a little bit more lax with them. For example, ideal candidates for liposuction are over the age of 18. This is often due in part to the maturity levels.
Speaking of maturity, is your child mature enough to make a well-informed decision about cosmetic surgery? Most teenagers aren’t. Many just know that they want to look beautiful, no matter what the costs. Can your child handle those costs though? If your child is thinking about cosmetic surgery just to improve their beauty, it may be a wise idea to let them make their own decision when they turn 18.
Another reason why not all teenagers are ideal candidates for cosmetic surgery is because of the recovery process. If breast reduction is performed, your child will need to get the proper amount of rest. They may also face certain restrictions, such as no heavy lifting or no wearing a bra for a week. Will your teenager be able to follow their post surgery directions right down to the letter? If not, they may end up hurting their health and the results of their surgery.
As a reminder, many cosmetic surgeons in the United States have restrictions and rules set for cosmetic surgery and minors. If you do opt for cosmetic surgery for your teen, schedule a consultation appointment with them to see if they are an ideal candidate.
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Adoption is a life-changing event for all involved, from the birth parents who make the brave decision to give their child up, to the adoptive parents who make an equally brave decision to welcome that child as their own. Yet one group which may go overlooked is that of the adopted children themselves. There are a number of issues that can arise for these individuals.
If the child was adopted at a very young age, they may not even know they were adopted until adolescence, or even later. A possible conflict in identity may result, as these children have spent so much time in an identity which they may perceive to no longer be valid. Children who were adopted late enough in life to be cognizant of the process can have their own issues, as well, perhaps wondering why their original parents didn’t keep them, or having trouble accepting their adoptive parents as legitimate. Children adopted by parents of an ethnic, racial, or cultural group other than their own often face a unique conflict as they try to reconcile the two identities internally.
It has been shown that adult former adoptees suffer from a number of problems, including struggles with identity, low self-esteem, and feelings of abandonment. These underlying troubles may lead to further struggles like alcohol abuse, marital difficulties and depression. Many adult adoptees will also seek out information about their own genetic histories, spending years trying to find siblings, parents or any other biological relatives. The upshot of these issues is that they are nothing new. They are so frequently encountered that they are known about and there exist mechanisms to help these individuals cope.
One option is to find a support group. The mere act of connecting with a group of people who have had similar life experiences and dealt with similar issues can be beneficial in itself. The cliché is that misery loves company, and in this case it’s true. Seeing that others are going through some of the same things is reassuring. Support groups provide a forum in which former adoptees can discuss their experiences and confess their troubles. National support groups such as ALMA and the American Adoption Congress are good resources for adult adoptees.
Individual counseling is another option. Some counselors and therapists specialize in adult adoptees. Some of these professionals are adult adoptees themselves. The therapeutic intervention can treat a number of aspects of the adult adoptee experience. Therapy can help the individual in their interpersonal relationships, help them heal from lingering feelings of abandonment, and even assist in the search for birth parents (which can be a cathartic solution in itself). This kind of counseling can be costly, but some counselors offer group sessions, which may combine some of the advantages of support groups and individual counseling.
For the adopted individual, adoption is a lifelong experience. It does not end when the adoption is finalized, nor at the onset of adulthood. It is something that adoptees carry around throughout their lives, and as such it must be addressed and coped with. Fortunately, there are resources for these individuals. For those struggling with issues like those described above, a good starting point is www.adopting.org, a website with resources geared to all people touched by adoption, including adult adoptees.