Attitudes of Adolescents About Cosmetic Surgery

In Brief Although the number of teenagers choosing to have cosmetic procedures is increasing at a rapid rate, few studies have been published describing their attitudes about aesthetic surgery. To understand better their beliefs about cosmetic surgery, voluntary, confidential surveys were sent to the entire junior class of a suburban high school. Although two thirds of the respondents knew someone who had undergone cosmetic surgery, only one third would choose it for themselves. Those who desired aesthetic surgery described people who have cosmetic procedures as “motivated,” whereas those who would not choose this option believed individuals who do so are “vain.” The most desired procedures were liposuction, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation. The main reasons for not proceeding were health risks, cost, and fear of a bad result. The most common source of information about plastic surgery among the students was teen magazines and television. A survey of the junior class of a California suburban high school showed that one-third of respondents would consider undergoing cosmetic surgery. This one-third described those who have such surgery as “motivated”, whereas the other two-thirds tended to describe them as “vain”.