Cosmetic surgery procedures are up across the board for young people in America. I’ve previously written about the potential benefits of plastic surgery for teens. While I have previously focused on the emotional or psychological effects of cosmetic surgical procedures for teens like improved body image and self-esteem, certain procedures can have significant physical benefits as well.
For teenage girls with overly large breasts (a condition known as macromastia), there can be an abundance of physical and emotional challenges. Research, published in the medical journal Pediatrics, found that adolescent women with overly large breasts consistently reported experiencing decreased quality of life, lower self-esteem, breast-related pain, and increased risk of developing eating disorders compared to their peers. Additionally for young men, male breast reduction has also become far more prevalent for treating unwanted, enlarged breasts caused by gynecomastia. That’s why breast reduction for teens has been recommended far more frequently in recent years.
When performed by a board-certified cosmetic surgeon (like yours truly), a breast reduction procedure can provide a teenage patient relief in the following ways:
- Increased confidence and self-esteem due to an improved, more symmetrical appearance
- Reduced back and neck pain and improved posture due to smaller, lighter breasts that put less stress on the patient’s spine
- Reduced skin irritation that is more common under large breasts
- More comfortable physical exercise
Some younger patients and their families may decide it is better to wait on surgery, whereas others with more serious pain-management issues prefer to undergo their procedure as soon as possible. As always, consulting with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon is the best way to determine if plastic surgery is the right path to help you reach your aesthetic goals. If you still have questions, please contact Dr. David Whiteman at Southern Plastic Surgery today to schedule a complimentary consultation. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more news and updates.