Teenagers and young adults in the United States are increasingly undergoing both nonsurgical and surgical aesthetic procedures. Throughout the course of the last year, over a thousand minors had cosmetic Botox injections administered. In addition, autoplasty (ear surgery) has become increasingly popular among adolescents. In 2013, over 13,000 people under the age of 18 had autoplasty.
Teens are increasingly turning to cosmetic surgery and noninvasive therapies for reasons other than medical. It may be due to the high profile of celebrities who are using these services, such as Kylie Jenner’s reported lip fillers or Farrah Abraham of Teen Mom fame and her many cosmetic operations.
The question, therefore, becomes what accounts for the dramatic increase in cosmetic procedures among young people. Survey results from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggest that celebrities are not the primary motivating factor for getting plastic surgery on the face. Two-thirds of clinicians said that bullying was a major factor in patients’ decisions to have these procedures done and that this was true for both adults and children. A person’s perception of their own shortcomings and the extent to which they feel they need to improve can be profoundly impacted by negative social pressure.
Data Journalist Mona Chalabi told NPR that “another survey indicated that the social media selfie culture was prompting more people to seek out plastic surgery.”
Ten years ago, internet culture was much less widespread. These days, everyone, and especially kids and teens, has a profile somewhere online. One possible explanation for this rising pattern is the widespread belief that individuals should strive for perfection.
As a whole, this sector is a billion-dollar market that expands every year. Five million Botox procedures were conducted in the United States in 2013, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. After that came laser hair removal and dermal fillers.