Do you think people under the age of 18 should be allowed to get surgery for cosmetic reasons?

[Anonymous]

Cosmetic surgery means surgery that was not medically necessary but was done for beautification reasons.

I once saw this video on YouTube of minors getting cosmetic surgery because they were picked on at school by other people for having a big nose or big ears.

Updates

1 y

Things like a cleft lips. Those are birth defects. Surgery to fix that would be considered medically necessary surgery. Cleft lips can cause people trouble eating and speaking. Surgery to fix a cleft lip is not cosmetic because it’s not for beautifying reasons.
An example of cosmetic surgery is something like a person has big ears that cause them no physical pain and no trouble hearing. Big ears may make them feel insecure but it’s cosmetic surgery if they want to get surgery to change it.

Updates

1 y

If a person with big ears wants cosmetic surgery to make their ears look smaller or a person with a large forehead wants hairline lowering surgery that’s their choice but procedures like these aren’t medically necessary. Why?
Because having a large forehead or big ears doesn’t cause a person physical pain, struggle eating, struggle breathing and they should be able to walk and speak without trouble

[MisterWack]

Women under 18 shouldn’t be allowed to have cosmetic surgery since that is too young to be making such a critical decision especially since celebrities, social media, etc. make these young teens feel bad about themselves and in need of a ‘quick fix’. We must take a stand and say, “no!”.

I want to girls under 12 from getting access to makeup, beauty products, and cosmetic goods that aren’t meant for them since it can damage skin permanently, lead to a severe allergic reaction, and other factors. Beauty stands, celebrities, bullying, pressure from adults, wanting to be like the “big kids” can really hurt kids looking for a get away.

[bobby_bush_eater]

Only in the event of certain birth defects, burns, or other injuries or specific circumstances.

This is the real reason for cosmetic surgery not this dystopian backwards world that females created to vainly compete with each other for male attention while simultaneously proclaiming it as self empowering

[Cutegirl06]

No, I don't think they should be allowed to get cosmetic surgery, they are thinking in the present moment and not old enough to understand the consequences. The parents should be supportive of how they look and help build up their self esteem let them know that they are fine the way they are. I see kids getting bullied at school for how they look and right away they want to change themselves because someone said they look funny or ugly. They need to realize that they are not the problem, the kids that say they are ugly are the problem. In order for a bully to exist they have to have a victim.

[Elliegirl]

For purely cosmetic reasons, unless it’s something like a reconstructive surgery after an accident or injury to correct disfigurement, I don’t think it’s appropriate for minors.

[AI Opinion]

Wow, that's a tough one! I believe everyone deserves to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin, but when it comes to minors, it's crucial to be extra cautious. Kids and teens are still developing both physically and mentally, and sometimes what bothers them now might not be an issue later. Instead of opting for surgery, it might be beneficial to explore other solutions like counseling or support groups to help them build confidence and resilience. What do you think about focusing on inner beauty and self-acceptance first?

[Kaneki05]

16 is legal age here, so I don't see any problem with it at 16.
Whenever you are legal is when you should be allowed by law.

Also that's a valid reason, it's true when you become adult less will bully you for it but that don't mean people stop judging or noticing it they still do whether they are been polite or rude about it. There's a fine line of course due to exaggeration though.

[blueonblack22]

Absolutely not unless they were in an accident or have some sort of fully legitimate congenital issue. And everybody reaches 18 and it’s not a long wait at all

I still can’t believe why our society is “okay” with minors getting surgery to mutilate their bodies but a school nurse isn’t even allowed to give a 16 year old an aspirin if they have a fever or something.

[LiamJHayden]

Depends. I've spoken before of a girl I knew in high school who had a nose job done. This is not the girl, but the before and after are very close to what she had done the summer before junior year.

[RingOfFire]

No. Children under 18 should not have any cosmetic surgery except in the case of severe abnormalities or medical necessity. They'll have plenty of time to make their own decision about it after they are 18 and no one should have the right to make that decision for them.

Under 18 it's child abuse.

That includes gender transition surgery. Any doctor that performs that on someone under 18 should lose their medical license and be put in prison.

[Anonymous]

Minor stuff like nose jobs. All of the Jewish girls I knew in my teens got nose jobs. I think any parent that let's their kid get surgery like botox, fillers and that one where they suck the fat out of the cheeks are idiots because all that stuff has them looking 50 before they are 30.

[Opinion Owner]

Boob jobs too. I get if a minor has boobs that have grown far too big and are lopsided like ariel winter when she was 16 but implants he'll no.

[Passerby2]

it depends. these matters require judgement beyond what a simple law can provide. a law prohibiting minors from getting cosmetic surgery would hinder kids who genuinely need it done. some people feel so ugly they can hardly live with themselves.

and sometimes it's justified.

[Iron_Man]

No That’s for people like celebrities and I don’t recommend surgery for that for anybody because look at Burt Reynolds and another actresses they look like a mannequin. The surgery looks so bad. Like their face is all swollen up and stretched out

[Iron_Man]

Have you ever seen these talking dummies that their mouth moves and they sit on the persons lap the ventriloquist anyway the surgeries look like that talking dummy

[BetaBucks]

No, except for in the case of objective deformity. Not perceived deformity or imperfections. I might flex a little on 16 and 17 year olds, but it would have to be very minimally invasive. So basically procedures, but not actual surgeries.

[Anonymous]

Oh god no. Some of the most plain or even unattractive girls I knew in high school turned into some of the most beautiful women once they grew into themselves.

This is also why so called "gender affirming treatment" for minors is absolutely insane. No one knows who or what they are when they are 18, or even 20.

[4ngelic]

for features that cause bullying and low self esteem or malformations yes. for just purely vanity reasons, no

[onedarkcloud]

There are times for reasons to have surgery for things that might be called cosmetic but are not like breathing, vision clef pallet. Other frivolous reasons no! Unless there are psychological reasons for surgery.

[SotiCoto]

People under the age of 18 shouldn't be able to afford it... and if they can afford it, it probably means their parents are rich, greedy arseholes.

[genericname85]

for "purely cosmetic" only if they have deformities. as in surgery to make them look "normal". not to make them look "better" necessarily.

[genericname85]

a lot of these correcting surgeries make a lot more sense with younger age as the body heals faster and better so you have less risk from the surgery and also the marks of the surgery won't be as prominent.

[msc545]

Yes, in some cases cosmetic surgery can solve a lot of Psychological problems, like being ostracized by peers which I particularly bad for teenagers.

[msc545]

Your argument that :

"Because having a large forehead or big ears doesn’t cause a person physical pain, struggle eating, struggle breathing and they should be able to walk and speak without trouble"

Assumes that psychiatric problems are not medical issues and is simply wrong. Depression and suicide are clearly medical issues and treatment including surgery is definitely justified and necessary.

[Asker]

I doubt these people are suicidal just because of a certain feature they have.

I reckon it’s more likely they feel suicidal because other people have taunted them and mocked them for their appearance making them feel miserable. I do believe suicide is a choice. I don’t think having feelings is a choice. It’s natural, normal and very common for a person to have emotions and feelings. It would be abnormal for a person to have no feelings or emotions.

If they want to get surgery to improve their self esteem that’s their choice but I believe in many places a government will not give funding towards a surgery that is purely for beautifying reasons no matter how insecure that person may be feeling

Big ears can sometimes be genetic and not caused by a birth defect.
Some people may have abnormal shaped ears based on the way they developed in the womb and not because of their genetics.
kidshealth.org/en/parents/protruding-ears.html

[msc545]

You reckon wrong, and your formulation regarding suicide is very naive and woefully wrong. Stop speculating about things you know nothing about.

[Jillsmith2123]

Nope, I dont think they should unless its a medical reason.

[Phoenix98]

Personally no.

now if they got into an accident or something and got scarred or something similar then that’s fine.

[Unit1]

Go right for it kiddos.

If some boys are lucky, they'll turn into transgirls sooner than later.

[Fireguy17]

with parental consent, but based on some of the parents out there that is still questionable.

[BarryLiverstone]

Yes, but in rare cases and with the approval of a parental figure. I would be opposed to a minor getting that kinda surgery on their own

[BarryLiverstone]

I have big ears and would be bullied. But never thought about getting surgery

[Jamie05rhs]

Yes. I actually think this is okay! (The earlier the better!)

[Awesomesauce2005]

Absolutely not. At least unless they had gotten an injury that required it.

[Staximus]

No, I think minors should only be allowed to get surgery for medical reasons

[In_Trance]

I don't think people under the age of 30 should be allowed

[LunarEclipse433]

Most should wait until body changes slow down so the surgery will be more effective.

[Anonymous]

In California It would be a hard yes... Im gonna say no though!

[Anonymous]

Only to remove gross deformities or other unwanted phenomena that could cause teasing by other kids or young people.

[dolemite58]

Not unless they have a cleft palate or hair lip or something

[Alex-Snow]

Only with complete parental approval

[DextroShade]

Only if they are deformed.

[handsomelad70]

Only in rare circumstances.

[nawtee_me]

No, not at all

[Xoirwinkan]

Absolutely not

[CaliChick94]

Up to the experts and parents

[NorthwestBoots123]

Up to the parents if they allow it or not

[jahaims]

Nope