When Is Teenage Plastic Surgery versus Cosmetic Surgery Okay? Reality versus Hype: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Adolescent Medicine
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Cosmetic procedures in adolescents have increased due to heightened self-awareness and peer influence.
• Over 229,551 cosmetic procedures were performed on patients under 19 in 2016.
• Existing literature primarily addresses psychological and ethical aspects, with limited focus on surgical safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic review on the safety of plastic surgery in teenagers.
• To analyze current indications, patient satisfaction, and ethical considerations.
• To provide recommendations for future research in this area.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature.
• Analysis of data on safety, indications, patient satisfaction, and ethics.
• Synthesis of findings to inform clinical practice and research.

Main Results:

• Data on the safety of plastic surgery in adolescents is scarce.
• The review synthesizes available information on indications, satisfaction, and ethical concerns.
• Identified gaps in the literature regarding safety protocols and outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Further research is crucial to establish comprehensive safety guidelines for teenage plastic surgery.
• A balanced approach considering safety, satisfaction, and ethics is necessary.
• Recommendations are provided for future studies to address the identified knowledge gaps.