A mother gave her young daughter liposuction and breast implant vouchers she could use if she reaches the minimum legal age. A husband financed her wife’s surgical enhancements. Parents paying for their children’s cosmetic plastic surgery as graduation gifts. Stories like these have been told countless of times in the news, which all aim to raise some controversy.
But is it acceptable to use plastic surgery vouchers as gifts? Is it pragmatic or just being plain reckless?
In general, board-certified plastic surgeons discourage the “practice” because it may trivialize plastic surgery, which must be always treated as a major surgery because of the potential risks and downtime involved. But still, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Leading plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili said that cosmetic plastic surgery is a highly individualized procedure. Simply put, the decision to go under the knife is something a patient has to make and not someone else.
But in some cases, gifting plastic surgery or any cosmetic procedure has some pragmatic benefits as long as the “giver” considers the important things stated below:
* The “recipient” should specifically ask for the procedure. For instance, some children and teenagers ask their parents to have otoplasty, or more commonly referred to as ear pinning, because of the bullying or low-self esteem caused by their appearance. Generally they are good candidates because the desire to have surgery comes from them.
On the other hand, parents should not force their children to have ear pinning or other surgeries, particularly if they are really not bothered by their appearance.
* Financial support should not be the only expression of love. If the recipient clearly shows her desire to have plastic surgery, the next step is to help her do some research about the procedure—including its benefits and potential risks—and look for reputable, board-certified plastic surgeons.
A REAL plastic surgeon should pass the rigorous written and oral exams conducted by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The tests, which are performed every 10 years, are very hard that only about 70 percent of doctors who take them meet the passing score.
* Accompany the recipient during consultation, especially if she is still a minor. However, it wouldn’t hurt if the parents still decide to be with their older children during consultation with a surgeon.
Playing an active role could also help parents guide their children in making the most crucial decisions.
