As teens struggle to conform to the norms of society, mentally and physically, sometimes they choose cosmetic, or plastic, surgery.
According to the website for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the most in-demand operations for teens right now include: breast augmentation, breast reduction (in males and females), chin augmentation, dermabrasion, ear and earlobe surgery, eyelid surgery, lip augmentation, liposuction fat reduction and rhinoplasty nose job surgery.
In addition to these popular procedures, the percentage of gender reassignment operations among teens continues to rise, according to www.plasticsurgery.org/news/plastic-surgery-statistics.
Although various breast operations are at the top of the list, lately all the rage has been on liposuction and lip augmentation, according to the website.
Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat from the body, in an attempt to change its shape and appearance. It can be performed on various body parts, but the most prevalent areas are the stomach, thighs and cheeks, according to plasticsurgery.org. The desire for this surgery is rooted in reasons ranging from feeling immense societal pressure, to simply wanting to feel better in your own body.
In contrast to liposuction, lip augmentation has only very recently become popular.
This form of augmentation can be done surgically or non-surgically through injections, according to the site.
As big lips and thin waists become more in style, so do these procedures.
While breast augmentation happens most commonly in women patients, men commonly seek out reduction, to reduce fat deposits so their chests appear smaller or flatter, according to plasticsurgery.org. Women, too, sometimes seek to reduce their breast size, especially if their breasts interfere with daily life. Chest operations also play a key role when it comes to gender surgery.
Gender reassignment surgery has increased by 20 percent for teens in the last few years, and the numbers are still rising, according to plasticsurgery.org.
By any standard, the operations are expensive.
"In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery posts cost estimates for different procedures," according to a recent story at cnn.com. "Its price list mentions estimates of $140,450 to transition from male to female, and $124,400 to transition from female to male."