A growing number of teens are seeking cosmetic treatment for a variety of different supposed physical flaws. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) statistics, more than 331,000 cosmetic surgery procedures were performed on people age 18 or younger in 2003.

Common physical characteristics or concerns teenagers wish to correct with cosmetic surgery include nose reshaping, protruding ears, small breasts, overly large breasts, asymmetrical breasts, severe acne and scarring.

Teens can frequently gain self-esteem and confidence when their physical problems are corrected. In fact, successful plastic surgery may reverse the social withdrawal that so often accompanies teens who feel different.

However, teenagers are especially vulnerable to the images transmitted through T.V, movies, music videos and magazines. It seems nearly impossible to turn around without running smack-dab into a poster of a scantily clad super model or a surgically enhanced starlet which can communicate to teens that a less than perfect physique isn’t acceptable.

In fact, more and more teens are taking lessons from celebrities, which can contribute to Body Dismorphic Disorder, a mental disorder which causes normal-looking teens to obsess over slight imperfections and blow minor physical flaws out of proportion and into ego-shattering shortcomings. Our age-phobic, beauty-centric society puts pressure on everyone from kids to kindly grandmothers to be beautiful, and it’s no wonder teenagers are a growing group who want to look perfect.

The pressure to be thin, beautiful and sexy continues to mount from reality makeover shows, increased reporting on celebrity plastic surgeries, and glorified magazine models. We should ask ourselves: What are we telling teens? That physical beauty is more important than personality or intelligence?

So how can you help a teen who may want cosmetic surgery to make the right decision? You can start by making sure that their desire for surgery is not wholly linked to low self-esteem and social pressure - dangerous reasons to have plastic surgery. All teens suffer from some self-doubt and esteem issues - it’s a part of growing up. Coaching, supportive friends and family, and psychological treatment are better alternatives to raising low self-esteem in teens.

Try not to allow teens to make decisions based on peer pressure - there can be a lot of additional pressure from peers who have had successful procedures, and it’s important to help teens understand that peers should not dictate their choices.

Additionally, many teenagers are simply not aware of the procedure process itself. The healing time, risks, side effects and possible surgery outcomes may change a prospective teen patient’s mind. Educating teens and their parents about cosmetic surgery is probably the best way to help them make an informed and rational decision. A qualified surgeon will also consult with teenagers to determine suitability for the procedure. A surgeon may determine the patient to be too young, still growing, or at risk for a psychological disorder, such as Body Dismorphic Disorder or anorexia nervosa.

While the surgical correction of serious physical flaws and undeniable physiological defects should certainly be an option for teens, a breast augmentation or liposuction isn’t going to be the defining factor in improving self-esteem in young adults. The bottom line is, and most plastic surgeons will agree, that unless the physical flaw is health related or seriously deforming, teens should wait until they have finished growing and developed their self-esteem through personal life experience in order to make a rational, informed decision about cosmetic surgery.