From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Doctors report sharp rise in number of Israeli teens seeking plastic surgery this summer
Renee Ghert-Zand is the health reporter and a feature writer for The Times of Israel.
The Israel Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reports that teenagers’ requests for procedures are up 37% this summer over usual levels, with adolescents mostly seeking ear tucks, rhinoplasty and gynecomastia surgery (reduction of breast tissue in males).
There have also been requests from teenage girls for breast augmentation, with only a few such procedures taking place in exceptional cases. The general guidelines in Israel state that girls must be at least 18 to undergo breast augmentation or reduction surgery. It is recommended that they wait until age 21, at which time breast tissue has completely stopped growing.
Dr. Meir Cohen, chair of the Israel Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, says social media influences youth’s decisions in seeking plastic surgery year-round, but the number of procedures being performed has risen dramatically during the summer vacation.
“Before plastic surgery on youth — under general or local anesthesia — we ascertain together with the parents that the child deeply understands the meaning of the change that the operation can bring about. We make sure the child is prepared physically and mentally for the recuperation period, and that they are seriously motivated and not acting out of impulse based on something they saw on Instagram,” Cohen says.
The Israel Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons’ recommendations regarding surgeries relate to the age at which specific parts of the body stop developing, with rhinoplasty only for individuals 17 and older. Boys should wait until age 16 for gynecomastia surgery, but ear tucks can be done on children as young as 6.
The society reminds parents that they must legally sign off on any plastic surgery procedure for a minor. Parents should also make sure that the surgeon they choose for their children has a specialized degree in plastic surgery and is credentialed by the Health Ministry.
Israeli plastic surgeons also warn Israelis about the dangers of seeking plastic surgery abroad. Every year, around 80 people are treated by plastic surgeons in Israeli hospital emergency rooms for infections and severe complications resulting from aesthetic surgeries and procedures done in other countries.
