For many, the idea of ​​a teenager undergoing plastic surgery is scary and unbelievable. For others, like eleven-year-old Julia, a nose job has been able to help her lead a happier, more normal life. For 18-year-old Kristen, breast augmentation is a traditional family rite of passage. He states that he "just wanted to look normal" and that after surgery he does. (Sweeny, 2009) In these types of cases, cosmetic surgery can be beneficial to adolescents' confidence in what Ann Kearney-Cooke calls “an epidemic of low self-esteem among girls.” (Sweeney, 2009) Whether it's a physical deformity, such as protruding ears, or simply the lack of something that others their age have, such as large breasts, cosmetic surgery can help teens address self-esteem in a world where beauty is ridiculously considered. selective. However, aside from the confidence-boosting possibilities of teen cosmetic surgery, there are many reasons why it should not be taken lightly for a teen. While cosmetic surgery can be potentially beneficial, there are also many extreme risks for adolescents, including medical complications and in some rare cases death, and therefore it should only be a last resort after meticulous analysis for severe cases. Furthermore, neither the adolescent's brain nor body is yet fully developed. The purpose of cosmetic surgery in adolescents is to improve their appearance by altering an unpleasant physical feature through surgery. Although initially looked down upon with alarm, with the spread of technology and greater understanding, it has become more widely accepted and the number of procedures has tripled and even quadrupled within fifteen years. (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2011) Cosmetic surgery on adolescents has been......mid article......June 2008. Web. February 17, 2012.Herbozo, Sylvia, Stacey Tantleff-Dunn, Jessica Gokee -Larose and J. Kevin Thompson. “Beauty and Thinness Messages in Children's Media: A Content Analysis.” Eating Disorders 12 (2004): 21-34. Print.Marcus, Miriam. “Ten Plastic Surgical Risks You Need to Know.” Forbes, np October 10, 2007. Web. February 17, 2012.Nagelin-Anderson, M.A., Elizabeth and Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D. “Complications of Saline Breast Implants: What You Should Know Before Deciding on Reconstruction.” breastimplantinfo.org, np February 2008. Web. 17 February 2012. “Maturation of the prefrontal cortex.” Bureau of Population Affairs, np Nd Web. February 17, 2012.The price of beauty: teenagers under the knife of plastic surgery. ABC News, 2010. FilmTeen Plastic Surgery. ABC News, 2010. FilmTeen bullied and forced into plastic surgery. ABC News, 2011. Film