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Summertime Plastic Surgery for Teenagers
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Summertime! A time of change, especially for teenagers. Remember how your classmates changed over the summer break, returning to school taller or thinner, or…well, different. The break from school and busy schedules is often also a break from being around friends, which can sometimes make it easier to change. Summertime can offer a great opportunity for plastic surgery: time to recover without the self-consciousness aroused by the close scrutiny of classmates, and a break from the busy schedules of school and after-school activities that give little time for proper recovery. Here are some of the common procedures that I often perform for teenagers who use summertime to undergo surgery and recover during breaks from school. Rhinoplasty (nasal surgery): Whether for cosmetic improvements, repairing a deviated septum, or both, summertime is a popular time for nasal surgery. By age 16, the face and nose has grown sufficiently that surgical reshaping of the nose can be done. Few operations can do as much to improve self esteem as fixing a nose that is out of proportion, removing a bump, or refining a bulbous nasal tip. Otoplasty (Prominent ears) Ears that stick out too far from the side of the head can be a source of teasing and embarrassment. With incisions behind the ears, scars are imperceptible and the surgery is practically painless. During the two weeks after surgery, it’s important to wear a headband to protect the reshaped ears, so summer vacation offers a time for recovery to be more discrete. Gynecomastia (abnormal breast development in males) Summertime is a lot less fun if you’re too embarrassed to remove your tee-shirt to get into the pool. Improved liposuction techniques mean smaller (¼-inch) scars hidden in the armpits that can produce dramatic improvements restoring normal contours to the chest, and a tremendous boost to a man’s self image! Umbilicoplasty (repair of belly button deformity) Small incisions within the curves of the belly button (umbilicus) allow reshaping of deformities, or hernias that may cause a protrusion of the belly button, leaving scars that are well concealed. Scar Revision (scar repair) Plastic surgical techniques can often improve the appearance of scars. During consultation, we can best determine the right technique, which can vary with skin type, as well as the age-, location- and type of scar. Mole Removal may be necessary for proper laboratory examination or desirable to improve appearance. If there has been a plastic surgery procedure that you or your teenager has been considering, summer is a great time to get a consultation. The easier schedule and the time away from schoolmates offers a less challenging and more discrete period for surgery and proper recovery. Summertime is a great time for change! Sun protection remains fundamental to good skin health and healing. Consistent use of sun block (at least SPF 40) is important to prevent skin cancer, sun spots, moles, and aging changes in the skin: pigment irregularities, wrinkling and texture changes. In the first six months after surgery or injury, scars are particularly sensitive to the damage by the ultra-violet rays of sun exposure and tanning lamps. Self-tanning products are a safe alternative for getting some color. With the altitude and bright sun of Denver and the Rocky Mountains, make application of sun block part of your daily morning regimen. Keep a bottle or tube of sun block at the bathroom vanity for application every morning, and a tube in the glove compartment of your car for reapplication during the day.
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