Cosmetic Surgery Getting Out of Hand

Is this too much or is this the right amount of control? Personally I applaud local government for taking a more active role in medicine but think this is a bit much. It should be left to the surgeon and the parents to counsel a teenager on plastic surgery. In my practice I will not operate on anyone (teenager or adult) unless I am convinced through discussion that they understand the risks of the operation and the impact a complication might have on their day to day lives. For example: Is a teenage girl who most likely is having breast augmentation to improve her self image equipped to deal with the devastating complication of an infection? How will her sense of self be when she has an open wound with pus draining out of it? Now thankfully this has never happend to any of my breast augmentations, but as the responsibile surgeon I always inform the patient of what keeps me up at night...

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - August 28, 2006 - The leader of Australia's most populous state has said new laws are needed to make it harder for young people to go under the knife for cosmetic surgery.
Morris Iemma, the leader of New South Wales state, says he's shocked by an apparent rise in the number of teens seeking breast implants, Botox injections and nose jobs.
He told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that the number of people under 18 seeking cosmetic enhancements has gotten out of hand.
The report says Iemma plans to introduce new laws requiring teenagers to get a referral from their doctor and get counseling before having plastic surgery.
Parental consent will also be required, and surgeons will be forced to offer a minimum one-month cooling-off period before conducting any procedure.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)