Are you the parent of a teenager who has recently decided they want to undergo cosmetic surgery?

If so, you may be feeling a wide array of emotions right now. Although most parents in your shoes wouldn’t even entertain the thought, you may be interested in learning more. Should cosmetic surgery and teens go together?

As usual, it all depends. All teenagers are not the same. Cosmetic surgery procedures are performed for a wide range of reasons.

To help you determine if your teenager is ready for cosmetic surgery, there are a number of factors that you will first want to take into consideration.

For starters, it is important to examine your child’s health.

Is your child’s health at risk if they do not undergo cosmetic surgery? One example is with serious obesity that may only be fixed surgically via gastric bypass surgery or another weight loss surgery.

Of course, as a parent, you owe it to your child to help them explore other options. You and your teenager may first want to try more natural ways of losing weight, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, adding more water and fiber to the diet amongst other steps first.

But since most cosmetic surgery procedures are performed with the sole purpose of improving appearance, you may not understand why your teenager wants treatment. Surely life is evolving and changing by the day at their age.

But be sure to talk & listen to your child about their reasoning.

Are they being harassed at school? Does your child have a skin growth or unwanted body hair that is resulting in them getting teased at school? It is important to know the impact that constant harassment and heckling can have on a teenager’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Before allowing your child’s heart to set on cosmetic surgery, you will first want to make sure that your child is even a good candidate.

Read More: Plastic Surgery Recovery Tips

Did you know that some cosmetic surgeons will not perform surgical procedures on those under the age of 18? Others do have restrictions, but maybe a little bit laxer with them.

For example, ideal candidates for liposuction are over the age of 18. This is often due in part to the maturity levels.

Speaking of maturity, is your child mature enough to make a well-informed decision about cosmetic surgery? Most teenagers aren’t.

Many just know that they want to look beautiful, no matter what the costs. But can you or your child handle those costs? If your child is thinking about cosmetic surgery just to improve their beauty, it may be a wise idea to let them make their own decision when they turn 18.

Another reason why teenagers are not ideal candidates for cosmetic surgery is because of the recovery process and toll that can take on them.

For example, if breast reduction is performed, your child will need to get the proper amount of rest. They may also face certain restrictions, such as no heavy lifting or not wearing a bra for a week.

Will your teenager be able to follow their post-surgery directions right down to the letter? If not, they may end up hurting their health and the results of their surgery.

As a reminder, many cosmetic surgeons in the United States have restrictions and rules set for cosmetic surgery and minors.

If you do opt for cosmetic surgery for your teen, schedule a consultation appointment with a licensed professional to see if they're an ideal candidate.