How cosmetic surgery when you’re young can affect your mental health
The cosmetic industry has seen a surge in the number of procedures Britons are getting done in recent years, with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) describing a “boom” in cosmetic surgery in 2022.
Last year, more than 30,000 people underwent some kind of cosmetic procedure, with the most popular being breast enhancements or reductions, and liposuction. ‘Tweakments’, which are non-surgical and often temporary procedures, have also been growing in popularity around the world.
But the number of young people turning to cosmetic procedures to achieve a certain beauty standard has also been increasing, much to the worry of experts. Former Love Islander and TV presenter Olivia Attwood has recently opened up about getting her first aesthetic surgery at just 20 years old.
In a new interview with The Times, Attwood said she was “fixated” on getting breast enhancement because she was dissatisfied with her C-cup breast size. But after getting large implants, she said: “I was happy for a year, then I realised they didn’t look right for my frame.
“The weight of the implants started to stretch my skin and they got lower and lower. I started to think, ‘This isn’t what I signed up for at all’.”
The role of social media
Experts say social media is largely to blame for the huge rise in young people clamouring for cosmetic procedures to change the way they look. This has also resulted in mental health problems linked to self-esteem and body confidence.
Dr Omar Tillo, plastic surgeon and senior medical director at Creo Clinic, tells Yahoo UK that social media is linked to an increase in body dysmorphia, depression, other mental health disorders, and cosmetic surgery in younger people.
“As technology develops and people spend more time online, viewers are more and more exposed to the harmful effects of these platforms. Not only do they blur the lines of reality, where it seems impossible to live up to the world we see online, but it also promotes unhealthy comparisons.”
Not everyone who undergoes a cosmetic procedure at a young age is at risk of developing mental health issues. Dr Tillo points out that often, people who seek surgery to address a concern or problem that has been affecting their life often benefit and report improvement in their body and social confidence.
“On the other hand,” he says, “undergoing cosmetic surgery at a young age for the wrong reasons carries the risk of lower future self-esteem and body confidence.
“Peer pressure, societal standards and trends, and unrealistic beauty ideals are the wrong reasons to have cosmetic surgery and will contribute to future dissatisfaction.
“This is where a responsible and trained plastic surgeon, who prioritises mental wellbeing, is crucial in ensuring that the decision to undergo cosmetic procedures is based on individual needs and realistic expectations.”
Dr Deepa Panch, surgical and aesthetics doctor, adds: “Pressure to undergo cosmetic surgery at a young age largely stems from societal beauty standards and social media influence.
“Mental health repercussions can include body image issues, anxiety and a negative impact on self-esteem and this is reflected in the rise in cases of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) that we are seeing in society today.”
What needs to change in the cosmetic industry?
Many cosmetic surgeons and aestheticians believe the industry needs more effective regulation. While the UK government passed a law in October 2021 that has effectively banned cosmetic procedures being carried out on under-18s in England, Dr Panch points out, the law has not been extended elsewhere in the UK.
Last year, top cosmetic surgeon Dr Elizabeth Hawkes warned that teenagers were travelling from England to Wales to get Botox treatments to get around the regulation. She told Yahoo UK that she wants to see Wales introduce the same ban that England has.
Dr Tillo adds: “Effective regulation in the cosmetic surgery industry is imperative to safeguard the well-being and satisfaction of patients.
“Key examples include establishing age restrictions to prevent inappropriate procedures on younger individuals, ensuring rigorous standards for informed consent to guarantee patients are fully aware of the associated risks, and implementing strict qualification standards for practitioners.”
Read more about mental health:
Botox: Doctor warns parents about teenagers travelling to Wales for treatment (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
The most common mental health conditions – and where to get help (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Talking mental health: What to say when someone's struggling, according to experts (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read)
