To think it is too easy for teens to get cosmetic surgery.

[Amazinglyunfunny]

My friends 16 year old friend is getting a scar revision, she is a sensible girl and I can understand she would want the surgery and I think that their is nothing wrong with her getting the surgery.

However speaking to friend I asked if it was complicated getting all the forms submitted etc, friend said that it was really easy and that it was exactly the same as when she got her breasts done in her 20s.

Friend said that she looked abroad because she wants to get something done and was planning to get dd surgery done the same time, but you have to be 18 in other countries.

Aibu to think that the rules are too lax and that teenagers who have mood swings and who are generally self conscious need protection from making a dicision they might regret.

Ps. I'm not suggesting friends dd has any issues.

[IAmAShitHotLawyer]

what do you mean by "I asked if it was complicated getting all the forms submitted"?

Surely she just asked her GP and he referred her. What forms?

[Amazinglyunfunny]

I thought it would be a lot of paperwork to submit for example to make sure the patient doesn't have body dysmorphia. I also imagined it would involve a lot of paperwork.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

I have never encountered a teenager who has had cosmetic surgery. Correcting a scar (or a hare lip etc) is a bit different from a nose job - I doubt uk surgeons would perform the latter on under 18s. What makes you think this is common?

[ClaimedByMe]

My ds can have plastic surgery as a teen, his consultant says if he decides he wants it just take him to the gp for a referral and they will do it no problem.

[Amazinglyunfunny]

The limited regulation and medical age of consent at 16.

[Amazinglyunfunny]

Claimed but surely their should be more regulations because a lot of 16 years don't always make the right choices.

[TheMoa]

But if they want breast implants, a cosmetic nose job, or anything truly deemed cosmetic, they will need money. Lots of money.

The need for money generally equates to needing parental consent at that age.

[IAmAShitHotLawyer]

No paperwork submission involved in having cosmetic surgery.

If you want it on the NHS you ask your GP, they say yes or no. End of story. If going private you ask, they say yes, you have op.

YABU to assume that anyone having cosmetic surgery would have to submit a pile of paperwork to make sure they don't have body dysmorphia.

[TheMoa]

And lots of older people make weird choices too. Just look at the examples of cosmetic surgery all over the media.

[Amazinglyunfunny]

No adults are different too teens though. As an adult If I wanted surgery I think the process is fine however we should make sures teens aren't being bullied or have mental health issues.

[IAmAShitHotLawyer]

Sorry OP but how exactly would you, as a GP, ascertain whether a 16 year old was being bullied? Surely they'd lie. Again, how would you ensure they didn't have mental health issues? Refer them to a shrink?

[WhirlpoolGalaxyM51]

If she was having the look of some scarring improved then I don't understand why you would imagine there would be a need for paperwork / counselling? to check for body dysphoria.

[IAmAShitHotLawyer]

Plus, I wouldn't class a 16 year old as a child. I would assume a 16 year old knew what they wanted.

[WhirlpoolGalaxyM51]

How old do you have to be for a tattoo?

I'd say it should be the same age (except for corrective stuff obv and yes there's a line there but still).

Interestingly teh tattoo artists I know think you should be 21 for a tattoo.

[WhirlpoolGalaxyM51]

Just checked it's 18.

Seems odd that there is that discrepancy.

I'd say 18 for both, although like I say, my tattoo artist friends think that's too young and would go for 21, which again I would think would be OK for both TBH.

[Amazinglyunfunny]

I agree it should be 18

[Amazinglyunfunny]

At 16 you are not a child but neither an adult.

[Jacobsmum1972]

Yanbu because op you're right teenagers can make stupid decisions and 18 should be the age.

[shewept]

Well a scar revision is not that same as a boob job, so yabu.

I had my boobs reduced when I was 22. I went private so no evaluations etc. Just medical forms to fill in a couple of meetings with the surgeon and nurse.

Do they even do boob jobs on under 18s or non medical nose work?

[nocoolnamesleft]

To me, this sounds more like the lighter end of reconstructive plastic surgery, rather than truly cosmetic surgery. I would be okay with the former in a 16 year old, but not the latter.

[Nibledbyducks]

I would class scar revision as plastic surgery, in that it's purpose is to make a person look as they should, I would put implants for those that only develop one breast, or have a large birthmark removed in the same bracket. Cosmetic surgery is a whole different kettle of fish.

[Coyoacan]

Duh, I understood that the waiting up you are eighteen was to do with waiting until you were definitely through growing, rather than to do with the ability to give consent.