Susan wishes her oriental eyes had the Caucasian look of her favorite teen model, so she can apply eye makeup like her friends do. Ben's prominent nose makes him feel different. There's no denying it-appearance is important to teenagers. Self-conscious by nature, young people are keenly aware of acceptable standards of appearance, and they have a crucial need to feel that they fit in. Even those whose appearance is acceptable may judge themselves by unreasonable ideals and feel that they don't measure up.
Some teens suffer facial disfigurement after an accident or illness.
In others, a congenital defect leads to a facial anomaly, such as a poorly developed jaw or a functional abnormality of the nasal structures. Often, the problem is simply cosmetic. When treatment is appropriate during the teen years, facial plastic surgery can boost a young person's confidence and help develop a healthy self concept. Proper motivation is important Teens, like adults, may seek facial plastic surgery to correct a structural abnormality or to improve features that are out of harmony with the rest of the face, but motivation and expectations must be appropriate. If the young person is being pressured by others, or harbors hopes the procedure will improve a lagging social life, surgery may not be the wisest course.