The Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in Israel reported on Tuesday a 37% increase in the demand for plastic surgery among teenagers during the summer holiday season.
The main demands are for ear-pinning, nose-reshaping and breast-augmentation procedures.
“Social networks influence the changes in the beauty model among teenagers all year round, but during the holidays we see a dramatic increase,” said Dr. Meir Cohen, chairman of the Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in Israel.
“Before performing plastic surgery under local or full anesthesia with teenagers, we make sure, together with the parents, that the children fully understand the meaning of the change that the surgery can bring about, they are physically and mentally prepared for the recovery period and are consistently motivated, and [that] it is not a momentary impulse because they saw someone on Instagram,” he added.
Ear-pinning is an elective operation to bring the ears closer to the head.
The association advises that nose enhancement—reshaping the bone and cartilage—be done after physiological development is complete, which happens toward the age of 17.
The association also advises against breast augmentation before the age of 18 and preferably after 21.
Israeli teens under the age of 18 require parental consent for plastic surgery.