Plastic Surgery Procedures to Reduce Bullying

Bullying is a serious problem in today’s society, with some children taking every opportunity to taunt other children. In some cases, bullying continues unchecked, no matter what measures the parents and teachers try to take. When this happens, bullying can take a serious psychological toll on the mind of children and adolescents. If they are constantly teased about their appearance, it is very easy to become depressed and even suicidal. Though parents and teachers will try to shield children from bullying, it still occurs on school grounds and online. In fact, technology has made it easy to anonymously bully others, simply by logging into a social media account.

Some children may even form a group, with other children rallying around them, to torment a certain child. The truth is that no matter what preventative measures are taken, some children will still be subject to bullying about their looks. In some cases, plastic surgery can be performed to improve a child's self-esteem and treat the feature that has been targeted by bullies.

Ear Surgery

One of the most common things for children to be teased about is the size of the ears. There are, however, many different plastic surgery treatments that can reduce the size or prominence of the ears, or pin back ears that stick out. Though most plastic surgeons will not perform cosmetic procedures on children, ear surgery is an exception. Ear surgery is commonly performed on children and teenagers, with the parents’ permission. 

The ear surgery technique that is chosen will depend on the child’s unique case. Surgeons may change the shape of the ears, reduce the prominence of the ears, or pin them back against the head. Whichever procedure is chosen, reducing the prominence of the ears can make a child’s life much easier.

Rhinoplasty

The nose is another feature of the face that is often targeted by bullies. Even if the child is perfectly happy with the way his or her nose looks, the self-esteem can be completely destroyed when other children tease him or her about the size or she of the nose.

If this is the case, teenagers can undergo a rhinoplasty procedure to reduce the size of the nose or to improve its shape so that it blends it better with other facial features. It is common for surgeons to reduce the hump of the nose, refine the tip, or alter the nostrils. These procedures are relatively non-invasive and easy to recover from, improving the child’s self-confidence quickly.

Liposuction

One of the most serious things a child can be teased about is his or her weight. Even as a young child, bullying about weight can lead to long-term psychological repercussions. In some instances, especially if the child or teenager is at a healthy weight but has a pocket of fat in one area, liposuction is a good alternative.

Plastic surgeons will focus on the areas of the body that get the most scrutiny from peers, creating a thinner, leaner physique, which may reduce bullying. In teenagers, liposuction is often performed under the chin or on the calves to remove stubborn areas of fat.

Contact Crawford Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.