8/28/06
Shocked by the number of teens seeking breast implants, botulinum toxin Type A injections, and rhinoplasty, in New South Wales, Australia’s Premier Morris lemma, is looking to set new laws to make it harder for teenagers to get plastic surgery.
“’It used to be the case that the biggest question parents faced was whether to give their children permission to have their ears pierced,” says Iemma. “Then it was tattoos. But, increasingly, parents are being asked to fund breast implants or a nose job as birthday or graduation gifts.”
Iemma plans to introduce new laws requiring teenagers to get a referral from their physicians and to undergo counseling before receiving plastic surgery. Parental consent will also be required, according to the report, and surgeons will have to enforce a minimum 1-month "cooling-off" period before conducting any procedure.
Norm Olbourne, MD, of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, says many young people have legitimate reasons for undergoing surgery, and that there are no statistical data to back up the premier’s claim that more teens are seeking purely aesthetic procedures.
“I’m concerned that if there was legislation, it might preclude young people who not only deserve but need cosmetic surgery for their well-being,” says Olbourne.
[www.topix.net, August 26,2006]
