Today, an overwhelming number of American teenagers are choosing to modify their bodies in order to fit the unrealistic standards of physical attractiveness created by our sex-obsessed culture. beauty. Teenagers feel immense pressure to be “beautiful” from the media, their peers, and even their parents. Teenagers go to extreme lengths to achieve this physical perfection, but ultimately, how far is too far? The number of teenagers undergoing plastic surgery is surprising and will continue to rise as America falls into a beauty-obsessed epidemic. The most drastic method used for mega-alterations in adolescents is plastic surgery. There are two types of plastic surgery: reconstructive and aesthetic (Monohan). Reconstructive procedures are performed in order to correct defects in the body. Cosmetic procedures modify a part of the body that a person is unhappy with. There has been a huge increase in the number of teenagers getting cosmetic surgery in America over the past decade. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) estimates that more than 333,000 cosmetic surgeries were performed on patients aged 18 or younger, up from about 14,000 in 1996 (Zuckerman). Some teenagers resort to plastic surgery to correct a physical defect or to modify a part of their body that they are not happy with. The most common procedures chosen by adolescents are nose reshaping, ear surgery, scar treatment and breast reduction. Although breast augmentation and liposuction are less popular among those under 18, they are more controversial due to higher complication rates, long-term financial assistance, health risks, and concerns about “body sculpture” on bodies that have not finished developing (Zuckerman). In addition...... middle of paper ...... the whole nation. Works Cited Boodman, Sandra G. "For More Teen Girls, Plastic Surgery for Adults (washingtonpost.com)." Washington Post - Political, national, world and Washington area news and headlines - Washingtonpost.com. Internet. February 11, 2011. .Mann, Denise. “Plastic Surgery and Adolescents on MedicineNet.com.” Internet. February 11, 2011. .Monohan, Kate. “Plastic surgery for adolescents”. Plastic Surgery Cosmetic Surgery Beverly Hills Los Angeles California. Internet. February 11, 2011. .Zuckerman, Diana. “Adolescents and cosmetic surgery”. Informational website on breast augmentation, breast reconstruction and breast implants. Internet. February 11. 2011. .