Boob job at 17?

MrsMarsters · December 17th, 2005, 02:59 AM

Dr. Thomas Daley was happy to see Kelly Patterson. He had been following her budding acting career through the local community newspaper. A 17-year-old high school senior, she would be graduating in a few months and heading off to the state university to major in theatre. He recalls the shy, reclusive girl she was before her rhinoplasty some years ago. Although Kelly’s mother was initially leery of a nose job for her then 11-year-old daughter, she and Kelly were desperate to put an end to the merciless teasing by other children about her nose. According to Mrs. Patterson, plastic surgery on Kelly’s nose dramatically improved her self-confidence. “She just became a different person, so much more outgoing,” her mother said, “it made such a big difference in her social life.”
Kelly and her mother entered Dr. Daley’s office and made small talk for a minute or so. Dr. Daley then asked Kelly about her reason for the appointment. Kelly looked at her mother and then said that she had been doing research on the internet about breast augmentation surgery and would like to undergo the procedure. Dr. Daley first assured Kelly that she was perfect the way she was. He then expressed some reservations about performing the procedure and sent the Pattersons away with some informational booklets that detail risks and side-effects of breast augmentation surgery.

Later that month, Dr. Daley found himself at the conference on plastic surgery, talking informally to another plastic surgeon, Dr. Sarah Carlson. He recounted to Dr. Carlson his discussion with Kelly and Mrs. Patterson, and then added that, although he does not doubt that she is sharp enough to understand the factual complexities about the breast augmentation procedure, he still, nonetheless, felt morally uncomfortable with Kelly’s request. Dr. Carlson confessed that in southern California, where she practiced, it was not uncommon for girls Kelly’s age to undergo breast augmentation surgery. “Besides Tom,” she said, “if you’re ethically uncomfortable with performing the surgery, you can just tell her that you won’t do it, that she’ll have to find someone else.” Dr. Patterson nodded and pointed out that where he practices, most plastics surgeons refuse to do breast augmentations on adolescents.

A few weeks later, Dr. Daley met with Kelly and her mom. They discussed the procedure in detail. Kelly’s remarks and questions reflected a thorough understanding of the risks and side-effects of the procedure.

Question: Should Dr. Daley conduct a breast augmentation procedure for Kelly? Why or why not?

*Case prepared by Martin Leever, Ruth Ann Althaus, Lida Anestidou, Anthony Brinkman, Peggy Connolly, Robert Ladenson, and Christine Weigel. (c) Association for Practical and Professional Ethics 2005

ourmaninBusan · December 17th, 2005, 06:27 AM

^^ Got another last-minute essay due?

MrsMarsters · December 17th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Nope..got it from a site

Daphne · December 18th, 2005, 01:49 AM

17 is too young for implants. I went up three cup sizes between 17 and 22, although I certainly didn't want to. Most doctors won't even perform breast reductions on girls that age because the breasts are likely to grow back.

bella · December 18th, 2005, 03:41 PM

Yeah 17 is definately too young. When I was 17 I was a 34B, and now at 20 I'm a 34DD (UK sizes) so there's definately growing time in her yet.

feliciakb · December 18th, 2005, 07:09 PM

Get the child a pushup bra, for God's sake! I see no reason whatsoever for a freakin' 17 yr old to undergo breast augmentation! Not only is she likely not done growing physically, but I don't know a 17 yr old that is *emotionally* mature enough to make such a drastic decision, either. I think it's a sad statement about our culture that young girls feel so insecure about their bodies that they feel the need to permanently alter themselves before they're even done developing. And shame on her mother for encouraging it.

phishtickie · December 19th, 2005, 09:03 AM

Getting her fake tits is a sure way of screwing her up for life. Her nose job at that early an age obviously did more damage than good, too..
Not to mention kids ALWAYS find something to tease you about! If you get a nosejob, theyll tease you about that, for fucks sake! What idiots!

Tenaj · December 19th, 2005, 09:38 AM

Well it seems we may have a new Bride of Wildenstein if this girl is allowed to 'fix' anything she sees as a fault. Mum - give me a new nose, Mum give me new boobs, where does it end?

SVZ · December 19th, 2005, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiki

17 is too young but if this Dr. does not do it, someone else saddly will.

that's most likely even worse, any credible doctor will out right refuse to do this. there is absolutely no reason a 17 year old needs a breast augmentation, unless she has some sort of medical deformity. if the purpose is to enhance her aesthetically? then no, definetly not.

she'll probably end up with some "cosmetic surgeon" who turns out to be a dentist.

Tiara · December 19th, 2005, 11:29 AM

I was a C when I was 17, I'm only 18 now but I've gone up to a D in less than a year and thats without gaining weight anywhere else! So she is still growing. She should wait till she's atleast in her mid 20's, then if she still feels she needs a boob job then fine.

Femmefatale · January 31st, 2006, 10:20 PM

17 is not too young, I know bc I had it done (I made the appt at 16.5 had the surgery at 17...best bday present my parents ever gave me and that was 7 years ago). A good doctor will make you go thru an interviewing process to asess your maturity level, if you are a good candidate, and determine whether or not you are done growing. Medically, it is possible to determine if you are done developing for females. First an xray of your hand will be taken so the doctor can view your growth plate (also found in the femur bone)...if the growth plate is closed, you are dont growing if it is not, you are still growing. Also, based on the age you were when you began your menstrual cycle can determine how much more your breasts will develop naturally.

I had mine done and I am so glad I did. I do not think I was too young, but I cant speak for other 17 year olds. I think there are 30 year olds who arent mature enough to be sporting them (a la tara reid?)

phishtickie · February 1st, 2006, 04:36 PM

No offence, but I do believe that maturity is pretty much judged by your actions more than your sayings. I do not think that a 17 year old practically child would be considered mature if she went ahead with a breast implant operation, but the opposite in my eyes. If its THAT important to you, you can certainly wait until you have definately wanted it long enough, to be able to tell if its a conscious, mature decision. I am very, very anti implants, so Im sorry, but I dont see it as a mature decision even for older ages.

Voodoo Child · February 1st, 2006, 05:11 PM

I think 21 years old too. Personal opinion that's all. No offense to anyone.

Femmefatale · February 1st, 2006, 07:37 PM

I think a popular misconception about breast implants in general is that they are always porn star/stripper/Pamela Anderson- sized melons and obvious. Breast implants can be any size (large or small). Infact, I think way more women have them than ppl realize sometimes. When in proportion to the rest of your body they can really look quite nice...and youll never have to buy a bra again =) Mine are just under a C (I can fit into a B) and I have a small frame...most implants you see, even on small framed women are DDs at least.

feliciakb · February 1st, 2006, 11:07 PM

Why would you never have to buy a bra again? I can usually tell when girls w/ implants are going bra-less...pretty trashy looking. And I've also seen plenty of saggy fake ones.

For the sake of full disclosure, I do have implants. It's a decision I made in my early 20's, which I probably wouldn't at this point in my life (almost 30).