So Your Daughter Asked For A Breast Reduction

It is becoming more and more common for teen girls to request breast reduction or other plastic surgery for a graduation present.

You may find yourself taken aback. Your daughter is smart and pretty and should feel no need for surgery to be self-confident. You may look at your daughter with the loving eyes of a parent, unable to see why she should want to change.

But if your daughter asks for breast reduction, it is best not to be judgmental. You may not understand how she feels, but you should try. A recent study showed that about 65% of women aged 18-25 are unhappy with their breasts, and many wish their breasts were smaller.

You may think plastic surgery is too frivolous a gift for graduation, but if you are looking for a gift that will facilitate your daughter’s transition to the complex social and academic world of college, you could do worse.

During their college years, women are under the most pressure to uphold social standards of beauty. If your daughter feels she is falling short, it can seriously impact her self esteem, maybe lead to daily stress and worry.

Large breasts can lead to unwanted attention and distraction. Think of it as removing a potential obstacle: when she spends less mental energy worrying about her breasts, she will have more to devote to schoolwork and positively adapting to college society.

But what do you do if you still feel uncomfortable with her request, even if you sympathize with her feelings?

As with many things, a flat denial is often not a good decision. If your daughter seeks out plastic surgery without the benefit of your support and input, she may go to a doctor who offers low prices but is not adequately qualified.

Instead, work with her to figure out if this is really what she wants. Help her adequately research the procedure and attend surgeon consultations with her. Give her the benefit of your wisdom in understanding the risks and complications of breast surgery and selecting the right surgeon.

And if you still feel uncomfortable, it might be best to make the final decision hers. Decide what you would like to spend on a graduation present, then give her the money to do with as she will. After all, a graduation gift is partly a celebration that your little girl has become a woman and will have to start making decisions for herself.

To talk to board-certified plastic surgeons about breast surgery, please contact The Centre, P.C. today to schedule a consultation at our South Bend location.