Is Cosmetic Surgery For Adolescents Advisable?

While ten or fifteen years ago cosmetic surgery was only available to the rich and famous, it is rapidly becoming the norm for many members of the general public. Also it seems as if the age of people willing to go under the knife is getting lower. A few years ago a girl who wanted cosmetic surgery, more precisely breast implants at the age of sixteen, made headline news, now it is rapidly becoming the normal. Seemingly the adolescent issues many youngsters have can be quickly remedied by a trip to the surgeon.

The reason so many youngsters are deciding to undertake cosmetic surgery is complex and hard to define. One surgeon has claimed that there is simply an increased visibility with so many people now having cosmetic surgery. While before it was just the famous, now teenager's parents are regularly heading to the surgeon to adjust their appearance. The media has also made cosmetic surgery a far more viable option by publicising the different operations available; blaming the media however can be seen as a knee-jerk reaction.

The common question of 'what would you have done?' is often bandied around the dinner table and as such has entered the consciousness of not only teenagers, but adults as well. It is important to be objective however; cosmetic surgery is a relatively common phenomenon and as long as procedures are carried out safely there is no real problem with people improving the way they look. Whether or not they need it is down to their own body image.

Teenagers however are notorious for having a poor body image and seemingly cosmetic surgery is the quick and easy answer. While it may be a quick fix, surely there are ways to improve self esteem without going under the knife? But a teenager should not be able to possess the thousands of pounds it costs to have cosmetic surgery. In this respect, surely it is the parents who have a responsibility to educate their children if their self esteem is low. This however is not always possible, and can be seen as hypocritical, especially when the parent has undergone surgery themselves.

The benefits of cosmetic surgery are clearly there, if problems of self esteem focus on a particular part of the body it may be worth altering this body part. This can be essential for some who have serious problems with their facial features. If someone has large problems the benefits of cosmetic surgery can be truly life changing, completely boosting confidence and the way in which they carry out there day to day life. Such processes can be breast asymmetry and the readjustment of jaw lines.

Responsible cosmetic surgeons take into account the psychological effects of any surgery and will evaluate patients on how they may react to these effects. The key principle is to make an assessment based upon a patient's physical, emotional and psychological maturity. By the assessment of these factors it is possible to evaluate the viability of surgery of any particular patient. Of course if the patient fails to impress on the surgeon a sense of maturity it should be unlikely that surgery may go ahead. There are of course unscrupulous operators that may ignore these principles in favour of massive earnings, thankfully these are few and far between.

So for those who may want to undergo cosmetic surgery it is worth considering the reasons behind your decision and whether these will be acceptable to a surgeon. Responsible surgeons will take on those who have the maturity to deal with surgery and who have good reasons for going under the knife.

Careful deliberation is essential, especially in younger patients. If it is possible for the patient to see past the adolescent period, and the social pressures to conform, surgery may not be the answer. That said if it is a severe deformity or an operation that will be truly life changing cosmetic surgery may bring great benefits.

Tips to Help Balance Career and Family

Whether you are male or female, a mom or a dad, balancing career and family can be really difficult. When you're a woman, though, the choices you have to make seem especially difficult and the responsibilities all the more great. For some reason, women are guilt-ridden with their career decisions and the choices they make about working while trying to raise their children, providing nutritious meals for their family, keeping a respectable house and keeping their husbands happy. Last on the list, of course, is finding some time for themselves. So how does a woman find time to actually feel happy with her daily activities while keeping up with all of the responsibility?

First, take time to smell the roses! Literally, you can take time to smell the roses but you can actually do this with no flowers in sight. Every day, try to look around and appreciate what you have, taking in the sounds of your child's laughter, the wag of your dog's tail, the special glance of your husband as you tell a funny joke. Sometimes, the knowledge of what you have on your plate for the day will feel overwhelming, but a little perspective goes a long way. It may be a cliché and a very tired phrase, but it truly does work. People tend to get lost in the mundane, day-to-day "functioning" instead of really living their lives. For example, next time you are worried about fitting in your exercise with your child's play date at Little Gym, forego the Little Gym and head out with your son or daughter for a run. Strap the little one in the jog stroller or if he or she is old enough, ask them to put on the running shoes with Mommy and head outside! Once outside, you can literally stop to smell the roses. Just a few minutes of gratitude a day will work wonders for your soul and automatically make your life feel more balanced.

Along these same lines, try and give yourself some "me" time once a week. Once a week may not seem like much, but if you really allow yourself to soak it in and enjoy the time spent, it will make the stress of all of the rest of the hectic days melt away. Take a good block of time on a Saturday or Sunday - 2 hours, maybe - and mark this time in your calendar in pen, not pencil. Keep a standing appointment with yourself, and honor it as you would any other. Think you are too busy on a weekend to do this? You will feel much more productive the rest of the weekend allowing yourself this little ‘refresher', rather than trying to cram some time in on a random Tuesday or other weeknight. For this special time, you can book a massage or a facial at your favorite spa. Take a couple of hours to go window shopping at your favorites stores, by yourself or with a friend. Take in a matinee with a couple of girlfriends. If your husband is willing to fly solo on a Saturday night, you can even book a girls' night out once in a while and truly let loose! Even if your budget doesn't allow for these activities once a week, you can lock yourself in the bathroom with a good book, a bubble bath and a nice glass of wine and feel good about your time alone - you deserve some!

Probably the most obvious way to balance career and family is to incorporate your family into what would otherwise be "work time". If you have a short commute to work, for example, perhaps you can drive your kids to school each morning instead of having them take the bus. In the alternative, you could have your morning cup of coffee at the bus stop with them and spend a few minutes chatting about their day and what they plan to learn in school as you sip your cup of Joe and breathe in the morning air to mentally prepare for your own day ahead. If you normally exercise in the morning and leave the house very early, switch your workout time to lunch and leave the office to go to the gym, eating at your desk when you get back. You will have more time with your family each day and get a healthy break from your pile of papers to boot.

You may need to get a little creative with your schedule, but there are definitely ways to help balance career and family. Sometimes an extra few minutes each day or a once-weekly good block of time can go a long way in helping restore your peace of mind and help you feel less harried.