Recently in the news was the shocking story of Ambah Young (left), an 18 year-old mother from Australia, who intends to go under the knife to “feel young again”. There are so many things wrong with that statement, but I think the one question that surfaces at the discovery of this story is this: Does she know just how much this decision could completely, irreversibly change her life?

At the age of 18, a woman isn’t finished developing yet. There is still much tweaking on Mother Nature’s part to get her finally ready for adulthood, but here is a young woman, barely out of adolescence, planning to have surgery before she’s fully “evened out”, if you will. Her reasons for having the surgery are simple. She says:

After the birth of my daughter, my body never went back to the way it was before. I’m having this surgery so that I can feel my age again.

She goes on to explain that the focal point for her surgery is her stomach, so she intends to get a tummy tuck as her abdomen hasn’t returned to normal. This is jusy so sad. The adults around her don’t seem to be helping things. The director of the surgery company she’s going to, Louise Cogan, is encouraging her:

I’ve seen Ambah’s photos and she really is a very suitable candidate for surgery because she has an overhanging tummy. The only way she can actually improve is through surgery. She can’t diet, she can’t exercise because her skin is very saggy.

From this statement it’s clear that Mc Cogan hasn’t even met the patient, yet she advising life-changing surgery. This is the point where I have to say “Okay, this is ridiculous”.

It seems also, that no amount of diet change or exercise regime will help Ambah, as the skin on her tummy has stretched beyond elasticity, so it will be forever saggy. A young woman of her age can, understandably, want to do something about this. Surgery is a bit much though.

Has Ms Cogan told her that, according to www.emaxhealth.com:

As in the United States, 18 is considered very young for someone in Australia or elsewhere to be considering these procedures. It is generally not recommended to have a tummy tuck until you are sure you will have no other pregnancies. At 18 years of age, there are many reproductive years remaining.
There is also concern over whether someone who is so young understands all the risks associated with the individual surgeries and are increased with multiple surgeries done at the same time.
These risks include infection, bleeding, scars, and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) which can lead to a pulmonary embolism and death. The added travel from Australia to Malaysia adds to the risk of DVT.

Not only are there obvious reasons of development being an issue, but the massive health risks involved that could occur all because of the idea of beauty this girl holds in her mind.

The problem here isn’t just an uneducated girl getting in the news for considering surgery at her age, it’s that other girls her age will see it, and if they are as uninformed as her, will begin to think along the same lines. What if I’m too fat? What if I’ve got saggy parts where there shouldn’t be? What if I have more fat here and I want it to be here instead? If surgery can fix my tummy, what else can it do for me?

Why any of us ever choose to get plastic surgery? Is it simply an easy fix, or are there deep-seated issues with the person?

Melbourne University psychiatrist, Professor David Castl,e told The Daily Telegraph:

Young people should first be assessed for underlying psychological problems before major cosmetic procedures.
Sometimes they believe their psychological distress will be cured by some cosmetic procedure, and it never is, it usually makes things worse.

I have no issue with adults who get plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons, as it’s their body and if they want it to be different, that’s their choice. But if the person is only 18, and under the impression that only surgery can fix her body now, there’s a massive problem.

There is a rule among some piercers and tattoo artists that they refuse to do their work on some people until after the age of 21 or even 25 because some people don’t fully finish developing until then, and it can result in some nasty malformations if this is ignored. I’m quite sure the same goes for a tummy tuck at the age of 18. If not, it should.

This young woman is a victim of pressure; she is told she must look a certain way. Well, pregnancy changes your body as does maturing. Until she is sure she is finished both, should she be allowed to do this?

Popularity: 5% [?]

No related posts.