OC HIGH / STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS : Let’s Get Physical : Esteem Rises From Within; Surgery Starts Outside

Is plastic surgery a miracle of modern technology, or is it better to take yourself at face value? Canyon High School students Becky Burton and Leslie Larue debate the topic:

How do you feel about teen-agers having plastic surgery?

Leslie: I truly feel that teen-age plastic surgery is an external escape hiding behind a lack of inner-confidence. Getting something fixed won’t solve your problem because it’s all in your head.

Becky: Basically, I feel that plastic surgery could help a person’s self-confidence. If only one imperfection is making them insecure around other people, I feel they should just change it.

L: It seems as though people have become too concerned about their outer self-images. What ever happened to personality? Besides, just changing one thing about yourself isn’t going to solve a self-confidence problem.

B: If a teen-ager has a long list of things to correct, then yes, there is something wrong. But I see no harm in one or two things being changed. . . . If you have an attribute that is very noticeable and unattractive, then go have it fixed.

L: The amount of money teens spend on cosmetic surgery is ridiculous. And, what if there are complications or it doesn’t turn our right?

B: If a teen doesn’t have the money to do it and is skeptical about the outcome, then they shouldn’t do it. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about your looks but you. Teen-agers wear makeup daily in the hopes of looking better. Plastic surgery is just a more drastic measure to look more beautiful.

L: Then are teens changing to fit society’s standards of beauty or their own?

Are teen-agers hiding their feelings behind the knife?

B: A plastic surgeon will usually refer teen-agers to a therapist beforehand because any physical change is shocking. Teen-agers should go for the therapy first. If that doesn’t work, then they should change their appearance.

L: Our society revolves around perfection. We can change anything we want . . . soon teens will even be able to change their DNA makeup! We need to get back to the basics and return to what we came with.

If a teen has the money and desire to have plastic surgery, then what’s the problem?

L: Because teen-agers are tampering with things they shouldn’t be tampering with. Teen-agers have to be content with what they were born with and what they are naturally given.

B: All I can say is to each their own and, if a teen-ager wants an alternate look, then certainly do it.