Findings from a U.S. national poll show one-sixth of parents say teenagers should be allowed to receive non-surgical cosmetic procedures with parental approval.
The poll was conducted by University of Michigan Health and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich.
However, one-half of parents only support teens getting non-surgical cosmetic procedures if there’s a valid reason, and their beliefs about which reasons count as valid differ.
One-half of the respondents who support teens receiving these procedures for valid reasons say being bullied about appearance is not adequate justification, and less than 40% believe improving mental health is a good reason.
In contrast, one-third of parents support teens pursuing enhancements such as laser hair removal, chemical skin peels, teeth whitening, and dermal fillers to look good for a special occasion.
“Parents were conflicted about the circumstances under which non-surgical cosmetic procedures are appropriate for teens,” said Mott Poll Co-Director and Mott pediatrician Susan Woolford, M.D., in a press release.
“Interestingly, similar proportions of parents rated the validity of teens wanting to look good for a special occasion on par with wanting the procedures due to mental health or bullying.”
The nationally representative poll is based on responses from 989 parents of children aged 13 to 17 years surveyed in Aug. 2024.
Dr. Woolford said the increased popularity of these procedures may be associated with social media content that exposes teens to idealized images of faces and bodies.
“Teens are susceptible to feeling insecure about their appearance when compared to digitally altered pictures depicting an appearance that is probably unattainable naturally,” she said.
“This problem is exacerbated by the pressure to post pictures of themselves to garner validation.”
She said it’s essential for parents to find ways to help teens understand the distortions presented in the media while also exploring their reasons for wanting to change their appearance.
“If a teen asks for a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, parents should consider the emotional and mental health implications,” she said.
“It’s helpful to understand teens’ perceptions of how a procedure will change their appearance and the ways in which they hope it will impact other aspects of their life,” she added.
“Some teens may view these procedures as a quick fix that will help them become more popular or gain friends, for example. But changing your appearance doesn’t guarantee desired outcomes or that it will change your life.”
Parent opinions of the age at which youth should be able to obtain such services also varied, with more than 50% selecting 18 years or older, 27% saying ages 16 to 17 were old enough, and 17% saying 15 or younger was acceptable.
Nearly one-third of parents responded that teens should be prohibited from these procedures under any circumstances.
While four in 10 parents, and more mothers than fathers, said they know someone who has had a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, just 7% of parents of teen girls compared to 1% of parents of teen boys say their teen has asked about getting one.
Many parents expressed concerns about the health and safety of non-surgical cosmetic procedures and worried that their child would either grow to regret them or would want more in the future.
Dr. Woolford recommends that parents thoroughly research the risks and benefits when considering cosmetic procedures.
Still, she says, families should talk to teens about health-related implications of cosmetic procedures, such as the risk of scarring, burning, discoloration, infection or an allergic reaction.
“Non-surgical procedures may have fewer risks than surgery, but that doesn’t mean they’re risk-free,” she said.
“When considering cosmetic procedures, it's important for parents and teens to be well informed so they can have realistic expectations about what the procedure will actually achieve and if it’s worth the risk.”
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