image: Parent opinions of the age at which youth should be able to obtain such services vary, the poll suggests.
Credit: Sara Schultz, University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health
For teens who may be self-conscious about issues such as acne scarring or discolored teeth, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are an increasingly popular way to address their concerns.
And some parents are supportive of this decision, a national poll suggests, with a sixth saying teenagers should be allowed to receive these types of aesthetic treatments for any reason as long as they have parental approval.
But 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 – according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
Being bullied about appearance doesn’t justify getting this type of procedure, half of these parents say, while less than 40% believe improving mental health is a good reason.
A third of parents, however, support teens pursuing such enhancements like 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.
“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 ages 13-17 surveyed in August 2024.
External pressures may influence the desire to change
The increased popularity of these procedures may be associated with social media content that expose teens to idealized images of faces and bodies, Woolford says.
“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 important 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 half selecting 18 years of age or older, 27% saying ages 16-17 was old enough and 17% saying 15 or younger was OK.
Nearly a third of parents think teens should be prohibited from these procedures under any circumstances.
Considering risks versus benefits of cosmetic treatments
While four in 10 parents, and more mothers than fathers, say 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.
Woolford recommends parents do thorough research into the risks and benefits when considering whether to seek cosmetic procedures. Important steps include consulting with a healthcare professional as well as understanding a cosmetic provider’s level of experience and their protocols for health and safety.
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.”