Teen Trend: Breast Enhancement No Big Deal

LONDON, May 2, 2008 — -- Rebecca Ward is just 16 years old and counting the days until she can undergo cosmetic surgery for breast enlargement. She plans to go under the knife as soon as she turns 18.

Ward is among a growing group of young women who are considering cosmetic surgery to overcome self-consciousness and boost self-esteem. Figures show that cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular among young people, and is fast becoming a quick fix for self-conscious adolescents.

Ward told ABC news that she didn't want to wait until she was older as "it would only make her depression worse." She not only wants to boost her cup size but also her confidence.

She belongs to one of hundreds of plastic surgery groups on the social networking site Facebook. Young people meet online to discuss cosmetic surgery, post pictures and offer advice and support.

"I'm hoping to get the confidence to get out there and just be myself, especially since I want to be a CSI [crime scene investigator] so I'll be in the public eye a lot and will need the confidence," she said.

The media has speculated for years that cosmetic surgery for teens is on the rise, but it was the March 2008 death of South Florida teen Stephanie Kuleba, 18, during breast augmentation surgery that refocused attention on what many industry insiders describe as a growing trend.

Just a few weeks ago, the Australian state of Queensland made the decision to ban cosmetic surgery for nonmedical reasons to anyone under the age of 18. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has reported a 64 percent rise in the number of women undergoing breast augmentation surgery in the last eight years.

Although teenagers still represent a very small proportion of women undergoing breast enlargements, the ASPS confirms that the procedure has become more popular among young people. Between 2002 and 2003, the number of breast implants for girls younger than 18 nearly tripled, from 3,872 to 11,326.