New Book for Review: Nonfiction ‘The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery’ by Dr. Frederick Lukash

Teenage Plastic Surgery Frederick Lukash, M.D., is touring in June with his nonfiction book, The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery.   The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery, by Dr. Frederick N. Lukash, is the only complete guide to this ever-expanding phenomenon. Written by the American Society of Plastic Surgery‘s acknowledged expert and official media spokesperson on pediatric and adolescent plastic surgery, this book answers those tough questions parents of potential teenage plastic surgery candidates have: Will surgery increase their child’s self-esteem and help them fit in better? Or is it a dangerously easy solution to deeper issues? When is surgery right, and when is it not? Interviewed in The New York Times and featured on Discovery Health among many other media outlets, Lukash guides families through every step of the process, from finding the perfect-fit doctor and applying for medical insurance to surgery and finally to recovery and a changed life. A virtual, free consultation with a renowned expert in the field, the book doesn’t just offer easy solutions to teen’s body-image problems but helps parents understand the emotional, psychological and social dilemmas involved. Complete with action plans, real-life stories and pictures, The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery offers advice on what can, can’t and shouldn’t be done—and on how to spot the doctors who will exploit a teen’s fragile sense of self-esteem as well as his or her parent’s pocketbook. Most important, Lukash provides a useful red light/yellow light/green light guide for considering teen plastic surgery.

Book Excerpt:

In 2008 alone close to 300,000 teens underwent aesthetic plastic surgery.

Those numbers are rising, and for every teen that underwent plastic surgery, ten more are online right now researching the procedure they’ve been thinking about during every gym session, sleepover party or prom. Teenage plastic surgery is becoming mainstream—but is this a good thing?

Most of these teens aren’t dreaming about looking like Barbie or Ken, or a teen singer or actor. They are just dreaming about fitting in. As a NY plastic surgeon with over twenty years of successful practice, what I know for sure is that in spite of all that may be said, fitting in physically does matter. This is why we shower, brush our teeth, comb our hair and choose our wardrobe. This is why gyms are crowded and the diet industry is booming.

In many ways, how we look is linked intimately to how we feel. And the emotions of how we look and feel are not dictated by age. Just because you are young does not mean that you feel great about your appearance or as the French so aptly put it, feel “good” in your own skin.

Adults most often seek rejuvenating procedures in an effort to find the Fountain of Youth. Plastic surgery for teens, however, is most often appropriate for teens that yearn to feel “normal” – and certainly not stand out. Existing under the bell curve of average is a perfect fit for teens. Anything out of the norm – breasts too big or too small, causes distress. Ears that stick out stigmatize. Noses that are considered too big overwhelm a kid’s self-esteem. When teens fit in they feel good in their own skin. Looks become the background to the rest of their living. When they do not fit in it becomes all-consuming and takes over time better spent in the process of maturing.

Take the example of Scott, aged 15, who suffered from the physical and psychological stress of having male “breasts” or gynecomastia.

“I want to share my feelings about my ‘breasts’. I wasn’t confident at all. I felt that people were staring at me. All I would wear was black to hide this ‘horrible defect’. When I found out that something could be done I was very excited. The doctor made me feel comfortable about what I had and how it could be fixed.

The surgery was easy and the recovery time at home was a mere week. I was incredibly pleased with the results. I can barely see any scarring. Now I wear any color I want and am much more confident. I can go around not feeling like everyone is staring at me. I can live my life!” [Scott]

246 pages

You can visit his website at www.drlukash.com and www.teenageplasticsurgery.com.

If you would like to review The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery, email us by clicking here or email Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife@yahoo.com. Deadline for inquiries end May 25 or until the tour is filled. Thank you!


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