In high school, looks are everything. It’s not just important for the prom queen types, many girls feel pressured to fit into the trendy crowd. These days it’s normal for a teen to get highlights, wear designer jeans and workout to keep a thin figure. It’s a hormone-fueled time where opinions matter. For girls with a busty figure, it’s even tougher. In some cases, teens are so bothered by the size of their breasts they are seeking breast reduction surgery, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Brian Labow, who performs about 100 breast-reduction surgeries a year on adolescent girls, says the teens with large cup sizes complain of physical and emotional problems because of the size of their chest. “Most teenage girls really don’t want to come to a doctor and discuss this. By the time I see them, the breast has become their enemy,” Labow explained to HealthDay News.

Labow says this problem does have a medical name: macromastia. When breasts are oversized for a certain body type and cause neck or back pain, along with emotional trauma, a diagnosis of macromastia can be declared. Labow wanted to learn more about this topic and conducted a study. Through a survey, Labow found macromastia has a substantial negative impact on health-related quality of life. Problems include self-esteem issues, increased physical symptoms and increased risk of eating behaviors among adolescents. Labow believes these reasons are valid enough to preform breast reduction surgery sooner rather than later. He believes waiting until the teen ages only increases pain. “They are suffering. If you wait about three years after menarche [when a girl's menstrual periods start], the breasts may grow slightly but not enough to necessitate waiting longer,” he said.

Furthermore, the study shows that many of the girls dealing with the condition are overweight, adding another layer of complication to problem. Dr. Malcolm Roth, chief of the division of plastic surgery at Albany Medical Center, in New York, and president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said, “Especially for those who are overweight, the risks include delayed wound healing, scarring and an unsatisfactory outcome.” While this may be a deterrent for a doctor to perform surgery, Labow says diet and exercise is unlikely to reduce breast size significantly.

Of course, this problem comes with a cost. If classified as reconstructive surgery, it is almost always covered by insurance, Labow said. However, if the insurance company doesn’t help with the bill, an estimated cost of the 2.5-hour outpatient surgery, including five office visits, is about $15,000.

As in all cases, a trained board-certified surgeon can help young women and their parents come to a logical conclusion if macromastia is a problem.

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In less than an hour a plastic surgeon can smooth age lines with a shot or two of Botox. This procedure is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed today. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than three million people received injections last year alone. The procedure is quick, minimally invasive and offers visible results. For those reasons, more and more people are getting Botox done during their lunch hour.

“Botox and fillers offer a quick-fix with little to no downtime and are perfect for people on busy schedules,” Dr Maurizio Viel at London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery told Gulf News. Botox injections, collagen fillers, chemical peels and non-surgical face-lifts all fall into the category of so-called lunchtime treatments. All of these procedures are quick and leave little to no evidence that any work was done.

It’s not just women who are checking out of their cubicle for a lunchtime makeover, an increasing number of men are also taking advantage of these procedures. Dr Viel says that in his practice men make up about 30 per cent of the lunchtime treatments, especially when it comes to Botox. “They like to be quick and fast and don’t generally like to hang around,” Viel says. “Overall lunchtime treatments suit their lifestyle; in fact, some businessmen actually have Botox treatments before they enter big negotiations so that they can pull a ‘poker face’ during these meetings. They have told me that it puts off their opponents who can’t read their expressions.” Viel says men feel just as much pressure as women to look youthful in the workplace. “Some men are motivated because of the highly competitive nature of their work, and they want to look young to compete with the new generation coming in; or because they have younger wives so they want to look and feel younger.”

While lunchtime procedures are gaining popularity because of convenience, Viel also believes cost is a motivating factor. Botox injections have been around for years now, and there are several competitors on the market, which has driven the cost down considerably.  “Affordability is another motivator as lunchtime procedures are less expensive compared to the Eighties and Nineties when these were reserved for the rich and famous,” he said.

Lunchtime procedures may seem as simple as running to the bank, but a qualified surgeon will meet with a patient before moving forward. As always, a board certified surgeon is the best option to ensure safety and best results. A consultation should be set up so a patient can discuss the pros and cons of a procedure and understand the risks before punching out for a lunchtime makeover.