All in the Family

Cosmetic Interventions for the Very Young, Teens, and the Very Old

CHILDREN

Cosmetic interventions as defined in this book—alterations of normal features—are rarely if ever appropriate for young children. However, children do undergo a variety of procedures to correct deformities related to imperfect development, injuries, or other causes. In many cases these deformities are corrected for the purpose of improving the child’s appearance and social integration rather than for any functional need. In this chapter I will not discuss surgery for cleft lip and related defects, microtia (severe underdevelopment of the ear), large moles, or treatment of large blood vessel abnormalities like hemangiomas because these deformities often have functional impact and do not properly belong in a book about purely cosmetic procedures. Read the rest of this entry »