Analysis of plastic surgery in adolescents in Brazil

Resumo

Introduction: Brazil is one of the countries that most resort to plastic surgeries, performing a total of 1.5 million procedures in 2016, 57% of which are cosmetic. However, one fact that really draws attention is the fact that adolescents seek professionals to perform reparative surgeries. This fact reflects the dissatisfaction with body image, being a problem associated with factors such as female gender, overweight and physical activity. To analyze the search of adolescents for plastic procedures, taking into account data from the year 2016 and 2014, based on the literature.
Methodology: Literature review based on articles available in SciELO and data from the 2016 Census described by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP), carried out by means of an electronic form answered by SBCP members.
Results: According to the SBCP census, in the year 2016, 47.5% of the procedures were non-surgical and 52.5% surgical, compared to 17.4% non-surgical and 82.6% surgical in 2014. In addition, It was concluded that among the surgeries performed in 2016, 57% were aesthetic and 43% were restorative, while in 2014, 60% of the surgeries performed were aesthetic and 40% were restorative. It is known, however, that among the procedures performed in 2014, 3% were performed in patients up to 12 years of age, while 5.7% were performed in patients 13 to 18 years of age, while in the year of 2016, 1.8% were performed in patients up to 12 years of age, and 4.8% were performed in patients 13 to 18 years of age, with a clear reduction in the demand for plastic surgeries by adolescents, although statistics remain considerable. Another data collected by the census was the use of social media by plastic surgeons, it was revealed that 55.5% of professionals use Facebook, 42.1% use Whatsapp and 35.9% use Instagram.
Discussion and conclusion of the results: The use of social media to publicize their work is a reality today for many professionals, however, it is important to remember that such habits bring professionals closer to adolescents, since access to information usually occurs indiscriminately in this environment. Plastic surgery is a procedure with risks and requires physical and psychological maturation. Although there is a legal reality behind plastic surgery in minors, there is not a formal SBCP guidance on this subject, however there is a social charge, increasing medical responsibility when evaluating each case.