New Study Reveals Teen Attitudes Towards Cosmetic Procedures: Insights from UM Health-Sparrow

LANSING, Mich. – New research reveals interesting trends regarding parents’ views on cosmetic procedures for their teens. A recent poll from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital shows that one in six parents would allow their teenage children to undergo non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as laser hair removal, teeth whitening, and dermal fillers.

Dr. Susan Woolford, the lead pediatrician in the study, emphasizes that while these procedures are generally safer than traditional surgery, they are not without risks. Possible complications include burns, scarring, infections, and allergic reactions. These risks can increase if the treatment is performed by an inexperienced provider or in unsafe conditions.

Social media pressure seems to be a significant factor driving teens to seek these procedures. Dr. Woolford notes that teenagers are often bombarded with digitally modified images that set unrealistic beauty standards. “Seeing these perfect images makes teens want to look similar in their own lives. When they share photos online, they want those pictures to reflect the same idealized appearance,” she explains. This desire can lead to a higher frequency of requests for cosmetic treatments compared to previous generations.