Think plastic surgery to prevent bullying is all just media hype? Don't be so quick to judge a book by its cover, or a child by his mother!  Well-meaning, psychologically aware parents have been choosing plastic surgery for their children to help maintain self-confidence and prevent bullying for decades...D-E-C-A-D-E-S!  It is nothing new.

Sometimes, starlets' plastic surgery can seem self-indulgent or vain, a purely cosmetic tool. It's important to remember, though, that much of plastic surgery focuses on reconstruction.  No one questions the "necessity" of plastic surgery for those with burns, clefts, and scars left from cancers--and for good reason. But the cosmetic benefits of these procedures are undeniable.

Take, for example, a child with protruding ears.  Ear pinning (otoplasty) can restore the ear size, shape, and position to normalcy.  After the age of six, otoplasty is safe, fast, and virtually painless.  So why subject a child to a lifetime of "Dumbo" jokes?  An otoplasty in an otherwise physically, emotionally, and socially healthy child can be a surefire way to prevent bullying. 

The same is true of exaggerated nasal features. Oversized, crooked, or oddly shaped noses are often a source of relentless teasing among children. Surgery that restores normal nasal structure and function has long been accepted by well-adjusted teens, their parents, and doctors, so why stand by and watch a child experience a painful loss of confidence?