After being diagnosed with scoliosis, a Sioux Falls, S.D., graduate student had to have her spine reconstructed, causing one of her breasts to become larger than the other. Although her parents supported her decision to have a breast augmentation, she thought about it for years because of the risks involved and waited until she was 21 to have the procedure done.

College-aged students make up about 20 percent of his practice, says John Moore, a plastic surgeon at Premier Plastic Surgery in Olathe. The most popular surgeries for college-aged females are rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) and breast augmentations, he says.

Breast reduction is the most common surgery for college-aged males. About 15 percent of males between the ages of 12 and 20 have enlarged breast tissue because of a hypersensitivity to the small amount of estrogen in their bodies. Because patients can be relatively thin and skinny, male breasts can be especially embarrassing. These males often try to avoid social situations in which they have to take their shirts off, such as in PE class or at the pool, Moore says. The second-most common procedure for college-aged males is rhinoplasty.

Most people have plastic surgery because they think something doesn’t match the rest of their bodies, Moore says. For example, he performed rhinoplasties on two college-aged females this year whose noses were out of symmetry with the rest of their faces. A good candidate for plastic surgery is generally happy but believes they would be more in balance if they fixed one defect, he says.

Moore turns away about 10 percent of patients he sees, usually people who don’t need surgery and won’t see a difference afterward or people who want plastic surgery for the wrong reasons and believe it will change their lives, save a romance or land them the perfect job. He also denies people who erroneously believe that he can make them look perfect.

One of the hardest parts about being a plastic surgeon is holding patients’ hands and reassuring them during their recovery periods, Moore says. That’s why it’s important that he choose patients who are stable enough to handle the procedure.

After having plastic surgery, many patients have more self-confidence, improved self-esteem, and are more comfortable with themselves and their bodies. Studies have shown that after receiving plastic surgery for breast and nasal deformities, patients are treated better by children and co-workers.

“Correcting an overlarge nose is often a life-changing procedure,” says Robert Kotler, a surgeon and author of Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon. “When done at a young age, it proves to be a substantial ‘investment.’”

Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t always go as planned. A Nevada, Mo., senior, her mom and sister all wanted breast augmentations, so they decided to go through with the procedure together. After visiting several plastic surgeons, they decided on a doctor who was supposed to be one of the best in the Kansas City area.

She says she wanted to go from a B to a small D; when all was said and done, she ended up with double Ds. Now she’s suing her doctor and will have to wait at least two years to have the procedure redone. People interested in plastic surgery should make sure they’re on the same page as their doctor, be very open and clear and let them know exactly what they want, she says.

There are other drawbacks to plastic surgery, including cost: breast augmentations and rhinoplasty both cost well over $3,000. Also, as with any surgery, there are risks and painful recovery periods involved.

About 50 percent of people who come into Moore’s offices feel guilty about making themselves look better, he says. They think they’re being frivolous, yet they’ll spend thousands of dollars a year on clothing, cosmetics or a certain car to improve their feelings of self-worth and appearance, he says. “The only stumbling point is, then, is it worth an operation to make you feel better about yourself,” he says.

For the Sioux Falls, S.D., graduate student, the operation was well worth it. She says the general reaction to her breast augmentation was positive and has helped her with relationships. “I look like a woman, finally,” she says. If someone is thinking of having plastic surgery, she suggests they think about it and do it for the right reasons. “Don’t do it for your boyfriend because he wants bigger boobs,” she says.