The rise in cosmetic enhancements for people under 30 has surged by over 70% since 2018, reports The American Academy of Plastic and Reconstructive Facial Surgery. In 2022, over 23,000 surgical and 244,000 minimally invasive procedures were performed on those 19 and under, according to plasticsurgery.org. What is with the rise of surgery for the young, and what can we do to protect not only ourselves but our children from this pressure to fit in?

TikTok trends such as the ‘fox eye look’, characterized by elongated, almond-shaped eyes that are lifted at the outer corners to create a “foxy” or “cat-like” appearance, are becoming the norm. It starts with a consultation with a board-certified surgeon. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area. Small, discrete incisions are made at the corner of the eyelid. The lateral tendon is tightened. The incision is closed, and sutures are placed.

The Normalization of teens getting Botox has been heightened as influencers on social media advertise baby Botox (preventive Botox) and Barbie Botox (used for a slimmer neck and shoulders). Another normalization tactic used is filters across multiple social media platforms. There are unrealistic filters on all platforms that make a creator’s skin look unrealistically smooth.

In 2013, 16-year-old Kylie Jenner’s lips got increasingly bigger, and for years, she denied using any filler, saying, “I just overline my lips.”

In 2015, Kylie admitted to getting lip fillers. This created a buzz among young men and women who admired Kylie’s beauty and confidence. This started the trend “Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge.” People who participated in the “Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge” often experienced injuries ranging from bruising and severe swelling to permanent scarring and disfigurement. The trend, which involved using a shot glass or bottle to create a vacuum and forcefully swelling the lips, was widely condemned by medical professionals as dangerous.