A recent Good Morning America segment reported on some teens who have gotten plastic surgery to try to end teasing and bullying about their appearance.
Erica Morgo, a high school senior, was featured and says that she was bullied about her nose by her classmates in middle school. “They would call me Pinocchio. And in school, in class, people would point it out. I felt helpless. I felt like a loser,” she said.
Her mother, Dana Manzella, allowed Erica to undergo rhinoplasty when she was 15 to shape her nose to her liking.
Manzella said that she thinks it was a good decision. “It brought her back â?? her self-esteem back up to be able to do activities that she did before, with comfort.”
According to the report, nearly 90,000 teenagers had plastic surgery in 2007, and doctors say the numbers are growing.
“I do see a fair amount of parents coming in with their child because of bullying and teasing and feelings of self-consciousness,” said Dr. Michael Fiorillo, who was interviewed on the program. “My preference is, of course, to work out the issues first, the bullying, the teasing. But there are certain situations where people are mature enough. And surgery is a final resort.”
Popular plastic surgery procedures for teens include nose jobs, breast reductions, breast augmentations and ear tucks.
Michelle Martin, who was also featured in the segment, waited until she was 19 years old to get a breast augmentation after years of teasing because of her small chest.
Martin said the recovery and scars from the surgery were worth it. She said she “absolutely” feels prettier. “This was just something to make me feel better. To make me happy. To make me feel like a beautiful woman,” said Martin.
