An increasing number of young people are using their summer vacations to undergo cosmetic procedures, such as botox shots, laser treatment or cosmetic surgery on their chin or nose, Taipei-based cosmetic dermatologist Tseng Chung-jen (曾忠仁) said.
Tseng, a doctor at Taipei’s Beautyland Clinic, said the average age of people opting for cosmetic procedures has been falling steadily in recent years, with 10 to 20 percent of his patients being students and the ratio doubling to between 20 and 40 percent during summer vacations.
Tseng said that college students tend to prefer affordable microsurgeries, such as double-eyelid surgery, chin lifts, nose tucks and blemish or hair removal, while teenagers typically seek treatment for acne, acne-scar removal or excessive sweating from armpits.
In addition, a growing number of junior-high and senior-high school students are asking for cosmetic surgery to sculpt their nose or chin lines, Tseng said, adding that some parents who “feel responsible” for their children’s appearance have volunteered their kids for a “tune-up” operation.
Most microsurgeries requested by students use energy-based devices or injections, he said.
“Laser treatments are used for acne, and blemish and hair removal; intense pulsed light rejuvenates the skin; and botox, hyaluronan or Radiesse injections are used to sculpt facial muscle, nose or chin lines,” he said.
However, underage patients need a signed consent from their parent or guardian, because they might not be mature enough to make an informed decision, he said.
Adolescents also often undergo natural changes to their appearance, which makes permanent procedures risky, he added
“It is recommended for adolescents to choose ‘procedures with a shelf life’ that are non-permanent, reversible and micro in scale to avoid cases of buyer’s remorse that are difficult to address from a medical perspective,” Tseng said.
He cited as an example an 18-year-old patient who opted for abrasive laser treatment to removal acne scarring in another clinic, but suffered postinflammatory hyperpigmentation after the procedure, resulting in the student having to start the next school semester with a face that looked severely sunburned.
Tseng treated the patient using drugs and ointments for six months before the condition improved.
Tseng said that another pitfall for young people seeking cosmetic procedures is that they often want procedures that are affordable and have an immediate effect, without adequately communicating their goals with their doctors, leading to disappointment with the result of the procedures or disputes.
“Pre-procedure communication is key. No one likes paying for a procedure that does not deliver what was intended,” Tseng said.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
RSS