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Teenagers and plastic surgery----it’s a topic that generates a lot of controversy and passion on both sides of the issue.

“I don’t know if those are the decisions they should be making at 15 and 16.”

“I have no problem with it.”

No matter how you may feel about teens tweaking with Mother Nature----consider these numbers: More than a quarter of a million American teens underwent some form of cosmetic surgery in 2007 alone.

That’s a drastic change from more than a decade ago---when 10-thousand teens went under the knife in 1994.

How do parents feel about this upward trend? That depends on who you ask.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for them because that’s kind of young.”

“I’m totally for it because the outcome for the self esteem is very good.”

Dr. David Mosier, a parent of a teenager himself, understands the dilemma from both the personal and professional point of view.

“I have a teenage daughter. Although I think she’s beautiful, there’s always something here or there that she complains about. Is plastic surgery the right option for her or other teenagers? It depends on what the problem is and also depends on how mature the teenager is.”

So, what’s hot in the world of teen plastic surgery?

According to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, the most common procedures that teens under 18 are having done are:

• Acne and acne scar treatment

• Rhinoplasty

• Breast reduction for both boys and girls

• Otoplasty for ears that stick out

• Breast enlargement

Some argue these types of procedures offer teens a new tool to help increase their self esteem. Others are afraid their children are trying to be too much like the so-called roll models they worship in Hollywood.

“Shakira, Jessica Alba, JLo’s body, and I like Shakira’s hips, Salma Hayek’s pretty.”

"There’s a lot of pressure on teenagers these days to look great. They're constantly bombarded with the media wanting to make them look like models. Teenagers are very critical about the way they look. I don’t think their as concerned with the way they look to their friends but about how they can match the expectations that society has set for them."

The experts say parents and teens should keep in mind that cosmetic surgery is just that---a surgical procedure. Teenagers, they say, should be prepared to deal with it mentally and physically.

"I think older teenagers have a little bit better expectations as far as the results of plastic surgery. I think they need to be psychologically stable to have any type of major plastic surgery."

Whether or not plastic surgery is right for teens is a debate that will rage on. But if your teen decides its right for him or her---make sure that together---you consult with a trusted and experienced plastic surgeon.

Angelique Frame, DocShop-TV.