When you're a teenager, your biggest dream is to be the prettiest girl in college. But, it's also the age when your skin is prone to unwanted problems like acne and breakouts.
In this scenario, you'd be shocked to find out the extent to which teenagers go to make themselves look beautiful. While the normal, old-school thing to do is go to the parlour, get a facial or put on a multani mitti face pack at home, a few youngsters have been visiting dermatologists to get cosmetic treatments like meso glow therapy and all kinds of non-surgical procedures.
A bunch of six young girls recently celebrated a birthday party by going to a skin clinic and getting different treatments. Dr. Chytra V Anand of Kosmoderma Skin and Laser Clinic, who treated them, says “Of late, youngsters seem to be concerned about their colour. So they opt for Meso Glow, wherein they get a tiny injection to appear brighter. This happens with 10-15 sittings, and lasts for about three weeks."
Getting dimples implanted was the trend until recently, now Meso Glow is the new trend and it costs between Rs 3,000 to 10,000.
Another popular treatment is what the doctors say in a very matter-of-fact manner -nose jobs. “Non-surgical nose jobs are super popular, where hyaluronic acid is injected into the nasal area. It's like collagen (structural protein), and provides the desired structure,“ says Dr. Shuba Dharmana of Le'Jeune MedSpa.
These treatments seem to be popular amongst 18 to 22-year-olds and Dr. Shuba adds that it isn't unhealthy and doesn't cause side effects.
Dr. MK Shetty, who runs Skin, Hair and Cosmetic Laser Clinic says all these treatments usually come in, when the “marriageable age comes into force." He adds that they “go in for treatments to remove scars and pigmentation. I even brought my 17-year-old daughter and her friends to the clinic. But those were for the mildest interventions."
Although parental consent is a must for those younger than 18, some parents try out the treatments before sending their children.
Psychologist Sadhana Kiran says that, parents must know where their kids are headed when they are open to treatments like this. “It isn't wrong to opt for fancy treatments, but they must not get carried away," she says.
A few youngsters though, shudder at the thought of being injected in their faces. “I'd do it if it was a complete necessity. But I would never go and volunteer to have such treatments done for no reason. I'd rather spend on something that is more permanent," says 19-year-old dancer, Niharika Koushik.
