The Press-EnterpriseJune 13, 2007

It hasn't exactly replaced part-time jobs or family vacations on the summertime to-do list, but plastic surgery has become more popular among teenagers this time of year, doctors say.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that nearly 94,000 teenagers, ages 19 and under, underwent some kind of cosmetic surgical procedure in 2006, not including minimally invasive treatments like Botox or chemical peels. In 1996, about 11,500 cosmetic surgeries were performed on patients 18 and under. In 2002, the number had grown to nearly 81,000.

The most common plastic surgeries among young people are nose reshaping, male breast reductions, breast implants and lifts, and liposuction.

And those operations can run anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000. Dr. Kelly Gallego, a plastic surgeon with offices in Irvine and Corona, said each summer he sees a spike in young patients. They have more time available for surgery and recovery, he said, and while he doesn't ask his patients specifically, he says he thinks some of them are being rewarded for graduation.

Danielle Kinsley, 18, of Temecula, will be undergoing surgery to even out her breasts as a graduation gift. "It's not a huge spike," said Gallego, who has operated his Corona office for four years. "But it is noticeable." Child psychologists, women's rights activists and plastic surgeons all agree that surgery among teenagers is on the rise, especially at graduation time.