Why should plastic surgery on teenagers be banned?

Cosmetic surgery amongst teenagers is a controversial trend. In the modern world, the already self-conscious teen is constantly bombarded with images of perceived physical perfection on social media and in movies and television. Teenagers see social media "influencers" with perfect bodies, smooth skin, and flowing hair every time they go online. These influencers are sometimes worshipped for traits that were bestowed upon them by a doctor rather than genetics.
Teens are prone to low self-esteem and self-consciousness simply given the phase of life that they are in. Their bodies are changing and they're experiencing a wave of emotions. They're trying to navigate social intricacies and find where they fit in. Cosmetic plastic surgery may be a means of satisfying someone else's standards rather than their own—thus the concern.
As with most controversial topics, there are also sound arguments to the contrary. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Mental Health,there are "psychological studies which have reported a reduced psychological burden in teens undergoing cosmetic surgery." Meaning, some issues related to physical appearance were actually decreased after surgery for some teens.
While some countries have banned cosmetic plastic surgery for those under 18, others have put precautionary measures in place instead. For instance, a teenage patient may be asked to take a few months to think about their decision to have plastic surgery a bit further before going forward. Anyone under 18 (and their legal guardian) should consider the physical risks and psychological ramifications before opting for cosmetic plastic surgery.

In answering this question, we need to make a distinction between plastic surgery carried out for clinical reasons and cosmetic plastic surgery. In some cases, teenagers will need to have reconstructive surgery after serious illnesses such as cancer. As well as being necessary from a clinical standpoint, such surgery can help to build young patients' confidence and self-esteem.
Cosmetic plastic surgery—or aesthetic plastic surgery as it's sometimes known—is more difficult to justify. Growing numbers of young adults are profoundly unhappy with the way they look, especially girls. They're constantly bombarded with images of physical perfection in magazines, in film, on TV, and on social media. These images can have a negative impact on young adults' body image and self-esteem.
Although plastic surgery could provide a respite from feelings of inadequacy, it simply deals with the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of the problem. If society were more accepting of differences in physical appearance and didn't idealize certain facial features and body shapes, then perhaps young adults would feel less pressure to subject themselves to surgical procedures. Allowing young adults to undergo plastic surgery would reinforce rather than challenge society's standards of what's considered beautiful, and this would arguably exacerbate the problem rather than solve it.