The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons has denied any massive increase in the number of teenage girls wanting plastic surgery.
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma called for self-regulation among doctors, saying he was concerned at the number of teenagers undergoing cosmetic operations.
He also urged parental counseling, a cooling off period and counseling -- or threatened introduce new legislation or change existing laws.
But Dr. Norman Olbourne issued a statement to journalists Sunday saying while "there may be a few more patients," operations are always done with parental consent and after a cooling-off period.
"If there is legislation, it might preclude people who not only deserve, but need cosmetic surgery for their wellbeing," he said.
Olbourne said many teenagers have a worthy case for plastic surgery such as "a young person whose ears stick out, somebody who's had an accident and their nose has been pushed out of shape or a young girl of 15 or 16, who has huge breasts and won't do sport and has a pain around her neck."
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
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