Plastic surgery has become more common in the past few years and now the epidemic is being passed on to children.

A story in the Austin American-Statesman about a 13-year-old girl who had liposuction has me very concerned about what has become of our society and where we are going. The story has a definite undertone of concern, but I’m worried that, in a few years, this will be the norm.

The girl’s parents, Cindy and Joey Bates, say that their previously chubby daughter is now confident, popular with the boys … and happy with her body, according to the story. First of all, what teenager is happy with her body? Most college students I know aren’t happy with their bodies. And secondly, should any parent be proud that their daughter is popular with the boys, even if she isn’t a child?

I can understand, although I don’t agree with adults getting liposuction after years of failed diets. Most experts, according to the story, said that the majority of their youngest patients were over the age of 15, yet even those candidates had to meet harsh criteria, such as reaching their growth peak or having to correct an ill-proportioned body part.

The parents of the 13-year-old said in the story that their daughter tried dieting, but would quit after losing only a pound in two weeks. Wow, two long weeks. What a message to send to a teenager about dedication. Her parents also said in the story that she would have significant weight loss during the school year but would fail in the summer when she wasn’t doing anything but sitting around and eating. Is that really considered an excuse for not losing weight? If your daughter isn’t doing anything in the summer but eating, why not send her to camp where she can get some exercise?

It’s not OK to teach your child there is always a quick fix to any difficult situation. What happens when she is stressed out? Is it OK for her to get high so that she doesn’t have to endure the pain in actually dealing with the problem? It is important for parents to instill willpower in their children. This tool will help children to abstain from sex, drugs and peer pressure.

Plastic surgery is evolving. Adults are running into their doctor’s office with any little imperfection. Having an A-cup doesn’t qualify as a problem that needs to be fixed with a life-threatening procedure. More and more people are getting plastic surgery every year. From 1997 to 2005, there has been a 444 percent increase in cosmetic procedures, according to American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Women are receiving breast implants and tummy tucks as graduation gifts. There are new procedures that enable women to reduce the size of their vaginas. This is crazy. And it’s not just women. Men are getting procedures, from calf implants to pinning back their ears.

We live in a society of extremists. Men and women are obsessed with not only perfection but with being more perfect than anyone else. And the fixation on flawlessness comes with a high price. The average cost of breast augmentation is over $4,000 and will put you out of work for up to two weeks, according to ASAPS.

More than 10 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States last year, according to ASAPS. Don’t catch yourself falling into the hype of perfection. You are never going to be perfect. No one is. Even models on magazine covers are touched up. Learn to love yourself as much as you hope someone else will. Don’t get plastic surgery. Teach your children and the children around you that beauty is not skin deep.