Freshers queue up for nips and tucks

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—AFP

Whoever said beauty is only skin deep, must have forgotten to mention that this statement holds true only in certain given conditions. Today’s “beauty conscious” youth doesn’t completely agree that beauty also comes from “within” and thus prefers to look attractive on the “outside”.

This has led to a sharp rise in cosmetic procedures among school pass outs.
Anchal Oberoi, an 18-year-old student reveals that she recently underwent rhinoplasty to get a beautiful nose. She says, “I just cleared my Class 12 exams and before going to campus I wanted to look good so I went to a cosmetic surgeon in Vasant Kunj and got my nose repaired.”
Similarly, Kanishka Singh (name changed on request), also opted for a cosmetic procedure to get as she says, that “perfect finish”. “In school I had lots of acne and blemishes on my face so to get rid of this I opted for a cosmetic procedure this month. I also asked my skin doctor to give me a chemical peel treatment so that my skin looks smooth. It was an expensive treatment but now when I see a clear face I feel more confident amongst my friends.”
A lot of students go under the knife because of peer pressure and the desire to look good, says Dr Varun Katyal, consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist, The Skin Centre. “Some popular cosmetic procedures opted for by students are acne scar reduction, laser hair reduction, chemical peels, photo facials and liposuction. There has been a rise of around 20 to 30 per cent in the number of students opting for cosmetic procedures in past two-three years. Not just girls but even boys come for various cosmetic surgeries as they too are getting more aware about their looks on campus,” Dr Katyal informs.
Dr Indu Tolani, dermatologist and cosmo physician at the B.L. Kapoor Memorial Hospital, says that these days young students are not scared of trying out various cosmetic procedures. “There are a lot of non-surgical procedures that are getting common among young students. A lot of mothers also encourage their daughters to go in for body and facial hair reduction laser treatments, which often take six to eight sessions and can cost up to `20,000-25,000 per session. Many students come to us for acne and scar reduction treatments. Some even ask for microdermabrasion or Botox injections to lift their eyebrows. Another common cosmetic procedure in demand is the hyaluronic acid filler treatment for pouting lips. ”
However, cosmetic surgery is all very well if one is aware that such treatments do come with certain risks so every precaution must be taken.