With a number of operations going wrong, Italy is to soon ban breast enlargement or other plastic surgery for girls under the age of 18, officials said.
According to the latest figures, more than 10,000 teenage girls had surgery in 2008 -- with many of them getting the operation as a gift from their parents. Now the government would introduce a legislation which will make it illegal for females under 18 to have plastic surgery.
In fact, the authorities want to clamp down on the growing number of cases where unauthorised and authorized surgeons have caused problems with botched operations or sub- standard silicon implants.
Francesca Martini, an undersecretary within Italy's welfare ministry, said that the government wanted an official
register of surgeons qualified to perform plastic surgery drawn up.
"This legislation is primarily aimed at the growing number of girls under 18 who have breast enhancement surgery
purely for fashion reasons and have no idea of risks involved.
"Far too many adolescent girls are unaware of the fact that there are risks with this type of surgery and it should
not be used purely for fashion and looks. At the moment we've a Wild West, cowboy style system of plastic surgery for young women and this must stop," she told The Daily Telegraph.
Francesco D'Andrea, of the Italian Society of Plastic Surgeons, welcomed the proposed move: "Banning under 18's from having the surgery is also a good idea because these girls are just too young to be operated on. Some surgeons have no idea what they are doing and create huge risks."
