The topic of plastic surgery on children is a tricky one.
Kids can sometimes be teased for a birth mark on the face, or even ears that stick out noticeably. But should they be allowed to correct these “imperfections,” just because other children are bullying them about it?
The parents of one 6-year-old little boy in Utah did just this. Little Gage Berger recently underwent plastic surgery on his “elf ears,” after suffering for years from name-calling by his peers.
Gage Berger, 6, is pictured here before getting ear pinning surgery in Salt Lake City, Utah, done by Dr. Steven Mobley of the Mobley Founation for Charitable Surgery.
Gage’s father, Timothy, spoke of the dramatic boost in confidence the two-hour surgical procedure has had on his son. “He’s so much more confident,” he told ABC News. “If anyone’s picking on him for any other reason now, he’ll go up to them. When he comes home from school, and I ask him how his day went, he isn’t telling me no one wants to play with him anymore. He’ll say things like, ‘Everything was good! We played outside, and I made like 10 new friends!’”
Gage’s parents and surgeon took many different variables into consideration before going through with the ear-pinning surgery.
- Gage was suffering from bullying, which was negatively affecting his confidence and happiness. He no longer wanted to go to school, either.
- His parents weren’t forcing him to have cosmetic surgery. He wanted it and was excited about it.
- He met the minimum age requirement of 5 for his specific surgeon.
- His surgeon evaluated Gage’s mental outlook and maturity, deeming him eligible.
Gage’s facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Mobley, is the man behind the Mobley Foundation for Charitable Surgery in Salt Lake City. His foundation offers free cosmetic surgeries for kids who are being bullied about their appearance, but whose parents can’t afford the costs of surgery.
“I get a lot of patients with big ears, and some of them decide they like their ears and they have the strength and resilience to stand up to bullies,” Mobley told ABC News. “But I also have other patients who are just crushed, and they shouldn’t be shamed for wanting a procedure that helps them gain back their confidence.”
Gage Berger, 6, is pictured after getting ear pinning surgery in Salt Lake City, Utah, done by Dr. Steven Mobley of the Mobley Founation for Charitable Surgery.
Ultimately, the decision to have plastic surgery on kids who are bullied for their appearance lies on parents. It’s up to us to weigh the benefits and risks, and to do what’s best for our children — and their confidence.