Girl, 15, defends breast operation
by Harriet Arkell
Doctors today condemned a mother's plan to give her daughter breast implants as a 16th birthday present.
Kay Franklin has promised to pay £5,000 for daughter Jenna to have her breasts surgically enlarged for her birthday this August, saying the operation will improve the girl's quality of life.
She said: "I want Jenna to feel confident about the way she looks and if that means having breast implants or having her teeth done or anything else she needs to do, I will support her."
Jenna, who is studying for her GCSEs at school in Nottinghamshire, says she has been longing to have her breasts enlarged since she was 12. She said: "You've got to have breasts to be successful.
"Every other person you see on the television has had implants. You just know Emma Noble, Pamela Anderson, Melinda Messenger and Demi Moore have had them done and they're so famous. If I want to be successful I need to have them too, and I do want to be successful.
"I was 12 when I decided I wanted implants, and I'd have them done now if I could. The only thing stopping me is my age - legally I have to wait until I'm 16. You also have to have the consent of your parents but luckily that's not a problem for me. My mum's had them done, so hopefully implants run in the family.
"My Dad's also for it, and has no problem with it. He wants me to feel good about myself, as well as look good. I've spoken to a few surgeons and they've said that once I am 16 and I've developed, they would be happy to do it.
"If you have implants too early when the muscles aren't fully developed around your breasts, the muscles could grow over the implants and cause problems."
However, medical experts and politicians say the operation could cause the teenager psychological, as well as physical, damage.
Clinical psychologist Linda Blair, of the University of Bath, said: "People mistakenly believe that surgery is a quick fix cure to all their problems - that having larger breasts will suddenly make things okay in life. But changing your outside appearance does not necessarily mean that how you feel on the inside will immediately alter."
Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said the plan was "shameful", and consultant plastic surgeon Dr Christopher Khoo said: "I find it hard to understand why any 15-year-old girl needs surgery. If they do not like their self-image, which many teenagers don't, a quick-fix solution is not the best answer."
A spokesman for the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said: "Plastic surgeons in our association are reluctant to operate on anybody under the age of 16.
"Surgeons may also refer younger patients to a clinical psychologist to ensure that they are emotionally prepared for surgery and there are no underlying psychological problems that they may have about their body."
However, Mrs Franklin, who at 40 has already had her breasts enlarged twice, said: "There are so many young girls who are depressed or bothered about the way they look so if you can do something about it, that's great. I don't want Jenna to have any hang-ups."
Jenna, whose bust is a size 34A at the moment, hopes to have her breasts enlarged to a C or D cup. She said: "I used to pray my boobs would grow. Then I just thought, what's the point when I can have implants when I want?"
Her mother, whom Jenna says is against navel piercing and tongue studs, has run a cosmetic surgery advisory service for 20 years and is a fan of such procedures.
She told the Daily Express: "As well as having my two breast enlargements I've also had my nose reduced, my teeth done, liposuction to my tummy and hips and some laser resurfacing to my cheeks. I want to have an eye-lift next year, a face-lift when I'm about 45, and if I need any more liposuction in the future, I'll have that too.
"Jenna is lovely looking but she is not confident. She has the same shape and build I had and I know just how she's feeling, so I'm more than happy to pay for her to have implants, probably as her birthday present.
"Even my little girl Jordan Maria, who is 11, says she wants to have them done when she's older."
-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001