Cosmetic Surgery for Children with Down Syndrome

I was born with my mother’s wide nose, my father’s small eyes, and my grandmother’s thin lips. It’s my face, thought, and it makes me look like me. I also have my grandfather’s skin. You can tell by looking at me that I burn easily and, will never have a flawless complexion. Although I know that people know this about me by looking at me, I accept myself the way I am, and it is my hope that others accept me the way I am too.
Personal and societal acceptance are the real issues when it comes to many forms of plastic surgery. If we were more accepting of ourselves as we aged, and the natural biological processes that accompany the aging process, then we would have no need for botox, or facelifts. These procedures do nothing to improve the health or functioning of the person undergoing the surgery.
Children who have Down Syndrome who undergo facial plastic surgery to change their appearance do not gain any health benefits from this type of cosmetic surgery either. The reasons for undergoing this type of surgery are purely cosmetic and are related to personal and societal acceptance. The first level of acceptance that needs to happen for these children is acceptance of the child’s diagnosis. The next level of acceptance that needs to happen is with the medical personnel, physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, and medical social workers. These people need to help parents understand their child’s diagnosis and provide the information and support to the parents to ensure that they understand the diagnosis and can find support from other parents who have children with Down Syndrome.
If this support and information was provided adequately it would be very unlikely that parents would consider plastic surgery for their children. Parents would understand that their children will grow into wonderful human beings, and do not need to undergo surgery to make them happy. It is often a lack of understanding that makes parents believe that this kind of surgery is necessary. They feel that their children will not be accepted and that their lives will not be as good if they look like they have Down Syndrome. This is simply not true. Even if a child’s face is altered to look less like a child with Down Syndrome, they will still have Down Syndrome. They will still have all of the physical, cognitive, and emotional characteristics of children with Down Syndrome. This is the reality of the diagnosis. There is no denying that children, and even adults, can be cruel based on physical appearance. This is a problem with society, this is not a problem with the child. Acceptance is the key, for the parents, for the medical staff, and for society. Children and adults with Down Syndrome accept themselves as they are, distinctive facial features and all. It is time for the rest of us to accept them for all that they are too.