Dangerous Teen Trend: Thigh Gap

A growing number of pro-anorexic and “thinspirational” blogs have been springing up all over the Internet. These pictorial blogs are by teenage girls aspiring to attain the goal of simply being skin over bone. In fact, this trend has become so big that the social media companies Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest have changed their guidelines to prevent people from posting images that promote self-harm.

One of the latest goals set by young, and possibly not so young women, is to achieve what is called “thigh gap.”

Thigh gap is a term that was coined to describe the silhouette of the thigh so thin that they do not touch above the knees. Unfortunately, this defies the function of the thigh. We are not just fat and bone; we have muscle too. And we need our upper, and yes, inner thigh muscles to walk, skate, ride bicycles, squat down, and perform many other basic movement functions. This distorted aesthetic, if it can be called that, defies biological function!

I find this trend extremely disturbing as a cosmetic surgeon. There are many reasons I only perform certain cosmetic procedures for teens, namely otoplasty and rhinoplasty, but this trend would be a perfect example not only of emotional immaturity, but also Body Dysmophic Disorder (BDD). I want to weigh in on the side of physical and mental health here, and maybe educate a few parents who might happen to read this blog. Here are some terms to be on the lookout for in your teen’s lexicon:

thinspo is short for “thin-spirational +photos” of wafer-thin girls and pro-anorexia quotes

abc is short for anorexic boot camp

pro-ana is short for pro anorexic, meaning encouraging the eating disorder

These are just a couple of terms. There is even a Pro Ana – Body Mass index ( BMI ) Calculator online at one of these sites! Huffington Post has an article exploring this sickening trend. Do be aware of how your teen uses these terms, however, as there is also a growing movement among other teenage girls rising up against this sort of self-harm.

Your health is the basis for beauty. It is absurd to think that one can sacrifice health for aesthetics. I encourage my patients to eat well and stay fit. Most people will not be candidates for cosmetic procedures if they are not in good health. For example, as I say on the liposuction page of my website, it is natural for women, in particular, to accumulate fatty deposited on the hips, buttocks and abdomen; and fat in men tends to accumulate around the mid-section. And under excess fat are muscles! Under every curve, there is a muscle. To be a candidate for liposuction, you must have a strong immune system, which you do not have if you are starving. You must be reasonably close to a healthy, normal weight. If you have lost a large amount of weight in the correct manner, that is about 2 – 3 pounds a week over time, you may indeed need a thigh lift or a tummy tuck. At Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, we want what is best for you; we do not encourage self-harm.

Dr. Branman

Call Melinda, my Patient/Surgery Coordinator to set up your consultation. 501 227-0707