Plastic surgery a tool to stop bullying

AUSTIN (KXAN) - AUSTIN (KXAN) When you think of plastic surgery, children don't typically come to mind.

But a plastic surgeon in Austin is willing to accept children to go under the knife under certain circumstances.

What circumstances?

Bullying.

According to Dr. Jennifer Walden, plastic surgery can help children who are dealing with such as larger than normal ears or noses.

"A 6-year-old child being called 'Dumbo,' for example, is not a real nice thing," Walden said on KXAN News Today. "And a surgery procedure such as an otoplasty, or ear pinning, only takes two , two and a half hours and can actually help that child in a short amount of time with those anatomic problems that they may have."

  "It's not a cure-all but it can help for certain specific problems."

Walden suggests getting other factors involved when making the decision on weather plastic surgery is an option. She suggests the approval of all members involved, including approval from pediatrician, clinical psychologists, and even psychiatrist can be involved.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery , there were more than 34,600 surgeries performed in the United States on patients who were 18 or younger.

There was also more than 97,200 non-surgical procedures performed on children. The procedures include things like laser hair removal, chemical peels and injectables.

This was a jump in numbers from 2010 which had 33,610 surgical procedures and 91,900 non-surgical procedures performed on children.