Teens opt for nip and tuck

Australian media reports have highlighted cases of women as young as 18 taking overseas holidays for cosmetic surgery.

The Herald Sun in Melbourne reported that 18-year-old Ambah Young was heading to Malaysia for a tummy tuck, breast and vagina procedures at a cost of A$13,000 ($16,000).

The single mother, who has a 2-year-old daughter, told the newspaper she wanted to "feel my age again".

"After the birth of my daughter, my body never went back to the way it was before."

Gorgeous Getaways director Louises Cogan told the Herald Sun she was aware of some 18-year-olds who had travelled to Malaysia for cosmetic surgery.

The firm helps about 400 Australians annually get surgery done in Malaysia.

Cogan said clients were more often aged between 30 and 60.

Dr John Flynn, the chief executive of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery, said 18 was very young for such surgery.

"I think the medical service owes her a duty of care to make sure that the procedures she's planning to be done are appropriate and there's a big question mark over that."

Melbourne University psychiatrist Professor David Castle told the Herald Sun that young people should be assessed for underlying problems before major cosmetic surgery.