The phrase "back to school" signifies a number of events - the end of a lazy, teenage summer, chaotic Target shopping, the beginning of a new academic year, etc... But for a rare few, heading "back to school" now requires a quick stop-off at the local plastic surgeon's office.

According to a shocking article at news.scotsman.com, NHS Lothian (the Nat'l Health Services for the Scotland populations of Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian) has fully paid for the cosmetic surgeries of 12 teenagers this year. Five breast operations and seven nose reductions, to be exact.

So, what exactly made these cases so detrimental that the NHS volunteered to step in and provide treatment? Bullies. No, I am not joking. It appears as though school bullies - the mean-spirited deviants whose only mission in life is to make other children feel pain - have become an acceptable reason for permanent body alteration.

The article explains:

John McGregor, a consultant plastic surgeon for 26 years before he retired this year from St John's Hospital (where the procedures were performed), was reported as saying: "The few breast enlargements I was involved in during my career were usually youngsters who were suffering from a severe asymmetry or were suffering an element of bullying at school.

"We saw a few girls aged 14 and 15 who had big bumps on their noses and had reductions because they were having difficulty studying for exams due to bullying. I am a little bit surprised that these type of cases are having operations while so young when they are likely to still be developing.

Woh. Hold on a second. Since when has plastic surgery become the preferred solution to bullying? "Mom...that mean girl was teasing me about how big my nose was again!" "Alright, sweetie, it's no problem, we'll just fix that right up for you!"

First of all, what sort of message does that send to young girls? If you don't like something about your body and other teens are teasing you, just have some surgery and everything will be fine? I don't think so. I doubt a vicious school tormentor will keep quiet when you go back to school with a new pair of C-cups. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the taunting continued, only in a new, malicious way.

For as long as I can remember, body image has always been an extremely sensitive subject for female youths. We would worry, focus on everything that was wrong with ourselves, and pray that no one would draw attention to our many shortcomings. It was an awkward coming-of-age ritual that most of us had to deal with in one way or another. And as far as I know, we all made it through - without having to go under the knife.

That more and more teens (who are nowhere near done growing) are turning to cosmetic surgery to purchase self-esteem is a frightening reality. And that adult organizations, such as the NHS, are promoting such a shallow, quick-fix solution is even worse.