12 year old gets liposuction to drop pounds

12 year old Brooke Bates is 5'5" and weighed 220 lbs and wore a size 22 by the time she was in 6th grade. This gives her a BMI of 36 which classifies her as Obese. Having tried all kinds of diet plans which failed, Brooke got the liposuction idea after watching a TV documentary on plastic surgery. Her parents wouldn't allow her to get gastric bypass surgery because a family friend died from it, so instead they gave in, and let their daughter get the liposuction.

The plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Ersek, was a family friend as well, and initially said no. But then, Brooke's father was diagnosed with cancer thought to be terminal. The plastic surgeon changed his mind after Brooke said to him: "I want my dad to see me looking slim and pretty in a dress before he dies." 

35 lbs of fat was removed from Brooke's young body. Sometime later, a tummy tuck was performed to remove the excess skin from Brooke's weight loss. Brooke is thought to be America's youngest liposuction patient.

This picture is of Brooke after her liposuction. Is this what we are resulting to now for the sake of beauty? 12 year olds are allowed to get the fat sucked out in lieu of going to doctors, trainers, nutritionists, or therapists.

I don't know where to begin on the heinousness of this story. Frankly, this kind of stuff pisses me off. What the hell are these people thinking? Brooke is just a child and despite her need for desperate measures, she's just pushing the buttons seeing where she can go. The adults in this story are showing absolute irresponsibility and prudence.

The parents spent $25,000 for the plastic surgery procedures for Brooke. So what happens when Brooke gains weight again? Are they going to let her get liposuction again? Whose the one in charge, the parents or the kid? My Dr. Phil side is coming out. I understand the need for the parents to help their unhappy and obese child, but liposuction is drastic and potentially deadly.

There is absolutely no reason for a 12 year old to get liposuction to lose weight, and there is no reason for parents to allow such a dangerous procedure on a young girl who is still growing and developing. Brooke is in 6th grade for crying out loud. Aren't there some kind of laws or standards on cosmetic surgery on growing children. If not, there should be. Liposuction on a 12 year old to lose weight is truly horrifying.

[via People, Washington Post, ABC News]