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People born before 1970 moving their bodies to modern dance music. Catching your parents in “the act”. These are just some things in life that could be best described as disturbing. I would now like to add another item to that list: kids getting Botox injections.

According to a 2009 survey taken by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 12,000 Botox injections were administered to American teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19. And most of those faces belonged to Asian Americans. To be honest, in the words of Lindsay Lohan’s probation officer, I’m not surprised.

A lot of Asian faces are chiseled with pronounced, square jaws. To remedy this supposed malady Asian American teenagers have started turning to the needle to reshape their lower faces. A lot of Asian parents are okay with this because the use of Botox is as common as bad pop music in Southeast Asia, China and Korea. In other words, a book in Asia is in fact judged by its cover.

Before you wag your finger of moral disapproval remember this: people are superficial in every race and culture. I just think Asians are more accepting of their superficiality. In Asian society there is no moral or public outrage over women (and men to some degree) obsessing about their body image. Being preoccupied with thinness is not considered wrong. Outward appearances are not only a reflection of you but of your family as well.

Like a lot of other first-generation Asian Americans I’ve dismissed a lot of the social conventions of status and beauty penned by our parent’s culture. So yes, I do have a problem with this teen trend of using Botox. And it’s not because I will always be the “before” picture when it comes to physical looks.

Maybe I’m under the influence of Oprah but for me this just reinforces the insecurities of a lot of young people. I mean, it’s fine if you want Botox as an adult, but these are just kids. Let them enjoy the carefree days of youth before they have to deal with things like jobs, mortgages and, well, kids.

So young people (especially you Asian Americans): put the needle down. You are looking at life through a small window of time. Enjoy your bodies now because after 30 it’s all downhill from there.