When it comes to having plastic surgery, how young is too young? 

Some say it depends on the circumstance. 

At just 12-years-old, Brooke Bates, Pflugerville, says liposuction was her only hope in battling a persistent weight problem.  She says it's completely changed her life.

Brooke Bates now 13 has struggled with her weight for most of her life. 

"All my friends weighed 70 or 80 pounds and I was weighing 218," said Bates.

It wasn't until last year that she found a solution. 

"I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't know it was going to be this good...I used to be a size 18, 20, 22, and now I'm a size 8‑10," added Bates.

At 12‑years‑old, Brooke had liposuction and soon after, a tummy tuck, but she says getting the surgery wasn't something she and her family took lightly. 

Brooke says her weight was affecting her health both physical and emotional. 

"It hurts when kids look at you different and when kids talk about you, and then the little whispers and stuff, it hurts," said Bates.

"We've spent a lot of time dieting, exercising, and a lot of tears and it was all over in just a few short months," added Cindy Bates, Brooke's mother.

Plastic surgeon, Doctor Robert Ersek, who performed Brooke's surgery, says initially, he believed Brooke was too young and denied the request from her father, Joey Bates — who was recently diagnosed with cancer. 

After several months of counseling, Dr. Ersek changed his mind. 

"One of the things that tipped it over for me was the fact that she said that she wanted her dad to see her in a dress before he died," said Ersek.

Dr. Ersek ultimately removed more than 40 pounds of fat and skin. 

"I would not do liposuction and abdominalplasty on a 12‑year‑old girl or boy," said Plastic surgeon, Dr. David Turner.

He believes children that young rarely realize the risks, and they're still growing. 

"Children come into puberty; proceed through adolescence ages 12 to 14 or so.  Most children have a growth spurt.  They frequently grow taller, their limbs, their arms and legs get longer, a lot of physical changes happen and at 12 years old, those changes probably have not had a chance to develop completely," added Ersek.

Brooke has come a long way since then. 

"I look at the pictures from 6 months ago, and say, no, not ever going back there again.  Never," said Brooke. 

She says her new figure has given her the motivation she needs to keep the weight off.   She's now lost a total of about 60 pounds.

Her father, Joey Bates, is in remission.