Teens and Rhinoplasty

The nose is a central feature of the face and one that cannot be covered by hair, clothes or accessories.  It’s right there for everyone to see.  And a large or oddly shaped nose is not something that corrects itself over time.

Because the nose is such an important factor in what we as a society consider attractive, more and more teenagers are requesting rhinoplasties.

The teenage years can be tough enough with all the peer pressure to deal with and the many physical changes going on at this stage of life.  Having a large or misshapen nose just adds another worry and for some can be a serious blow to their self-esteem.

Luckily, a properly performed rhinoplasty can fix the nose, reducing its size and giving it an attractive, well-proportioned shape.

Some of the aesthetic and medical problems a rhinoplasty can solve are:

Making the nose bigger or smaller

Straightening the bridge of the nose

Filling in a dip in the bridge or a hump on top of the nose

Reshaping the tip of the nose

Increasing or decreasing the size of the nostrils

Fixing a nose after an injury

Opening breathing passages

However, a nose job cannot be performed on a nose that’s still growing, which means the minimum age for a rhinoplasty is usually at least 14 – 15 years old for a girl and about 15 – 16 or even older for a boy.  Your plastic surgeon will be able to tell you if the time is right for getting the surgery.

If the time is right and you all agree that a rhinoplasty will be performed, the plastic surgeon will then go over the procedure with you and explain what is expected of you and your teen before and after the surgery.

You’ll be given instructions to follow.

A rhinoplasty is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthetic. The surgery takes about one to two hours. 

The patient will be sent home after the operation with their nose in a splint or some kind of support and packed lightly with medicated gauze.  Any pain will be minimal.

The head will need to be kept elevated for at least 24 hours after the surgery and there will be some bruising and swelling.  It can take a few weeks for all the swelling to go down and the redness to disappear.  But, after that, given you have chosen your plastic surgeon well, you should see great results from the rhinoplasty.

The results of a nose job are permanent and can only be changed by having a additional surgery or “correction rhinoplasty”. This is one reason it’s so important to choose the right surgeon.

Once you and your teen have decided to look into rhinoplasty, find a top plastic surgeon with stellar credentials and years of experience.

Schedule a consultation with the best plastic surgeon and ask all the questions you and your child need to in order to feel comfortable with both the surgeon and the procedure.  The surgeon will help you weigh the risks and benefits of the procedure.  The doctor will also want to make sure everyone involved has the right and realistic expectations for the procedure.