When it comes to cosmetic surgery, it is rare to hear someone advocating for it to happen at a young age. More often than not, most will advise teenagers who are debating a procedure to wait. Some may say, “You’ll grow into your nose!” or “Your nose may not be done growing!”
The reason to address this debate earlier rather than later is to protect teens as they struggle with body image issues. As a cosmetic surgeon and someone who understands the importance of feeling your best, I have witnessed countless transformations in confidence as a result of rhinoplasty. Though we do live in an era of body positivity, it’s important to understand that our teens are competent to make informed decisions in the context of parental approval and sound medical advice.
The decision to undergo rhinoplasty should always be informed and never pressured. The goal is not to become someone else, regardless of your age. But if you are wondering what the experts think a good age for a nose job is, you are not alone!
I think it’s time we set the medical record straight. Don’t you?
Myths About Rhinoplasty and Age
Nasal surgery in children has been an ongoing hot topic of debate in pediatric ENT and facial plastic surgery for decades. Due to many older studies the common practice for a long time was to advise against nasal surgery and rhinoplasty in the teen years. The truth is that current medical opinion has changed. There are in fact many reasons to support early intervention. Here are some important things patients should know when they ask themselves if they are too young for rhinoplasty:
The average person’s nose is fully developed by the time puberty ends. The standard advice now is to wait until puberty ends to get a rhinoplasty for purely cosmetic reasons. Most teens complete puberty before they are 18 years old, with 15 to 16 being a pretty common age for younger people to begin exploring their rhinoplasty options.
It’s often difficult to emphasize how much of a major impact having rhinoplasty can have on a person. Most people who pursue rhinoplasty do so because they are deeply unsatisfied with the appearance of their nose. Many young patients seeking rhinoplasty already have noses that are over-developed, making the need to wait clinically insignificant.
Rhinoplasty is safe and can actually improve your breathing. The role of the septum in growth and development of the face is well known, but early correction may have several more far-reaching benefits. Teens with prolonged nasal obstruction suffer from breathing difficulties, poor quality of sleep and difficulty with focus and attention. Nasal blockage that forces obligate breathing through the mouth only is harmful, and may itself lead to the development of facial and dental abnormalities over time.
Every single patient is different – and that makes it impossible to give precise guidelines as to whether or not a patient is too young for a rhinoplasty. In most cases, people are shocked at how young you can be while still being able to enjoy all the benefits of rhinoplasty. If you or someone you know is interested in changing the appearance of his or her nose, don’t ask just anyone for advice. We specialize in rhinoplasty and deviated septum surgery for patients of all ages.
To schedule your Rhinoplasty consultation, please use the contact form to request additional information or call NYC: (201) 408-5430 or NJ: (201) 408-5430 to speak to one of our Patient Advisors. Our office is conveniently located near 300 Grand Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631.