When teenagers request plastic surgery, rhinoplasty is one of the most common requests. The shape of the nose reveals itself early in puberty, and some adolescents feel very self-conscious if their nose develops a humped or crooked bridge, a bulbous tip, a drooping nose tip or other undesirable characteristics.
Nose development should be about 90 percent complete before nose surgery is possible. Performing surgery when the nose has mostly stopped growing ensures a better result. For girls, rhinoplasty can be an option as early as age 14 or 15. For boys, age 16 or 17 may be more appropriate.
Finding the Right Time for the Individual
The matter of nasal-structure development is an important one, but not the only candidacy factor to discuss. For adolescents under the age of 18, parental consent is required for rhinoplasty and for any surgical procedure. Together, the parent and the young adult should discuss the following issues as part of considering rhinoplasty:
- Is the teenager initiating the process? The parent or any other individual should not be the one suggesting rhinoplasty for the teen. It must be the teen who is interested in the procedure for their own reasons, not to please anyone else or live up to someone else’s expectations.
- There should be a specific complaint or desired change. A good rhinoplasty candidate has a complaint such as a hump in the bridge that they would like to eliminate. If a teen expresses interest in the procedure for reasons like wanting to be more popular at school, then there needs to be a conversation around the realistic outcomes.
- Able to understand the risks and the surgery. Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure. Like any other procedure, nose surgery carries the risk of certain complications along with the benefits of the results. Dr. Schuster and our team will make sure your teen, and you as the parent, fully understand the nature of the procedure so that your child can make an informed decision.
Schedule a Consultation with an Experienced Nose Surgeon
To learn more about rhinoplasty for young adults in Baltimore, please schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ronald Schuster by calling 410-902-9800.
