Rhinoplasty is the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure for teenagers. But just like your mom told you, just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it right for you. What factors influence whether a teen is a good candidate for nose surgery?
Teen Growth Factors
The reason why other plastic surgery procedures are so rarely performed in teenagers is because the body is still physically developing during those years. Scheduling cosmetic surgery too soon in a teenager could mean poor long-term results—or worse, performing surgery for a condition that would have resolved itself in time, as in the case of a 14-year-old girl with A cup breasts who turns out to simply be a late blooming C cup by the time she’s 19.
However, rhinoplasty is somewhat different, because the nose reaches full maturity years before the rest of the body, typically at around age 15 or 16. The exact age will vary somewhat depending on many factors, but an experienced rhinoplasty specialist should be able to give you a definitive answer during a consultation.
Emotional Maturity
Beyond physical maturity, there’s also the question of emotional maturity to consider. Rhinoplasty is a permanent change to your teen’s appearance. While a self-conscious teen may view this change as a welcome one during the turbulent high school years, you don’t want there to be regrets later on down the road.
Finally, make sure your teenager has realistic expectations about what rhinoplasty can achieve, and is otherwise physically and emotionally stable before scheduling a consultation. Although nose surgery can make a positive impact in how teens view their physical appearance, a new nose won’t stop bullying, improve a poor relationship or affect which college accepts their application.
A board-certified plastic surgeon with a wealth of experience, Dr. Meade’s enthusiasm for cosmetic surgery is immediately clear when you first meet him. He puts patients at ease with his warm smile, vast knowledge and individualized attention to detail.
He is dedicated to staying current on the very latest techniques and procedures available in the field of cosmetic surgery. In conversation with Dr. Meade, you clearly can see that cosmetic surgery is more than just his career, but his passion.
