Worst Case Scenario of Rhinoplasty on a Young Patient?

In my experience, young rhinoplasty patients are frequently difficult to satisfy because they tend to be highly perfectionistic and highly self-critical. That is what makes them want the surgery in the first place, but also what makes them find faults in even a well-done procedure. The longer you wait, and the more mature you are, and the more you could live with it or without it, the better you will like your result.

Typically, it is advisable to wait to perform a rhinoplasty on a male patient when he reaches the age of 16 and a female at 15. However, I would wait longer if you are a tall person or projected to be tall. The best nose is one that fits the face. Operating on a nose before you complete your physical growth could result in a nose that will not proportionately grow with you since it could affect the growth of the underlying cartilage and bone. For example, if you are 6 ft 5 inches, then a... more

It is just not advisable to find a surgeon that will operate on your nose if you are less than 16 years of age. It is just not a good idea. Both cartilage and bone is not completely grown, and the rhinoplasty may arrest the development of the cartilage and bone of the nose. Please wait until age 16.

Your interest in having rhinoplasty as soon as possible is not unusual.. The right age is determined by gender and physical and psychological maturity. For females, that is usually 14-16 years. For males, it is 16-18 years. Parental consent is also important. Within the ages mentioned, I think the concern about interfering with growth centers is over-rated.

The decision depends upon many factors. Chronological age, developmental age, type of correction desired, and current size of your nose. Rhinoplasty has been done as young as 14. However. if there is any question, it is always worth waiting until age 15 or 16 in a female patient. The concern is that the surgery will disturb growth centers in the septum and outer nasal structures. If you do not have functional breathing problems or a crooked nose, then the septum should not be an issue... more

The earliest age to perform rhinoplasty is 14. At that age, the majority of the nasal growth has occurred. It is considered "safe" to perform rhinoplasty at that age. However, unless there is major deformity, I prefer waiting until at least 16 to 18, given the potential interference with nasal growth centers. In cases of elective cosmetic surgery, you need to minimize your risk as much as possible.

Depending on your age and the maturity of your facial bones, a rhinoplasty can be done at 13 to14 years old. Males mature later than females. There's no real risk except that your nose might grow more after the surgery if it wasn't mature before the surgery.

Rhinoplasty in teenage patients is not a uncommon as many think, and in my years as a plastic surgeon I have performed very many nasal procedures on teenagers and children for birth related conditions, specifically cleft lip and palate, and all have done very well. I have in fact performed nasal shaping for cosmetic reasons alone for patients in their early teens. There are two important criteria that help make this possible, facial maturity, and emotional maturity. You may have heard... more

The only significant risk in preforming premature rhinoplasty is that there might be a difference in growth between face and nose. How old you are and your gender influence the outcome. There has always been assumed that surgery might alter the growth zones in bone and cartilage suggesting that one might negatively influence the growth of the nose if the young patient were still growing. Frankly, there is not perfect science on that subject. In matters of cosmetic facial surgery, always... more

What is too young? This surgery can be done when your face and nose are about adult size and you are mature enough to tolerate a change. Girls can start at 14 - 15 - boys usually I wait until they are over 17. The worst risk with any surgery is death, no matter how old or young you are.

Itis not that the surgery itself can cause increased risks in a young person. It is that the body goes through changes with normal maturation during the teen years. The nose will have the potential to grow some more, and this may  affect the results.

Hi, the main reason why we have patients wait until they are older is that their bones may continue to grow after surgery. If this happens, it could change the results of your surgery. In general, we like girls to be at least 16 and boys to be at least 18 prior to undergoing rhinoplasty surgery. Best, /nsn.

The worst risk is the WORST RISK (and you know what that means). However, the feared common risk is interference with the growth center of the nose. Operating prior to completion of nasal skeletal growth means that you may prevent skeletal maturity or the opposite (the nose may continue to grow. see video