How Old Do You Have to Be Before Dorsal Hump Can Be Removed?

Question

Also if someone does get the hump removed, will they look better or can it ever make you look worse?

Kevin M. Robertson, MD, FACS · Answer

The answer for my practice is when patients have clearly established skeletal maturity. Some people hit puberty earlier than others, and so develop younger as well. That translates to around 16 for most kids, but as the other answers imply, women develop earlier. Not only are the results more predictable for a lifetime of a balanced result, but patients are better equipped emotionally for the process. Be patient, it will pay off for you!

Paul S. Nassif, MD · Answer

Hello,
Generally we wait until 15 years old for a female and 16 for a male. When performed properly by a highly skilled surgeon, rhinoplasty with hump removal can yield excellent results. Hope this helps answer your question. Thank you and best of luck.
Dr. Nassif

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

There are exceptions to this, but this is a good general rule. Once the nose is done growing. A good surgeon will not make the nose look worse.

Andrew Jacono, MD · Answer

The age where it is safe to do rhinoplasty varies per individual as some boys and girls go through puberty and their growth spurt earlier and later than others.  Operating before the growth spurt can allow the nose to grow after surgery requiring a revision rhinoplasty to maintain results.  The age range I think is safe for girls is 15 to 17 and boys 16 to 18.
There are extreme cases where we will do surgery earlier when a child's self-esteem is so damaged by their appearance that it impedes their social development and affects their mental health.

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

It really depends on the sex.  In females, I wait until 16 years of age minimum before performing rhinoplasty.  In males around 17-18 years of age.
Hope that helps.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Naqman,
In general, Rhinoplasty should be performed after puberty, and after growth has slowed way down.  For girls usually 16 or older, for boys 17 or older.  You should look better after the hump removal if that is what bothers you.  It is most important to choose your rhinoplasty surgeon most carefully.  Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

Scott Trimas, MD · Answer

Typically, we like females to be around 15 and males to be 16 so that the surgery does not affect their normal nasal growth. It is not advantageous for someone who is very tall to have a small nose where the growth has been stunted. Typically, females stop growing significantly after that age and the nose is about where it would be as an adult and the same for males.
To answer the second part of your question, yes if too much is removed it could widen or "scoop" the appearance of the nose and make it look disproportionate to your face. That should be discussed with your surgeon in detail at your consultation appointment.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Generally, we wait unitl completion of skeletal growth which is 14-16 in females and 16-18 in males. Operating prior to this may effect nasal growh due to interference with vital growth centers. Over-resection of the hump can produce a "ski-jump" nose.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Young men need to be at least 16 years of age and young ladies need to be at least 15 years of age before undergoing a rhinoplasty for hump reduction. It is important to make sure that the facial structures and the nose have stopped growing prior to undergoing elective cosmetic surgery. Remember, once the hump is removed the side walls will also have to be narrowed to balance the nose out and not leave you with an open roof deformity or a flat top nose.

Sam P. Most, MD · Answer

The issue here is that current dogma (not supported by good studies) is that surgery on the nose (especially the septum) can affect growth centers of the midface area. So, for an elective procedure, we'd rather wait until growth is complete rather than take that risk. While maturation will vary for each individual, for young women most facial growth is probably complete by 14-16, and for young men 16-18. Again, each individual should be evaluated separately and some doctors may be more conservative than others.

	Hope this helps.

How Old Do You Have to Be Before Dorsal Hump Can Be Removed?

Answers (16)

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