How Young is Too Young for Rhinoplasty?

In general you would not want to perform a cosmetic rhinoplasty ("nose job") on someone whose face has not stopped growing.
In general, most people finish growth in the midface where the nose sits around the age of 15. Surgery prior to this time period may negatively affect growth in other areas of the face creating problems in facial harmony. Hope this helps.

If you asked every cosmetic surgeon in Phoenix this question, you’d get a wide range of different answers. I am typically very conservative when it comes to performing surgery on younger patients, and my Scottsdale rhinoplasty patients are no exception. Although last year in the U.S. more than 17,000 nose surgery procedures were performed on patients younger than 18, I generally prefer that patients have reached adulthood before making any decisions about plastic surgery.

I want to be sure that my patients are physically and emotionally mature enough to respond well to their surgery. For some patients, this may be true at 16, but for others, growth continues through the teens. If rhinoplasty is performed for teenager whose nose shape is continuing to change, the changes occurring after surgery may create aesthetic or functional problems. Additionally, I want to be sure that all of my cosmetic surgery patients have carefully considered their procedure and recovery, and that they have realistic expectations. Teenagers are more prone to impulsive decisions and are often influenced by peer pressure, and some teens may not be emotionally ready to permanently change their appearance.

There are exceptions, however. Some teenagers mature earlier, both physically and emotionally. There are also cases such as injuries or nasal deformities that may warrant surgical correction at an earlier age. In my opinion, the only way to determine if someone is old enough for rhinoplasty is through a careful evaluation, and open discussion between the surgeon, the family, and the patient.

The best age for rhinoplasty surgery is typically after the individual has finished their major growth spurts. For girls, this is usually around the age of 16, and for boys, it may be a bit later, often around the age of 17 or 18. However, these are just general guidelines and not strict rules.
The timing of rhinoplasty also depends on the reasons for surgery. If the surgery is being performed to correct a breathing problem or a deformity due to injury, it may be done at a younger age.I hope this helps! - Dr. Costeloe
Facial Plastic SurgeryNational Harbor, MD

I recommend you wait until your daughter's nose has finished growing which is typically around 16-17 years of age. By age 17 most girls achieve skeletal facial maturity. Teenagers under the age of 18 need parental consent to undergo rhinoplasty surgery. Hope this helps.

An aesthetic rhinoplasty should not be performed on patients younger than 16 years of age.  It is preferable to wait until 18 years of age to allow for further growth and maturation of the facial skeleton.  This needs to be treated on a case by case basis however most plastic surgeons would tend to follow this age range for cosmetic nasal surgery.  If you or your child has breathing difficulty, then a rhinoplasty and/or septoplasty may be performed sooner.

Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon prior to scheduling a rhinoplasty procedure.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

The timing for rhinoplasty and the appropriate age for surgery is argued among experts particularly when it comes to true pediatric deformities such as cleft lip nasal deformity. Some feel the optimal correction is achieved early with refinements at a later age whereas the vast mjority believe it is best deferred until completion of the nasal growth (14-16 for females and 16-18 for males)

Rhinoplasty should not be done while the skeletal system is not mature. It matures in females between the ages of 14-16. Additionally, the patient has to be mature enough to handle this serious operation. 

The nose will continue to mature well after the late teens.  It is advisable to wait until a patient is at least 17 or 18 years old.  

In general I do not consider doing an aesthetic rhinoplasty procedure in someone under the age of 16 to 18 years old for females and 17 and 19 years for a male. This is the age(s) in which the nasal shape and growth is usually complete. Also, this is a better emotional and psychological age for the patient to aid in determining the post-surgical results. The key element is whether the patient has been subjected to social pressure such as teasing due to a significant deformity and in this case it would be considered at a slightly younger age depending on the patient and the life situation


 

The age at which girls can undergo rhinoplasty is 15-16 years of age. Boys can have it done at 16-17. Until that age the nose is still growing and operating it could potentially affect its growth.

Physically, teens should not have nasal surgery until their noses are near adult size. This is generally 15-16 in females and 16-17 in males. The reason is that surgery can alter the growth centers in the nose leading to stunted growth.

Perhaps more important is the psychological maturity of the teen. What is their motivation? Rhinoplasty can profoundly change one's facial appearance and self-perception. Those who have wanted the change for a long time, and have never felt that their noses were their own, may be good candidates. Others whose decisions are recent or fleeting may not be ready for such a change.