The decision to have cosmetic surgery is very personal regardless of the age of the patient or the type of cosmetic surgery that the patient is considering. It is common for teens to begin to become more aware of their self image and as a result, it is during this time that people may begin to consider cosmetic surgeyr to enhance their appearance. In most cases, rhinoplasty should be delayed until the facial skeleton has matured. This is typically in the mid to late teens. For girls, cosmetic rhinoplasty should be delayed until at least 14-16 years old. For boys, facial skeletal growth is usually complete between 16-18 years old. When rhinoplasty is performed after this stage, it is unlikely that the changes from surgery will detrimentally effect facial skeleton development. In your case, rhinoplasty will not affect your height. What is of equal importance to the physical maturity of the face is the emotional maturity of the patient. When considering cosmetic surgery, it is important to do it for the right motivations-doing it for yourself to look good and feel more confident about your appearance. Additionally, it is important to have realistic expectations about the type of result that can be achieved following rhinoplasty surgery; an improvement in the appearance of the nose, improved balance and harmony between the nose and your facial features, and a timeless result-a result that will look good both right now and in the future as you get older.
