Can a 14 year old get a rhinoplasty procedure?

By the age of 13 to
14 years in girls, the nose has completed over 90
percent of its growth and development.  You want to make sure there have been no changes in growth for over 1 year before proceeding with surgery.  You will also need to be evaluated for emotional maturity and you need strong parental support.  If you meet these requirement, you may be candidate for surgery at your age.  

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. When rhinoplasty is performed after this stage, it is unlikely that the changes from surgery will detrimentally effect facial skeleton development.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.If this has been bothering you for some time, you would benefit from consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss what option might be best for you. You can discuss the areas of your nose that bother you and see what your rhinoplasty surgeon might suggest. However, it is very important that you do a lot of research to find the best rhinoplasty surgeon for you. You and your surgeon will be able to discuss your concerns and formulate the goals for your surgery to achieve the best possible result for you. Additionally, you and your surgeon can decide at what age it would be appropriate to have rhinoplasty surgery.

While some surgeons will perform a rhinoplast on a girl as young as 14, t is generally recommended that nasal surgery be delayed until
after 16-17 for a female and after 17-18 for a male. Waiting until then usually
allows the nose to reach its adult size.

Keep in mind, that following the advice from a surgeon on this
or any other website who proposes to tell you what to do without examining you,
physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full
medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of the proposed operative
procedure with you and your parents may not be in your best interest. I would
suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss
your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California