My daughter thinks her nose is wide. Will she grow into it after puberty?

Dear TJ:



Certainly,
in young women as well as young men, the nose changes significantly during
adolescence. Generally, for boys, that
process occurs one or two years later.



I have
operated on some young women whose faces were stable and unchanging at nearly 14 years of age. It's
possible that next year she might be a candidate.What is important is to chart her progress
over the next year or so, and watch the evolution of her facial
structure.The best way to do it is by
photographs.



At age 14,
it's not appropriate to consult.That's not to say surgery will be appropriate, but it is time to start doing
some homework and research. See several
surgeons. See how they feel about the
prospect of her success. Look for
examples in their photo collection of other patients who have similarly shaped
noses.



Doing
homework is the most important thing you can do for your daughter. At this stage, it's not likely she is
capable of doing the same research work that you need to do. Review my website and other doctors'
websites which are rich in
information. Look for computer imaging
examples showing how closely the practice was able to match the
computer-generated prediction.



I wrote
two books for the public (listed below) and am pleased that many prospective patients
benefitted from them. Other doctors have
also written excellent books. They are
all easily available on Amazon.com or Barns & Noble. Read as much as you can, study hard, and when
you go for consultation, bring another family member too.There is nothing wrong with bringing the
patient's mother.The more people that
attend a consultation, the more everybody learns.Take notes at the consultation and compare
them afterwards.The more work you do up
front, the greater the chances you will be satisfied.I f this year or next year is not the right
time, then certainly, in a couple of years it will be, and that is still soon
enough.



Best
wishes,



Robert
Kotler, MD, FACS

Over
4,500 nasal procedures performed

Author,
SECRETS OF A BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC
SURGEON

Author,
THE ESSENTIAL COSMETIC SURGERY COMPANION

It is tough to say without the benefit of a photo. She still has a lot of growing to do and I would let her complete her growth before doing anything. If it is still a concern to her when she is older find a board certified plastic surgeon in your area and schedule a consult. Good luck