Is getting a rhinoplasty in your 20s any different than having it done in your 40s?

Rhinoplasty at any age primarily focuses on the anatomical issues of that individual person. So it is perfectly fine to undergo rhinoplasty at any age as long as you are healthy and have reasonable expectations. Sometimes older patients may want something a little different than younger patients, but a qualified rhinoplasty surgeon will determine the best plan during consultation.

Hello:

Thank you so much for a very interesting question regarding age and rhinoplasty. To begin answering your question, I can tell you if you are in good health and a candidate for the procedure, you are never too old. With that said, there are 3 different age groups that I see consult for nose surgery in my New York City office.

The first group is in the 14 year old to 23 year old age range. This group typically wants to alter their nose before they go to college or enter the work force without anyone noticing a drastic change in their appearance. The second group I consult with is in the 35 year old to 45 year old age range. This group has always desired to undergo rhinoplasty surgery but for a variety of reasons were unable to have the surgery performed when they were younger.

Interestingly, there is a newer group of patients that are in their 60's wanting to get a nose job. This group which consists of both male and female patients, undergo rhinoplasty surgery when they get a facelift, brow lift or eyelid surgery. As your face ages, your skin sags and your nose begins to droop. As with any aging face surgery, rhinoplasty can also help lift the tip of your nose as it has begun to fall and/or droop over the years.

Whatever age you may be when considering altering your nose, the best advice I can give you is to consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon that specializes in rhinoplasty surgery. Experienced hands matter and you need to have a good rapport, trust and unified vision with your facial plastic surgeon to achieve the results you desire. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our New York City office and we will make every effort possible to answer any of your questions. I have included a website link that gives and in depth explanation of this procedure as well as a video where I discuss age and does it matter when related to nose surgery.

Sincerely, 

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS

Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for the question. ! You can perform rhinoplasty at yours 40 without problem! Send your photos to us to give you the best advice you need. Kind regards

Hello and thank you for your question.  The best advice you can
receive is from an in-person consultation.  I frequently perform rhinoplasty in all of these age groups.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real
patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a
computer animation system. The most important aspect is to
find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation
with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in
person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

 

  No, a rhinoplasty can be performed for patient's in their 20s, 30s and 40s.  The oldest person we have performed a rhinoplasty upon  in our practice  is in there 80s.  It is important to proceed with the procedure when the nasal issues are  bothering the patient enough so that they want to go through with it.  For more information, and many before and after results of rhinoplasty, please see the link and the video below

Rhinoplasty is the most common cosmetic plastic surgery procedure performed in adolescents around the world.  Most of the growth is completed for women by the late teens.   By this time the size and shape of the underlying bony and cartilage infrastructure of the nose is set.  The nose  will continue to change over time because of skin and soft tissue differences.  Advantages of getting a rhinoplasty when you are younger is that you get to enjoy it for longer.   However there is more time for changes to occur over the lifetime.  This is not as common if you get a rhinoplasty  when you"re older.

from a physical, emotional and psychological standpoint, the adolescent years can vary from 13-21 depending on the individual.... presuming the prospective patient has reached skeletal maturity (usually 15-17 for girls and 16-18 for boys), the decision to undergo rhinoplasty should come after a careful vetting process with several well qualified plastic surgeons.... once you have determined that your surgeon has met the minimum standards of training and experience, be sure that your thorough evaluation crystallizes into an assessment and plan that makes sense to you and gives you confidence that the surgeon's aesthetic judgement and your aspirations are 'sympatico'....Good luck....

From a technical viewpoint, the operation would be the same, assuming the absence of trauma.  Younger patients tend to heal faster and do not have to deal with the perception that they have new wrinkles or areas of concern that weren't readily apparent while attention was directed to the nose.

Often, if it is done at 20 you get your parents to pay for it -- later on you have to pay. Recovery is always faster for younger people -- otherwise there is no difference

Yes, there are differences involved, especially as it relates to the tip of the nose.  Further, trauma, allergies, infections, oil levels of the skin and so many more factors can apply.  Don't worry as much about the age as to when to get a rhinoplasty, but rather work with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that does many rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty procedures to address if there are functional as well as cosmetic concerns so you can achieve your best possible results for the long term.  Best of luck.Garrett Wirth, MD, MS, FACSWirth Plastic Surgery