What would happen if I got rhinoplasty too young? I'm almost 17 and I want to fix a crooked nose but want to do it soon.

Question

All I want to know is if I get the procedure done too early will the nose go back to being crooked if it grows more?

Clark Schierle, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

The younger you are the more risk there is you may still be growing and the final result is less predictable but some lasting change can still be expected. You have to understand that there is no such thing as the “perfect” nose. As rhinoplasty surgeons, we are able to improve the structure and function of the nose to address specific issues you have with how your nose looks and and how well you can breathe. Perfect symmetry does not exist in nature. Attempts to improve the symmetry of your nose should be aimed at achieving an improvement in your asymmetry to the point where it is no longer very noticeable. If you look carefully enough, you will always be able to find imperfections. The goal is a normal looking nose that is in harmony with the rest of your anatomy.

Marcelo Ghersi, MD · Answer

Hello, we typically start doing rhinoplasty around 16-18 years of age for women and 18-21 years of age for men. So you're old enough, just make sure you go to a well trained and certified surgeon for your operation.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Age for rhinoplasty and repair of crooked nose? If you are a female there should be no problem having a rhinoplasty and it will not go back to the way it was. I have done noses for 35 years in the females as young as 14 without any reversal of the surgery.If you are a male then you may want to wait a few more years before deciding to have this done.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

At age 17, patients are still a minor and must get parental consent to undergo any type of surgery. It's important to make sure that patients have stopped growing before undergoing elective cosmetic nasal surgery. Young girls are able to undergo a rhinoplasty at age 16 and young men can have it done at age 18.  Rhinoplasty involves osteotomies of the nasal bones to straighten the crooked nose, so it's important not to interrupt the growth plates of the nasal bones if the nose is still growing. For many examples of rhinoplasty for crooked nose repair, please see the link and video below

Michael Sundine, MD, FACS · Answer

In general it is best to wait until skeletal maturity has been reached to perform a rhinoplasty.  That way growth will not make any changes in the appearance of the nose.  For women skeletal maturity is generally reached at 16 years of age and for men skeletal maturity is reached at about 18 years of age.

Ivo Gwanmesia, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

It is best to wait till growth of your facial structures is completed. Having the surgery too early may leave you with an unfavourable outcome long term as the your facial structures continue to change. It is best to consult a local plastic surgeon once you have attained the age of 18.

Norman M. Rowe, MD · Answer

I do not think you are to young to do your rhinoplasty. That is really up to yourself and your parents since you are a minor. You should have the discussion with them to decide if they want you to do through with this as well.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, Rhinoplasty can be performed on teens as young as 14, so at 17 you're not too young.  By the end of puberty, the nose is adult sized and fully formed.  I have performed many Rhinoplasty surgeries on young teens over the past 30 years.  Hope this helps.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear pengriffey, I often perform rhinoplasty on patients at  the age of 17 and this does not have any bearing on their final result later on in life. Female rhinoplasty is often performed at age 17 or younger and male rhinoplasty more commonly after age 18 depending on the maturity of the patient and their facial anatomy. You can start seeing some experts in the field of rhinoplasty at this time for consultation as long as your parents are with you to give informed consent. Imaging can be done to show you the proposed results and you can review before and after photographs to see noses similar to yours. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

While straightening crooked noses is one of the most challenging operations that we do your age, assuming that you're a young lady, will not impact the result. It is important that you select an experienced rhinoplasty specialist. For a male, I may recommend that you wait another couple years.

What would happen if I got rhinoplasty too young? I'm almost 17 and I want to fix a crooked nose but want to do it soon.

Answers (10)

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