Teen Rhinoplasty

Nose jobs are by far the most common plastic surgery operation for American teens. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 30,000 nose jobs were performed on teens in 2013 alone.

Reasons for Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty can be for cosmetic or for medical reasons. Issues such as a deviated septum can easily be corrected. Others may just want to change the appearance of their nose. Even small changes can improve the overall balance of a person’s face. The most common reasons for teen rhinoplasty include:

• Removing a hump on the nose
• Straightening the bridge
• Reshaping the nose’s tip
• Increasing or decreasing the size of the nostrils
• Correcting the nose after an injury
• Opening breathing passages
• Making the nose bigger or smaller

Another common complaint is the large gap between the angle of your nose and the upper lip. This gap can overshadow the appearance of lips. Rhinoplasty can help reduce this gap, giving the optimal proportion to the lips and face.

Bullying can be a factor as well. Doctors caution against it being the primary reason for surgery. “I don’t think surgical services are the answer to bullying,” says Dr. Thomas Romo, founder of The Little Baby Face Foundation, in an interview with People after performing plastic surgery on a bullied teen. “But the extensive, persistent kind of bullying that happens now reaches into the privacy of children’s homes. We’re doctors, so we don’t often ask a lot about what types of bullying kids are having to deal with, because we’re focused on their medical care and their diagnoses.”

Talking to your doctor

Rhinoplasty is usually conducted in an outpatient setting but under general anesthesia. This means you can go home the same day you have a procedure. Rhinoplasty is advised only after their noses are fully developed. This is about 15 or 16 for girls, and approximately a year later for boys. It is important to note, and your doctor will discuss, that the nose never stops growing, so having a nose job at a young age may require a correction later on. Before getting a nose job, it is important for teenagers to consult with their parents or legal guardian and the surgeon to weigh all the pros and cons of the procedure. Surgeons want to make sure that the teen is mature enough to go through with the procedure.