Rhinoplasty Can Make the Teen Years Better

When a teenager with a large or misshapen nose has the opportunity to have that nose corrected, it can change the rest of their life for the better.

Due to genetics or other factors, some people are just born with noses that are too large or in other ways not the right balance for their faces. This can create problems for the person starting at a young age.

With a correctly done rhinoplasty, this feature that was once a cause of embarrassment and even anxiety, can be turned into a thing of beauty.

Rhinoplasty is second only to breast augmentation as the most common plastic surgery performed in the United States and is the most requested procedure by teens.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons teens frequently gain self-esteem and confidence when a physical problem, such as a large or misshapen nose, are corrected with cosmetic surgery. In fact, also according to the ASPS, successful plastic surgery may reverse the social withdrawal that can accompany feels of being different or unattractive.

If you are thinking of getting a nose job for your teen, you are not alone. Over 63,000 cosmetic surgical procedures were performed on people 13 to 19 years old in 2013. An additional 155,000 plus minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were performed on individuals in that age bracket.

A few factors must be kept in mind when deciding to get your teen a rhinoplasty. The first is age. The nose must be fully formed and have reached full adult size before having a rhinoplasty. This age will vary a little from person to person, but it is normally thought to be around 15 or 16 years old.

The other factors have to do with the desires and maturity of the teenager in question.

It's very important that it is the teenager himself or herself who is requesting the rhinoplasty. While the parents need to be in support of the teen having the operation and must give their consent, it must be the teen's own desire and this must be clearly stated by that teenager.

The teenager must not be acting on impulse or simply as an immediate response to some social situation. Getting a rhinoplasty must be something that has been thought through and talked through by the teen and parents.

Goals should be realistic. The teenager needs to know both the benefits and the limitations of the rhinoplasty procedure.

The teenager needs to have sufficient maturity to be able to obey instructions related to preparing for and recovering from the procedure. He or she needs also to be able to tolerate the temporary pain and swelling that accompanies such surgery.

Rhinoplasty results are permanent. The only way to change them is with an additional surgery known as correction rhinoplasty. This is one reason it's so important to have a thorough consultation and to choose the right surgeon

The doctor you and your teen decide on should be an experienced surgeon, board certified in this procedure.

During your scheduled consultation make sure your teen has the opportunity to communicate any of his or her own concerns and to tell the doctor what he or she is looking for. Both you and your child will need to feel comfortable with the surgeon, the procedure and with your decision to have the rhinoplasty performed.

It's important to choose the best plastic surgeon and therefore spend time doing your homework to find someone who is experienced. The plastic surgeon you have chosen will help you and your child understand and weigh the risks and benefits of the nose job procedure. The doctor will also want to make sure everyone involved has the right and realistic expectations for the procedure.