By: Michael Tantillo, MD

If you’re a teen or the parent of a teen who is thinking of getting a rhinoplasty or “nose job,” you might be questioning whether this procedure is appropriate for younger patients. Rhinoplasties are some of the most complex cosmetic surgery procedures out there, so keep in mind that there’s no single deciding factor and no “perfect” age where the procedure suddenly becomes appropriate for everyone. That being said, at my practice I generally won’t perform nose surgery for patients who are younger than 14. This is largely due to:

• Physiology: With young men especially, the internal structure of the nose can change significantly between early adolescence and adulthood, and it just isn’t a good idea to step in midway through that process and alter things before you know the “final” result the body is working to create. Certain adjustments at this point are less problematic than others (injectable treatments are usually fine), but what’s “appropriate” will be different for every patient and overall it’s best to wait until the body has figured itself out.
• Goals: Younger patients and their parents are often motivated to seek out a nose job or Boston rhinoplasty to minimize teasing and taunting. While that priority isn’t invalid, a patient who can’t express goals of their own probably needs some time to mature. They’ll be happier with the aesthetic result in the long term if they feel confident that the decision is theirs.
• Recovery: Rhinoplasty recovery does not have to be an intensive undertaking, but it does require effort and special care to follow the directions of your plastic surgeon faithfully. This can be a challenge for younger patients, and while parents are usually good about making sure their child follows post-surgical instructions, parents who are too “hands off” or an immature teen may cause me to recommend delaying surgery.

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