Teenagers and Nose Jobs
- Posted on: Jul 30 2017
Rhinoplasty commonly referred to as a nose job, is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure among teenagers in the United States. Rhinoplasty involves the reshaping of the nose to better fit facial proportions or resemble a particular look the patient has in mind. Teenagers should not get a nose job until the nose has reached its adult size. For girls, this happens by age 16, and for boys, it happens by age 18.
What a Rhinoplasty Can Do For Your Teen
There are various types of rhinoplasty available to accomplish the desired look. Rhinoplasty can: straighten the bridge, reshape the tip of the nose, change nostril size, fix a nose injury, open up breathing passages, remove a hump, or make the nose smaller or larger. Nose jobs are not strictly done for cosmetic reasons. For instance, a patient my need rhinoplasty surgery to adjust the cartilage that separates one nostril from the other.
Rhinoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure that uses general anesthesia. As with any surgery, there are risks associated with rhinoplasty. These include an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, bleeding, infection, numbness, nosebleeds, swelling, nerve damage, scarring at the base of the nose, and the need for a follow-up operation.
How to Prepare Your Teen for a Nose Job
If a teenager is considering getting a nose job, they need to meet with their surgeon and parents or guardian to discuss the benefits and risks. Open communication between all parties is essential to the success of the procedure. Surgeons will often take a lot of time to converse with teenagers about their decision to get a nose job. This conversation will help determine if the teen is mature enough to handle the surgery and is doing it for the right reasons. It is also vital that the teen has proper expectations about the results. For example, if a teen thinks that a nose job will completely change their life and make them popular, they are not realistic.
Recovery takes patience and understanding from family and friends. After the operation, the head will need to be elevated for one day to ensure proper healing. Pain and swelling are a natural and expected part of the healing process. Teens need to understand that the swelling and redness they will experience will go away. This can take weeks and a considerable amount of patience.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are interested in discussing if a nose job is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Orna Fisher. We look forward to meeting you!
Posted in: Rhinoplasty