The late teens and early 20s can be tough for many kids. Adolescents who are uncomfortable with their appearance may make poor social choices, engage in risky behavior, or struggle with poor self-esteem and self-worth. For teens and young adults who are unhappy with the appearance of their noses, the rhinoplasty procedure offered by our Atlanta facial plastic surgeon may be able to help them find a solution.
What is Teenage Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty, or a “nose job” refers to the cosmetic alteration of the nose. This surgery is quite involved and can include the alteration of skin, cartilage, and bone. Carefully reviewing the needs of the patient, their expectations, and the desired outcome are key to making the surgery successful.
So, how is teenage or young adult rhinoplasty different?
Plastic surgery in adolescents is time sensitive. It is important to wait until the nose has reached at least 90% of its full growth potential. Thus, some teens are ready for this surgery at the age of 15, while some aren’t ready until they’re 18. Every patient is different, and our Atlanta fellowship trained professionals can help both parents and young adults determine exactly when that physical growth stage has been reached.
Once your teen’s nose has reached that important 90% growth level, they could be ready to consider a rhinoplasty.
Your teen’s rhinoplasty assessment can be done in the office. When discussing this procedure in our Atlanta practice with teens and their parents, it’s a good idea to encourage your teen to be honest about their intentions and expectations.
The Popularity of Nose Surgery Among Young Women
Young women often feel self-conscious about how their nose looks. This varies patient-to-patient, but we find that aesthetic & functional issues are among the main reasons young women choose nose surgery.
While a new nose won’t fix all of your problems, rhinoplasty can provide a major confidence boost for the right candidate. Not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure, which is why it’s important to talk with an expert.
Teens might not be able to get a rhinoplasty right away, even with parental permission. The nose grows slowly and may not be done maturing until the mid- to late teens. Further growth could change the appearance of the nose after surgery. Teens must also be emotionally mature and prepared for the realities of a nose job before moving forward.
Teen Rhinoplasty—A Case-By-Case Basis
Rhinoplasty candidacy is always determined on a case-by-case basis, but this is especially important for teens who are interested in rhinoplasty. Sometimes, teens need rhinoplasty to help them breathe better, while others are interested in cosmetics only.
It is crucial to choose a surgeon who has experience in nose surgery for young patients, as this will help ensure a good outcome. An ethical surgeon will be honest with patients about whether or not they are too young for rhinoplasty.
Teens and their parents need to have some important conversations about rhinoplasty and why it’s important to them. Young patients need to be aware that a rhinoplasty won’t fix all their problems or make them a different person, but it will help to improve facial balance and self-confidence.
Young people in the Atlanta area who could benefit from rhinoplasty can trust our doctors to guide them and their families through the rhinoplasty process with honesty and integrity. Our doctors are rhinoplasty experts who understand the specific needs and risks of rhinoplasty for teen patients.
Good Candidates for Teenage and Young Adult Rhinoplasty
Fitting in during the adolescent years is always a challenge. While rhinoplasty is one of the most common procedures performed, on both adults and teenagers, it’s critically important that the child have an honest understanding of what this surgery will do for them.
For teenage rhinoplasty patients to be fully satisfied with the procedure, they need to identify why they want this surgery in the first place:
- Does their nose detract from the overall attractiveness of their face?
- Is there a particular feature of their nose that bothers them?
- Are they just dissatisfied with their appearance?
There is always a risk when we choose to undergo surgery. While a primary rhinoplasty can be done as an outpatient surgery, there are risks to rhinoplasty that need to be considered, such as bleeding, mild numbness, small irregularities, and rarely, infection.
Unless the adolescent is fully aware of what bothers them about their nose and exactly what they want to corrected, and why, they may not be happy with the outcome.
If your child isn’t clear on what the results will be, they may not be a great candidate for this procedure.
Rhinoplasty: What to Expect
Rhinoplasty typically isn’t covered by insurance unless it’s needed for functional reasons, and pricing will depend on how involved the procedure is. If your child has a specific understanding of exactly what the surgery will do and how that will make them feel about themselves, then they’ll probably be very happy with the results.
Anytime you have a surgical procedure done on your facial features, you can expect swelling and bruising. Your facial plastic surgeon will give you a list of activities for your child to avoid after the surgery. If the adolescent is planning to head to swimming training, volleyball practice, or football camp, you can work with your patient care coordinator to determine the very best time to schedule surgery.
Your child will need a couple of weeks off after the procedure to heal fully and to keep bruising to a minimum. Over time, there may be a bit of swelling that will be unnoticeable to nearly everyone but the child and the rhinoplasty surgeon. After about six months, this last bit of swelling will go away and you and your teen will know exactly what the nose will look like moving forward.
Choosing the Right Surgeon
Do you need to consult with doctors who specialize in teenage and young adult rhinoplasty? Not necessarily. However, better results are achieved when choosing a cosmetic surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty and secondary rhinoplasty.
Teenage Rhinoplasty FAQS
A good candidate for teenage rhinoplasty understands that rhinoplasty will leave them with a nose that won’t detract from their face.
The surgery may well make them more attractive, or at least give them a nose that won’t be a jarring focal point from an otherwise attractive face.
Understanding this is key to happiness with the outcome.
Aside from fasting, the patient gets a list of medications to avoid before surgery, like aspirin. Some additional testing or scans may be required if there are aspects to the nose that need to be further evaluated.
Make sure you have ice packs and any entertainment your child will need to help them rest after the procedure.
Arrange for a ride home for them, or drive them yourself, and be ready to have some help to get them from your vehicle into your home if your child is bigger than you.
There’s always a risk of complications from anesthesia and from any surgery. However, working with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon will go a long way to reducing those risks.
To avoid infection, carefully follow all instructions given regarding pre-surgical preparation and post-op follow-up.
Plan for 10 days of swelling and bruising. Avoid anything strenuous for at least 4 weeks after the procedure. Prolonged swelling and severe skin discoloration can be avoided by following all post-op care instructions.
As noted above, your child may experience some numbness or swelling for a few months after the surgery. With proper follow-up, these issues will fade.
Schedule a Teenage or Young Adult Rhinoplasty Consultation in Atlanta Today
Teenage nose surgery will not be a risky procedure, and a one-on-one consultation with our Atlanta-based facial plastic surgeons can help ease your concerns.
With the right mindset and a mature view of what the surgery can do for them, an adolescent can put rhinoplasty surgery to excellent use. If they know what they want and are ready to make time and space for recuperation, the chance to repair a nose feature that bothers them can do wonders for their confidence and self-esteem. Like many other experiences, if your adolescent can fully define and understand what benefit they plan to take from the experience, they will get great value from this procedure.
If interested in our teenage rhinoplasty options at our Atlanta practice, contact us by calling 770-457-6303 or filling out our online form.
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