Has your teenager been asking about changing their nose with rhinoplasty? This procedure is no small decision, as there are several outcomes, risk factors, and considerations to weigh before moving forward with teenage rhinoplasty.
At Eos Rejuvenation, Dr. Nima recommends that parents and teens explore these six important aspects to ensure a thoughtful and well-informed decision.
Motivations Behind the Procedure
First things first—be open with your child, listen to what they have to say, and refrain from making any judgments. Saying the wrong thing could have a big impact on your child’s self-esteem, especially considering teenagers often battle with more insecurities than adults.
Instead, take the time to sit down with your teenager, hear them out, and keep an open mind. This will help you better understand their motivations behind the procedure and will promote a trusting relationship with your child.
Age and Physical Development
In many cases, facial plastic surgeons recommend that patients wait until facial growth is complete to ensure that rhinoplasty results are long-lasting. This is typically around late teens or early twenties.
Generally, most facial plastic surgeons would agree that patients should be at least sixteen years old for rhinoplasty, but this varies from patient to patient depending on their individual development and needs.
Maturity and Emotional Readiness
Does your teenager understand what they are agreeing to with rhinoplasty? Are they mature enough to take care of themselves during recovery? Do they have the emotional readiness to accept their procedure results and understand that it may take at least a year for their final results to settle? These are all questions you and your child need to consider when exploring teenage rhinoplasty.
Oftentimes, when teens are looking into rhinoplasty, they do a large amount of research themselves. This is a good sign that they are well prepared and understand what is required of them before and after the procedure.
Teenage Rhinoplasty Expectations
Having realistic expectations is not exclusive to teenagers considering rhinoplasty—anyone considering rhinoplasty should account for an extensive recovery process and understand that full results will not be fully visible for at least one to two years after surgery.
It is also important to consider that teenage rhinoplasty does not offer guarantees and may not deliver the results they are seeking. Through rhinoplasty, Dr. Nima aims to enhance his patient’s natural features and maintain a harmonious appearance, rather than completely change it.
Impacts on Daily Life
When considering teenage rhinoplasty, discuss the impacts this procedure will have on your child’s daily life. Rhinoplasty recovery is often a multi-week commitment and may include extensive bruising, swelling, and discomfort.
Additionally, your teen will have to adjust their academic, social, and exercise routine, avoiding strenuous and high-impact activities. While temporary, this will significantly alter your teen’s daily life.
On the flip side, there may be many positive impacts resulting from teenage rhinoplasty, such as an increase in self-esteem, confidence, and quality of life. These benefits are likely the biggest driving factor behind your teen asking for rhinoplasty and, as a parent who wants the best for their child, one of the most important things to consider when looking at their procedure options.
Procedure Alternatives
If your child is coming to you asking about teenage rhinoplasty, sit down and engage in research with them. Learn about their aesthetic concerns and wants and explore potential procedure alternatives, such as non-surgical rhinoplasty. In some cases, non-invasive procedures or lifestyle changes may provide satisfactory results without the need for surgery.
If you have additional questions or concerns regarding teenage rhinoplasty, get in touch with Dr. Nima at Eos Rejuvenation. He has performed numerous teenage rhinoplasties and can help you and your teen better understand what this procedure entails.
