Teens, Parents Must Consider Factors Affecting Rhinoplasty Result

About 244,000 rhinoplasty or nose surgeries were performed in 2011, making this the second most popular plasticsurgery in the US.  Meanwhile, the procedure is particularly appealing to teenagers who want to improve their appearance or those who are not happy with their nose.

If performed for cosmetic reasons, it is best to wait until the face has completely developed before conducting rhinoplasty.  This means girls should be at least 15 years at the time of surgery, and for boys, the minimum age requirement is 17 years old since their nose takes longer time to mature.

By waiting until the nose has fully developed, patients will more likely enjoy permanent or at least longer results.  However, reconstructive rhinoplasty, which is used to treat nasal injuries or improve breathing function, does not involve age limits.

Aside from physical maturity, teenage patients and their parents should consider the aspect of emotional and psychological maturity.  As with any cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty is not advisable to individuals with unrealistic goals and expectations and those who see this as a way to please other people.

Another thing to consider is the result largely depends on facial features and nasal structure.  This simply means that it is extremely hard, or even impossible, to recreate the nose of celebrities; any plastic surgeon who is claiming that he can perform such procedure is creating unrealistic expectations.

As mentioned earlier, emotional and psychological maturity is very important as it allows patients to understand the limits of rhinoplasty and its potential complications.  With this consideration, plastic surgeons and parents should carefully guide teenagers when making decisions.

Ideally, parents should also accompany their teenage daughter or son during consultation with a plastic surgeon.

While the result of rhinoplasty is supposed to last a lifetime, the revision rate is about 7 percent due to unexpected changes in the nose, certain complications, and other factors.  Fortunately, newer techniques have led to a more structurally sound nose after surgery; this usually means a conservative approach.

Previous nose surgery techniques involved too much removal of cartilage (flexible tissue inside the nose), resulting to a higher risk of drooping tip because of the “weakened structure.”  By contrast, modern methods only manipulate or reshape the cartilage and bone; and if there is a need to remove some tissue, doctors use a conservative approach.

Another improvement is that many rhinoplasty implants today are made of a porous material that allows tissue to grow inside them, thereby lowering the risk of rejection and unnatural result.