People considering rhinoplasty generally think about getting a “nose job” sooner rather than later. Some patients want to know if you can be too old for rhinoplasty, while others—specifically adolescents—ask if they old enough to have cosmetic nose surgery.
Young or Old: Is Rhinoplasty Right for You?
There isn’t a specific “correct” age for getting rhinoplasty, but teen girls and boys need to be sure their noses have finished developing before having aesthetic surgery. Because girls tend to mature sooner than boys, they can undergo rhinoplasty at about age 16, while boys should wait another year or two.
After about the age of 16, a person’s nose is fully developed and does not continue to change much. If a young person is unhappy with his or her appearance, it makes sense to have nose surgery sooner rather than later, because the nose will not change substantially over time and surgery is the only option to permanently revise its look.
There are also many people who choose to wait. While I will perform rhinoplasty for good candidates in this younger age group, it’s still more typical for me to see patients in their 20s or 30s who is seriously considering this procedure.
Rhinoplasty Before and After Photos
What Does Rhinoplasty Do?
Rhinoplasty helps correct a range of cosmetic concerns with their nose, including disproportion with the rest of the face, a bump on the bridge, crookedness, width or narrowness concerns and flared or pinched nostrils. Surgery can also help to improve breathing. Nose surgery to revise the septum, the wall of cartilage that divides the nose, is known as septoplasty. A septoplasty is particularly helpful for patients who have trouble breathing due to their deviated septum, or if they have suffered an injury to the nose.
While rhinoplasty can improve self-confidence for younger patients in their formative years, it’s not a ‘quick fix’ for a teen with low self-esteem. Parents should discuss the pros and cons of surgery with their teen and help them make an informed choice. In my experience, an open dialogue is so important to a satisfying outcome.
What about on the other end of the spectrum? Can you be too old for rhinoplasty?
It’s possible to undergo cosmetic nose surgery at virtually any age as long you’re in good overall health. Men and women who are self-conscious about the appearance of their noses, but who have postponed undergoing rhinoplasty, can still benefit from the procedure.
That being said, changing the appearance of your nose in your 40s or 50s can come with unexpected reactions from patients who have grown accustomed to the look (even if they’ve felt self-conscious about their noses for years.) You should discuss this with your plastic surgeon to ensure your confident about wanting to undergo rhinoplasty.
Start With a Consultation
Regardless of your age, if you are considering rhinoplasty or another type of facial plastic surgery, you can request your consultation with Dr. Bogdan by using the online form. Or, you can call us at (817) 442-1236 to schedule an appointment.