Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, can correct a wide range of functional and cosmetic nasal problems. It’s currently one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries because the nose is the aesthetic center of the face, the seat of our facial anatomy’s overall symmetry and harmony. A deformed, crooked, or asymmetric nose can make your entire face appear asymmetrical. It’s no wonder that men, women, and even teenagers are lining up to get a nose job. Some want a nose job to achieve overall facial harmony, some do it to escape relentless bullying, and some do it to breathe better.
However, when considering a nose job, patients often wonder, “what age is good to get a nose job?”
Unfortunately, unlike nearly all other common cosmetic surgeries, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) doesn’t track and publish the age of patients undergoing rhinoplasty, however, most rhinoplasty patients are between the ages of 20 and 50.
What’s the right age for a nose job among adults?
If you’re over 18 years of age, you can get a nose job whenever you want. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a male or female in your 20s or in your senior years; you can get a nose job if you’re not happy with your current nose. Some adults get a nose job for purely aesthetic reasons to feel more confident about their appearance. Some get a nose job because they’ve suffered a traumatic injury to the nose. And others get a nose job to breathe better. They’re all valid reasons to get a nose job without any age restrictions.
Aside from age itself, other factors worth considering include:
- Has your nose reached physical maturity?
- Are in good general health?
- Can you arrange for a recovery period of 2 weeks?
What’s the right age for a nose job among teenagers?
Rhinoplasty is also one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries amongst teenagers because high school bullying often targets individuals for having a nose deemed “abnormal” or “unattractive.” Some are bullied for having a hump on the nose, some for having wide noses, and some for having a slightly crooked or asymmetric nose.
Teenagers can consider a cosmetic nose job, but only if their nose has reached complete growth. Changing the nasal structure before the nose has completed growing may lead to further complications down the line. As such, Dr. Few will determine if the patient’s nose has finished growing, which is usually at 15 or 16 years of age, before proceeding with the treatment.
Besides the nose reaching full maturation, teenaged patients are also evaluated to determine if they’re in the right frame of mind while seeking a rhinoplasty. The rhinoplasty surgeon will discuss the patient’s expectations and desires to determine if they’re mentally and emotionally mature enough to make such a life-altering decision.
The short answer to the age limit is simple—the minimum age for a nose job is once the nose has matured and grown completely, and there is no maximum age limit.
