Teen Rhinoplasty

Teenagers not satisfied with the shape or size of their nose for cosmetic or medical reasons should look into rhinoplasty, or a “nose job.” Rhinoplasty is an effective facial plastic surgery procedure that corrects the appearance of crooked, disproportionate, or conspicuous noses to add more balance and harmony to the face. Rhinoplasty involves removing excess cartilage and bone from beneath the skin to alter the appearance and function of the nose. Changes can be subtle or dramatic, depending on the specific goals of the patient. Since teenagers’ noses change as they age, I would recommend girls wait until they’re at least fourteen and boys until they’re sixteen for this procedure. It is important for a teen to be mature enough to understand and participate in the process since it is an important decision to make.

The Rhinoplasty Procedure

During the rhinoplasty procedure, I will add or remove cartilage and bone to your nose’s framework to even out areas, straighten out a crooked bridge, reshape the tip and nostrils, or otherwise change the size or shape of the nose for improved form. These adjustments can also improve breathing and clear obstructed nasal passageways.

Recovery from nose surgery usually takes a lot of patience. Side effects—such as bleeding, bruising, and soreness—can last for two weeks. Patients can generally return to their normal daily lives after around eight weeks. Since this surgical procedure still takes weeks of recovery time, most teenagers choose their summer breaks or in between high school and college to undergo this procedure.

Revision Nose Surgery

Some bone and cartilage irregularities are to be expected and are present in all noses. We recommend patients wait at least six to twelve months until the tissues in the nose have fully healed and the swelling has gone down before attempting a second surgery. For teens, recovery and healing time is quicker at a younger age, so most plastic surgeons will recommend undergoing the procedure in your late teens to mid-twenties.

Unfortunately, some patients may still need to undergo a secondary rhinoplasty procedure if they were not satisfied with the aesthetic results or if functional complications develop after the initial surgery. These distortions, which can radically change the appearance of the face or even impair breathing functions, can be corrected with revision nose surgery at our practices.

However, when it comes to revision nose surgery, patients should find a surgeon whom they trust to navigate the complexity of this surgery. Our practice has much experience with revision nose surgery and we are skilled in correcting problems for patients who have previously undergone rhinoplasty surgery. As a trained plastic surgeon, I can reconstruct and reshape the framework of the nose to achieve results that fulfill the patient's needs. To learn more about how revision nose surgery can give your face the balance and harmony you deserve, please schedule an initial consultation at our practices today. To make an appointment with Dr. Turk, call 212-421-4845 in Manhattan or 516-921-8989 on Long Island.