Are You a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping, is one of the most common cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. It is the second-most popular surgical cosmetic procedure in the US (according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose for both aesthetic and corrective purposes. Rhinoplasty can enlarge or reduce the nose, as well as reshape the bridge and nose tip.

Best Rhinoplasty Candidates

You may be a good candidate for rhinoplasty if the nose you were born with makes you self conscious or unhappy. Other candidates may be unhappy with how their nose has aged. Even slight changes to the shape of the nose can have a dramatic effect on appearance and can change how people interact with you. Plastic surgery can reshape deformities, reshape changes from aging and other causes, and restore balance.

Expectations are an important element in what makes a good candidate. The best nose surgery candidates simply want to improve the nose appearance, but do not seek perfection. The ideal candidate should not expect rhinoplasty to transform them into someone else. The best candidates are well adjusted and otherwise happy with their lives.

Minimum Age for Rhinoplasty

Many young people consider rhinoplasty; however, the procedure should wait until after the teenage growth period that occurs in the mid-teens. This growth period normally occurs from ages 14 to 15 for girls and somewhat later for boys.

Additional Procedures

Sometimes treating one area can cause an overall imbalanced appearance. If you are having the rhinoplasty procedure, you may also need to consider other facial procedures to achieve balance and proportion. For example, chin augmentation is often performed with rhinoplasty. If you decide you need the additional procedure later, the two procedures are more expensive than if you had them at the same time. Multiple procedures are increasingly popular as patients work with their surgeons to create more comprehensive treatment plans. A qualified surgeon can help you save time and potentially lower your cost by combining treatments when appropriate.