The rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is a top-tier procedure because the nose attracts lots of attention and even slight imperfections are easily perceived. Among the teen crowd, the shape and size of the nose seems to have a more profound effect on body image than any other single attribute.
According to the America Society of Plastic Surgeons, a rhinoplasty surgery was performed on more than 35,000 teen patients aged 13-19 in 2010. This represents the highest number of plastic surgeries performed on the teens for that year. Teens in this age group are particularly susceptible to ridicule from peer groups and reshaping an injured or deformed nose can have long lasting positive effects on self-esteem for years.
Because rhinoplasty is incredibly common, it is usually done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Outpatients means the young patient has the procedure in the surgical facility and returns home the same day. There are several types of rhinoplasty and can range from the simple to very complex. When performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, a nose job can help teens avoid poor self-esteem and emotional distress.
There are a variety of rhinoplasty procedures available and which one a teen has will depend largely on their expected results and reason for having the nose job. Many distortions a rhinoplasty can correct include dorsal humps, misaligned bridge, bulbous or drooping tip, misshapen nostrils, oversized or underdeveloped nasal profile.
Even for teens, not all rhinoplasty surgeries are for purely cosmetic purposes. Surgery to repair a deviated nasal septum may be needed to increase the internal support structures and facilitate breathing. Realigning a broken or severely damaged nose to mitigate breathing problems is also corrective and usually medically necessary; coming out of the surgery with a great looking nose is a great bonus!
