Guide:

Right at the center of the face, the nose is one of the first features people notice when they see us. According to ​​UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering, the nose is the first feature people look at to recognize a face.

When someone is unhappy with the shape or size of their nose or may even struggle to breathe properly through their nose, it’s normal to search for solutions to feel confident and comfortable. As the face’s focal point, the nose is not an insecurity people can hide. Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure used to improve the appearance and function of the nose.

What Is The Average Age To Get A Nose Job?

Most people considering rhinoplasty are between the ages of 18 and 40. We see many young adults in their 20s considering rhinoplasty because their noses have been the main focus of their insecurities for their whole lives.  However, at this age, they can start making big decisions like this while affording the cost. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, patients aged 20 to 29 made up nearly 31% of all rhinoplasty procedures delivered in the US in 2020. 

However, this does not mean you cannot get nose reshaping surgery over the age of 40 or under the age of 18. People anywhere from their teenage years to their senior years can safely achieve the nose of their dreams.

Whether you are a candidate for rhinoplasty is not necessarily determined by age but rather by:

  • If you are in good overall health
  • If you have no underlying medical conditions that may result in complications with nose surgery
  • If you’re a nonsmoker
  • If you have realistic goals and expectations
  • If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your nose
  • If you have trouble breathing out of your nose
  • If you have done your research and genuinely believe this procedure will allow you to feel confident and happy
  • If you feel prepared to undergo rhinoplasty recovery
  • If your nose negatively impacts your confidence in your relationships or career
  • If you have a nasal deformity that requires modification

Can Teenagers Get A Nose Job?

Many patients as young as their teens consider rhinoplasty because they injured their nose during contact sports or are unhappy with the nose they have inherited genetically.

When teenagers visit Dr. Markarian considering nose surgery, the first determining factor of their candidacy is whether they have reached skeletal maturity, in which their nose has fully formed and will not grow anymore in the future.

Some teenagers have fully grown features by 15 or 16, while others reach complete facial growth around 18. Women typically reach skeletal maturity at around 16 and men at 17.

In most cases, teenagers can safely undergo nose reshaping surgery once their nose has reached maturity. 

Am I Too Old For Rhinoplasty?

Some patients in their 60s or above consider rhinoplasty because they believe their nose looks “longer” than it did when they were younger. The nose doesn’t get any bigger or longer with age, but it may start drooping as it loses its tip support, giving the appearance of a longer nose.

Rhinoplasty is safe in your more mature years to improve tip rotation if you are in good overall health. However, different and more meticulous steps are taken compared to rhinoplasty for younger patients.

Rhinoplasty is commonly paired with a facelift, as lifting a drooping nasal tip along with the face and neck promotes total facial rejuvenation.

Can Your Rhinoplasty Result Change As You Age?

When rhinoplasty is successful, results are usually permanent if you follow recovery instructions thoroughly. Some people worry that if they have a nose job when they’re young, their results will “fall” as they age, even if they love their results immediately after surgery.

Like any feature on the body, the nose changes slightly with age, but usually, these changes do not affect rhinoplasty results as the surgery strengthens the nose. While improving the bone and cartilage of the nose during rhinoplasty, Dr. Markarian reinforces the underlying framework of the nose to ensure results that last.

According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, if you decide to tweak your rhinoplasty results later in life as you believe they’ve changed, the revision rate is as small as 5-15%. Please consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options for revision rhinoplasty.

What Are The Benefits Of A Rhinoplasty?

People of all ages and stages of life seek Boston rhinoplasty because of its many benefits. Improving your nose can dramatically improve the appearance of your entire face. If your nose is something you hyper-focus on because you’re unhappy with its appearance, rhinoplasty can positively influence your life. 

Here are some of the reasons people of many ages get nose jobs:

  • Reduces bumps along the nasal bridge
  • Reduces dorsal humps
  • Improves breathing
  • Reduces the size of the nose
  • Improves facial symmetry and balance
  • Smooths out sunken spots and other abnormalities
  • Refines the tip
  • Reduces the size of wide or flared nostrils
  • Improves overall facial profile
  • Improves the projection of the nose by changing the angle

If you are considering a rhinoplasty at any age, schedule a consultation to meet with Dr. Mark Markarian in Boston to discuss if you meet the requirements to undergo a safe and successful nose reshaping surgery and how he can help you get the results you’ve always wanted.