Candidates For Rhinoplasty

While it may be true that people notice your eyes first on your face, they may quickly notice your nose, too. After all, it’s right there with your eyes. For most people, this isn’t a problem, even if it’s slightly crooked or as a hump in it from taking a ball to the face when they were young. But some people tend to feel their nose is a distraction from their other qualities. They may have nice eyes and a nicer smile, but perhaps the hump on their nose is pronounced, or they feel like Cyrano de Bergerac because of its overall size. For these people, rhinoplasty may be the answer to keeping the focus on their face somewhere else. And, it’s no surprise that in places like Los Angeles or New York City, appearance is incredibly important. It may be more than simply trying to stand out; it may be related to economic reasons, as well. Rhinoplasty, most commonly referred to as a nose job, is performed hundreds of thousands of times a year on people from all walks of life. The goal is to enhance appearance as well as functionality. While people may scoff at those who desire a nose job because their nose is, again, a little crooked or humped due to a past accident involving sports, a broken nose can impair breathing. In extreme cases, this obstruction in breathing can affect the person’s quality of life. But, for the most part, people just want their nose to be aesthetically pleasing. When thinking about rhinoplasty, there are some requirements that need to be considered. One of these is age. Candidates for rhinoplasty are, by law, required to be at least 13-years-old, and in some cases a little older than this. While kids are hard on each other where appearance is concerned, many teens are told they will “grow out of” their awkward phases. This may be true for most, but some parents may be concerned that their child’s nose problems, which are already pronounced, may get worse as they get older. And if the child already has breathing problems, it is best to undergo a rhinoplasty sooner rather than later. The goals of the rhinoplasty patient need to be realistic. Though we all have an ideal of how we wished we looked, it is important for those that undergo rhinoplasty to remember that their nose will still be their nose. While dramatic changes may occur, especially if a large nose becomes a petit nose, extreme changes can be accomplished when the rhinoplasty is combined with another cosmetic surgery such as a facelift or eyelid surgery. You and your plastic surgeon will discuss these goals prior to your surgery. As with any type of surgery, good general health is required. There are risks, albeit small, but they are real. You must undergo a physical prior to your rhinoplasty, and it is extremely important that you are honest with your doctor about your health. Allergies to medication or other family diseases must be taken into consideration. If you are a smoker, you must stop several weeks before and after the rhinoplasty to help facilitate the healing process. There is not one good reason to have rhinoplasty. This is because there are several reasons. They are also individual reasons and, in some cases, private. However, if you are interested in a rhinoplasty for either aesthetic or functional reasons, speak with a plastic surgeon in your area.