I am 14. I have wanted to have rhinoplasty since I was 11. I was wondering how long I should wait to get it done and the possible risks of it.

K.

As a minor, you do not have much choice in the matter. You will need at least one parent to consent to the procedure in order for it to be done. If you have a good relationship with one or both of your parents, please have a long talk with them about this operation. Here is the main question you need to discuss: Why do you want to do this?

If your answer is "So people will like me" or "So I will be more popular" or "So I won't be so depressed," then you probably do NOT need a rhinoplasty (plastic surgery to reshape the nose). It is safe to say that you will probably be very disappointed by the rhinoplasty. On the other hand, if your answer is "I hate the way my nose looks" AND you have very specific complaints about your nose (such as "I have this big hump" or "The tip is too boxy"), then you may be very pleased with the results of rhinoplasty.

Doctors refer to this issue as having REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. If all you expect from surgery is the correction of a specific problem with your nose, you will most likely be satisfied. If, on the other hand, you expect surgery to improve your social life, you will be disappointed.

Teenagers are renowned for having an amazingly distorted body image. Ten years from now, might you be perfectly happy with your nose? You may not think so now, but there is a chance that the answer to this question is "Yes." How, then, can you know for sure that you are making the right choice? It may help to ask your family doctor, a school counselor or your clergyman this question: What do you REALLY think of my nose? But don't be surprised if adults shy away from answering. A question such as this would (correctly) be perceived as a powder keg.

You may have noticed that I haven't answered your questions, but chose instead to yammer at you. At what age is it safe to have a rhinoplasty? There is no clear evidence that rhinoplasty in early childhood is bad for nasal growth or development, but there is a strong prejudice against performing such an operation until after most nasal growth has occurred. At 14, you are probably old enough, but this is really a question you and your parents should ask your surgeon.

What are the risks of rhinoplasty? As with any operation, there is a risk of postoperative pain, bleeding and infection. More importantly, the goal of rhinoplasty is to improve the appearance of the nose. There is thus a risk that there will still be cosmetic problems with the nose after surgery, and indeed, there may be new problems after surgery. Some problems are relatively easy to correct, while others are difficult, perhaps even impossible. Again, this will be a discussion that you and your parents will need to have (in great detail) with your surgeon.