A Look at Adolescent Rhinoplasty
Many people think that all of the procedures performed at Atlanta Plastic Surgery P.C. are designed to address the progressive signs of facial aging in older men and women, but this is actually far from true. As one of the leading centers for cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in the Southeast since 1968, our board-certified plastic surgeons have worked with patients of all ages to help alleviate the functional and aesthetic deficits that might be caused by birth defect, disease, or trauma. One of the most common plastic surgery procedures that we perform on our younger patients is rhinoplasty, or surgery to alter the size and/or shape of the nose.
Adolescent rhinoplasty is far more common than you might think. Last year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that rhinoplasties accounted for nearly half of all cosmetic surgical procedures performed on patients between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, making it by far the most popular procedure in that particular age group. This popularity is no doubt due, in no small part, to the procedure’s versatility. Not only can rhinoplasty improve the appearance of the nose by lifting and defining the tip, lengthening or shortening the bridge, or narrowing the nostrils, but it can also help alleviate certain breathing difficulties that can potentially result from nasal polyps or a deviated septum.
However, despite the fact that rhinoplasty procedures have been proven to be safe and effective on adolescent patients, this is definitely not a path to be taken lightly. During these key formative years, the facial architecture is still growing and shifting, and the nose may have not yet reached its full size or final shape, making adolescent rhinoplasty one of the most complex and intricate procedures that we perform. If you are interested in adolescent rhinoplasty, we recommend that you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience performing rhinoplasty on a wide variety of patients, preferably one who also has experience in pediatric reconstructive surgery and understands how to anticipate and take into consideration changes that can occur in the face as the child continues to grow. It is also extremely important that any prospective adolescent patient discuss their concerns and aesthetic goals with their parents and that they undergo a thorough pre-operative consultation with their surgeon using computerized imaging to help avoid any misunderstandings that may arise. Making sure that everyone involved has similar, realistic expectations is the best way to ensure that the final plastic surgery results are completely satisfactory.
Every patient has unique aesthetic goals and requirements, and so only a thorough examination can determine whether a rhinoplasty procedure, or one of the many other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that we perform at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. might be right for you. Contact us in Alpharetta, or at one of our other Atlanta area offices located in Sandy Springs (Northside), Newnan, or Cumming, to schedule a full consultation. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.
