Beyond the types of physical characteristics that make rhinoplasty challenging, there are emotional and psychological components to consider for patients of young ages. The procedure can be successful with girls as young as 15 and boys at 16 years of age; but whether it is appropriate depends on the emotional maturity of the patient. Unless there is a medical imperative, Dr. Galiano advises that younger patients wait until they have gained the proper perspective on what the surgery can and cannot do.
By contrast, patients should not wait too long. The procedure is more difficult to perform on patients 60 and above, when healing takes longer and the possibility of complications rises. Our skin and cartilage are in an optimal condition for rhinoplasty beginning in our late teens and into our early 30s.