When it comes to teen rhinoplasty, the advice in this video is simple: start by listening. A teenager mentioning their nose once is common and doesn't call for action. If the interest keeps coming back, take it more seriously, but give it time, with at least a year between the idea coming up and a consultation with a surgeon.
The advice comes from Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC, Specialist in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, with a practice limited to facial plastic surgeries. He answers a question many parents ask about what to do when a child brings up rhinoplasty, and his approach is calm and unhurried: listen, find out what's behind it, give it time, and do some research before seeing anyone.
What should parents do when a teenager brings up rhinoplasty?
Dr. Buonassisi's starting point is to listen. If your child mentions rhinoplasty once, he thinks it's fine to talk about it. He also notes that it's very common for kids to talk about features they might want to change, so a single comment isn't a cause for alarm.
What he wouldn't do is jump to agreeing with it, recommending it or supporting it straight away. A calm conversation lets your teenager feel heard without turning a passing thought into a decision. In general, teenagers are more likely to keep talking openly when the subject isn't dismissed or rushed.
It can help to ask open questions and simply listen to the answers. What do they notice about their nose? When did they start thinking about it? Has someone said something to them? You don't need answers to everything in that early conversation, and you don't need to decide anything.
When should you take a teen's interest in rhinoplasty more seriously?
According to Dr. Buonassisi, the picture changes when the subject comes up again and again. If it goes beyond a passing comment or a casual interest in the procedure, he suggests taking it a little more seriously.
Even then, he's clear that you shouldn't be running to see a surgeon. The next step is to make time to talk properly and find out what's driving the interest. Some of the things worth understanding:
- Whether the wish comes from your teenager, or from friends, social media or comments from others
- What exactly they'd like to change, and why it matters to them
- Whether the feeling has stayed steady over months or comes and goes
- Whether there are any breathing concerns alongside appearance
- What they imagine surgery would change in their day-to-day life
In general, if concern about appearance seems to be causing real distress, or getting in the way of school, friendships or daily life, it's worth talking to your family doctor. That conversation is separate from any decision about surgery.
Why wait a year before a teen rhinoplasty consultation?
Dr. Buonassisi suggests a minimum of a year between a teenager raising the idea and actually having a consultation. His reasoning is that kids need time to think about it, and so do parents.
A year gives a teenager's feelings time to settle or to hold steady. If the interest fades over that time, nothing has been lost. If it's still there after a year of honest conversations, you'll both go into a consultation with a clearer sense of why it matters, which is important for a permanent change like rhinoplasty.
How young can you get rhinoplasty?
In general, rhinoplasty for teenagers is only considered once the nose has finished growing. The nose develops along with the rest of the face through the teenage years, and growth tends to finish earlier in girls than in boys. Surgeons prefer to wait until it's complete so later growth doesn't affect the result.
Dr. Buonassisi talks about rhinoplasty age, including the ages he generally looks for in young women and young men, in a separate video on whether people are having rhinoplasty earlier than they used to. Being physically ready is only part of it, though. Emotional maturity, a lasting wish that belongs to the teenager, realistic expectations and a parent or guardian involved in the decision all matter just as much.
How do you research what's possible and find the right surgeon?
Dr. Buonassisi encourages families to do some research during that waiting period. Part of it is finding out what rhinoplasty can and can't do, so expectations start out realistic. Our page on setting realistic rhinoplasty expectations and our free guide, The Essential Guide to Rhinoplasty, are good places to start, and there are more short videos in the Rhinoplasty Knowledge Hub.
The other part is looking into surgeons. He suggests investigating surgeons who are reputable, who will give you good advice, and who you think are appropriate for someone your child's age. In general, that means checking a surgeon's training and specialty, how much of their practice is rhinoplasty, how they talk about teenagers, and whether they're comfortable recommending that someone wait.
Questions parents often find helpful to ask at a consultation include:
- Has the nose finished growing, and how can you tell?
- What would you change, and what would you leave as it is?
- Would you recommend waiting, and why?
- How is breathing assessed?
- What does recovery involve, and how would it fit around school?
What happens at a rhinoplasty consultation for a teenager?
At 8 West, the consultation is a critical step, not a formality or a sales conversation. It's where candidacy is assessed, expectations are aligned and the patient learns what is and isn't achievable for their anatomy. Consultations have a fee, and computer imaging may be used to talk through goals, as a guide rather than a promise.
Rhinoplasty at 8 West is performed by Dr. Buonassisi, who has over 25 years of experience in facial plastic surgery and has performed over 2,500 rhinoplasties. Every rhinoplasty he performs is bespoke, with the approach based on each patient's anatomy and goals. You can read more on our rhinoplasty page.
In general, a parent or guardian attends a teenager's consultation. It's also worth knowing what recovery looks like before deciding anything: most people are socially presentable in about 1–2 weeks, and final results take about 12 months to be visible. For families in Vancouver and North Vancouver, that means thinking about how surgery and recovery would fit around the school year.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a teenager to want to change their nose?
Yes, it's very common. Dr. Buonassisi notes that kids often talk about features they might want to change, and a single mention of rhinoplasty isn't a reason for concern. Listening, without rushing to agree or disagree, is a good way to respond. If the interest keeps coming back over months, that's the time to talk about it in more depth.
Do parents need to be involved in a teen's rhinoplasty?
In general, yes. When a teenager is thinking about surgery, a parent or guardian is closely involved, from the early conversations at home to the consultation itself. A surgeon will explain what's needed for consent. Dr. Buonassisi also stresses that parents need time to think it through, not only their child, which is part of why he suggests waiting at least a year.
What should we bring to a rhinoplasty consultation for a teenager?
It helps to bring a list of questions, a sense of how long the interest has been there, and any notes about breathing concerns. Parents can also share what they've learned while researching. In general, the consultation works well when the teenager speaks for themselves about what they'd like to change, with a parent or guardian there to listen and ask questions too.
How does rhinoplasty recovery fit around school?
Most people are socially presentable in about 1–2 weeks, so families often look at a school break when thinking about timing. Final results take about 12 months to be visible, as swelling settles gradually. In general, it's also worth asking about sports and physical activity during recovery, since a surgeon will usually give specific guidance on when it's safe to return.
What if a surgeon says it's too early for rhinoplasty?
That's useful advice, not a setback. A surgeon may recommend waiting because the nose is still growing, because the wish to change it is recent, or because expectations need more time. In general, a reputable surgeon will tell you honestly when the timing isn't right, and waiting leaves every option open for later.