If you're unhappy with how your nose looks or functions and have been considering having a rhinoplasty, or nose job, how can you tell if surgery is a good option for you?

First, a good candidate for rhinoplasty is someone who can pinpoint exactly what it is they don't like about their nose. If you can't describe what it is that's bothering you about your nose then it will be difficult for you to be satisfied with any result you would get from surgery. Also, being able to describe your concerns shows your surgeon that you've thought about your nose and are serious about wanting to improve it. For example, you may be bothered by the overall size of your nose, a bump on your bridge or nose crookedness. This isn't to say that you must have a very drastic, obvious problem in order to be a good surgery candidate. I've found the finesse rhinoplasty, one in which relatively small tweaks are made to the nose, to be equally satisfying to my patients compared to surgery in which larger changes are made. What is most important is how much the nasal concern bothers you.

Another factor is patient age. Most rhinoplasty surgeons wait until a patient's face has done most of its growing before proceeding with surgery. This varies between girls and boys but usually ranges between 15 to 18 years of age. Equally important is the emotional maturity of the patient. This can be best assessed based on the interaction during a face-to-face consultation. There is no strict age at which it is too late to have rhinoplasty surgery, though certain significant medical conditions may preclude having surgery.

Lastly, you must have realistic expectations regarding nasal surgery. Be open and honest with your surgeon about what you’re hoping to achieve with your rhinoplasty. This is where I find that computer morphing during the consultation process is very useful as it allows me to outline what we can realistically achieve with surgery.

Want to learn more about having a rhinoplasty? Click here or call us at 206.505.1300 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamperti.