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A Specialist Who Takes Adolescent Cases Seriously

Teen rhinoplasty isn't the same conversation as adult rhinoplasty. The nose is still settling, the patient is still figuring out who they are, and the parents in the room have their own questions about whether this is the right call. Dr. Torkian, double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, approaches these consultations with the patience and screening they deserve. Not every teen who asks for rhinoplasty is ready for it, and his honest assessment is part of what families come to him for.

What Is Teenage Rhinoplasty?

Teenage rhinoplasty, also called adolescent rhinoplasty, is nose reshaping surgery performed on patients under 18. The technical procedure is the same as adult rhinoplasty, the same techniques, the same incisions, the same recovery, but the candidacy evaluation is more involved. Facial growth must be complete, the motivation must come from the teen rather than a parent or partner, and expectations must be grounded in what surgery can actually deliver.

Teen rhinoplasty addresses the same range of concerns as adult procedures:

  • Visible dorsal hump
  • Drooping, bulbous, or hooked tip
  • Crooked or asymmetrical nose
  • Wide nasal bridge or nostrils
  • Breathing problems from a deviated septum or nasal valve collapse
  • Post-traumatic deformities from sports or accidents

Functional issues such as obstructed breathing are sometimes addressed earlier than cosmetic concerns, especially when sleep, athletics, or daily quality of life is affected.

When Is the Right Age for Teen Rhinoplasty?

The standard guideline from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is that the nose should reach roughly 90% of its adult size before cosmetic surgery, typically age 15 to 16 for girls and 16 to 18 for boys. Operating before facial growth completes risks distorting the result as the rest of the face continues to develop.

Age is only one of the inputs. Dr. Torkian also evaluates:

  • Physical maturity — has facial growth actually slowed or stopped, confirmed by examination
  • Emotional readiness — does the teen understand surgical risk, recovery, and that surgery isn't a personality change
  • Motivation — is the request coming from the teen or from external pressure
  • Expectations — are they realistic about what rhinoplasty can and cannot do
  • School and athletic schedule — recovery typically takes 7 to 10 days before returning to class, longer for contact sports

For functional cases, septoplasty for a documented deviated septum, repair after nasal trauma, or surgery can be considered earlier when breathing or structural integrity is the issue.

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Why Teens Choose Rhinoplasty

Research from the AAFPRS suggests that bullying motivates roughly three-quarters of cosmetic procedures sought by patients in this age group. The nose, sitting at the center of the face, is one of the most common targets. Other motivations include:

  • Asymmetry the teen has noticed in photos or selfies, and wants to be corrected
  • A hump or tip shape inherited from a parent that has bothered the teen for years
  • Breathing problems that limit sleep, sports performance, or daily comfort
  • Trauma like a broken noses from sports or accidents that healed crooked

Who Is a Candidate for Teenage Rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills?

Strong candidates for teen rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills generally share several traits. The teen requests the procedure themselves, not at someone else's suggestion. Facial growth is verifiably complete on examination. Health is good. Expectations are concrete rather than vague ("I want to look different"). Parents are supportive without being the driving force, and both the teen and the parents understand recovery, risks, and the time it takes for final results to settle.

Patients with active acne in the surgical area, untreated bleeding disorders, or unrealistic expectations are usually advised to wait or pursue another path. Body dysmorphic disorder is a contraindication, and Dr. Torkian screens for it carefully during consultation.

Why Choose Dr. Torkian for Your Teen's Rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills

Several factors make Dr. Torkian's Beverly Hills practice a place families return to even after second opinions elsewhere.

Subspecialty Focus on the Face and Nose

Dr. Torkian operates only on the face, head, and neck, rhinoplasty is the procedure he performs most often. For a teen's first surgery, that level of focused experience matters.

Double Board Certification

Certification from both ABFPRS and ABOHNS means he handles cosmetic shape and internal function with equal skill. Teens with breathing problems alongside cosmetic concerns benefit from a single surgeon who can address both.

Honest Screening

Not every teen who asks gets a surgery date. Families regularly leave a consultation with a plan to revisit in six months instead, and they appreciate that.

Vectra 3D Imaging

The Canfield Vectra system provides a projected 3D outcome before surgery. For teens and parents alike, seeing the result in advance and adjusting it anchors the conversation in something visual rather than abstract.

The Lasky Clinic

Dr. Torkian performs every surgery at The Lasky Clinic, an AAAHC-accredited outpatient facility located in the same building as his office in Beverly Hills.

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Your Consultation: What Parents and Teens Should Expect

Dr. Torkian's teen consultations typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Both the teen and the parents are in the room. The conversation covers what the teen wants to change, why, and what they expect afterward. Dr. Torkian then performs a physical examination of the nose, inside and out, and runs a Vectra scan to map the current anatomy in 3D.

He uses the scan to demonstrate what's anatomically possible. The teen can adjust the projected result, and Dr. Torkian responds with honest commentary on which adjustments will translate into surgery and which won't.

Cost gets discussed openly. Cosmetic teen rhinoplasty typically falls in the $12,000 to $20,000 range at Dr. Torkian's practice, with final pricing depending on complexity, grafting, and operating time. Functional repairs may be partially covered by insurance when a documented breathing obstruction is present.

The Procedure Itself

Teenage rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia at The Lasky Clinic. Operating time runs roughly 2 to 3 hours, depending on complexity. Dr. Torkian uses either a closed approach (incisions entirely inside the nostrils) or an open approach (a small additional incision across the columella), depending on what the case requires.

The teen recovers in the surgical center for about an hour after surgery and goes home the same day. A parent or guardian drives. An external splint stays on for one week. Light bruising around the eyes is normal and resolves within 10 to 14 days.

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Recovery and Returning to Normal Life

Teen rhinoplasty recovery follows a predictable pattern. Knowing what each phase looks like helps both parent and teen plan school, sports, and social events around healing.

  • Week 1. Splint removal at the one-week follow-up. Most teens return to school in 7 to 10 days, when bruising is concealable with concealer if needed.
  • Weeks 2–4. Most external swelling subsides. The nose looks recognizable to friends. Non-contact exercise, walking, and light cardio resume around week three.
  • Weeks 4–6. Contact sports, lifting, swimming, and anything that risks nasal trauma are off the schedule until Dr. Torkian clears the patient, usually at the six-week mark.
  • Months 3–6. Subtle refinement continues. The tip is still firm and slightly swollen, which is normal.
  • Months 6–12. Most teens see their "final" result during this window. Tip refinement may continue gently into year two.

Schedule a Teen Rhinoplasty Consultation in Beverly Hills

If your teen has been asking about rhinoplasty and you want a thoughtful evaluation from a facial specialist who will tell you honestly whether the timing is right, Dr. Torkian invites your family to come in.

Call (424) 453-8535 or request a consultation online to schedule an evaluation at The Lasky Clinic, 201 S. Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Both the teen and the parent are expected at the consultation.

Teenage Rhinoplasty FAQs

Will My Teen's Nose Continue to Change as They Age Into Their Twenties?

Is General Anesthesia Safe for Teenagers?

When Can My Teen Return to Contact Sports Like Football, Soccer, or Wrestling?

Will There Be a Visible Scar After Teen Rhinoplasty?

What Pain Medication Is Used After Teen Rhinoplasty, and Is Opioid Use Necessary?

What's the Best Time of Year to Schedule a Teenage Rhinoplasty?

Can My Teen Wear Glasses After Surgery?

Does My Teen Need Someone to Stay With Them After Surgery, and for How Long?

Will My Teen's Nose Continue to Change as They Age Into Their Twenties?

Once facial growth is complete and the rhinoplasty result has fully settled at around 12 to 18 months, the surgical changes are stable for life. Normal aging, slight skin thinning, and gradual tip softening happen to every nose over decades, but Dr. Torkian's structural work itself doesn't shift.

Is General Anesthesia Safe for Teenagers?

General anesthesia carries a very low risk in healthy teens when a board-certified anesthesiologist administers it at an accredited surgical facility, which is the standard at The Lasky Clinic. Pre-operative screening identifies anyone with conditions that warrant extra caution before Dr. Torkian schedules surgery.

When Can My Teen Return to Contact Sports Like Football, Soccer, or Wrestling?

Contact sports typically resume at the six-week mark, when the bones and cartilage have stabilized enough to withstand impact. Earlier returns risk displacing the surgical result or fracturing a healing bone, which is why Dr. Torkian holds firm on this timeline.

Will There Be a Visible Scar After Teen Rhinoplasty?

Closed rhinoplasty leaves no external scar at all, since every incision sits inside the nostrils. Open rhinoplasty involves a small incision across the columella that fades to near-invisibility within a year, even in teens whose skin tends to heal with more pigmentation.

What Pain Medication Is Used After Teen Rhinoplasty, and Is Opioid Use Necessary?

Most teens manage post-operative pain with over-the-counter acetaminophen alone after the first 48 hours, with a short prescription option available for the first two days if needed. Dr. Torkian prescribes opioids conservatively and only in small quantities, since rhinoplasty discomfort is more pressure than acute pain.

What's the Best Time of Year to Schedule a Teenage Rhinoplasty?

Summer is the most popular window because the 7- to 10-day initial recovery falls within school break, and most external swelling resolves before fall classes start. Winter break also works for shorter recoveries, and Dr. Torkian's office helps families coordinate around the academic and athletic calendar.

Can My Teen Wear Glasses After Surgery?

Glasses cannot rest on the bridge of the nose for the first 4 to 6 weeks while the nasal bones heal in their new positions. Dr. Torkian's office provides tape-and-forehead support options for teens who depend on prescription glasses, and contact lenses can usually be worn as soon as they feel comfortable.

Does My Teen Need Someone to Stay With Them After Surgery, and for How Long?

A responsible adult must be present for the first 24 hours after general anesthesia. Most teens are independent enough to manage on their own by day two, though having a parent home for the first week makes follow-up appointments, medication tracking, and simple meal management easier.

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