Nowadays, plastic surgery has become a trend due to social media. I mean, my 16-year-old niece wanted to get a nose job and lip fillers to look like her favourite celebrity (which I’m not going to name).

I was intrigued (and honestly, concerned), so I did my due diligence as a responsible uncle and delved deeper into this matter. Can she actually get a nose job at a young age?

The thought she could get one didn’t even occur to me before this because I only heard of adults getting rhinoplasty—after all, they’re the ones with financial means.

So here I am, sharing what I’ve gathered because a minor getting a nose job is not so black and white.

This matter requires careful consideration, so if you’re a parent or guardian in charge of a minor who has been pleading and badgering you for permission, check out if they’re allowed to get a nose job in Canada.

Is there a minimum age for rhinoplasty in Toronto?

In Canada, minors aged 16 years old can get rhinoplasty. But if the plastic surgery is purely for cosmetic reasons, parental or guardian consent is required.

But note that it’s not so simple because there are several factors to consider before a minor is allowed to get plastic surgery. The doctor needs to examine the minor’s nose first to see if it’s fully developed to its full size before considering plastic surgery.

If the nose is still in the growing stage, then it’s not ready yet for plastic surgery. One more thing to know is that gender plays a major role in the development of facial features. 

Can a young child have a nose job in Toronto?

There’s a big difference between a cosmetic and a functional nose job. The only reason someone younger than 16 can have a nose job is if it’s medically necessary.

If the young child has injuries or trauma that affects breathing, then they can get a nose job that will fix the issue. If the child also has birth defects that affect the function of the nose, they may get a nose job even if they’re not yet in their teens.

For instance, a child born with a cleft palate is a much more serious issue than aesthetics, which is why a surgeon can perform the procedure on kids as young as one year old.

Meanwhile, those with cleft lip (which can occur together with cleft palate) can get surgeries in Canada between the ages of three and six months.

Some birth defects that affect nose function require ongoing treatment. That means they will get surgeries as children, teens, young adults, and adults.

On the other hand, cosmetic rhinoplasty is usually just performed once unless a correction is needed.

What are the roles of parents or guardians during the minor’s nose job?

Parents or guardians play a very important role during a minor’s rhinoplasty procedure, even though they’re not the ones having it done. It’s crucial they remain supportive regardless of whether the patient undergoes the surgery or not.

They must also do their own research, be present in every consultation and appointment, talk about the risks and possible complications of the surgery, and ensure the teenager understands that rhinoplasty is a big decision.

Parents and guardians also play a crucial role during the recovery process. There will be weeks or months of downtime and physical activities must be limited during the healing process, which means the teen will need assistance for a while.

Another important thing a minor has to go through is emotional recovery. You see, appearance will change over time, which can be difficult to comprehend for the teen, which is why a supportive environment is necessary.

What other factors affect a minor’s eligibility for rhinoplasty?

Just because a child reaches a certain age or has parental consent doesn’t mean they can immediately get a nose job. There are other factors we need to consider that will ensure the child is a good candidate for rhinoplasty, which we’ll talk about below:

Gender

Just because a teenage boy and girl have both reached 16 years of age doesn’t mean both their noses are fully developed. Their eligibility also depends on gender because their noses don’t develop at the same time.

For young girls, facial features are usually fully developed by the time they reach age 15 or 16. However, they need to wait at least two years after their menstruation starts, so that still depends on the individual.

Meanwhile, teenage boys tend to develop their facial features a little later than girls. Their facial features are usually fully grown by age 17 to 18. 

If the nose is not fully grown and the patient still undergoes rhinoplasty, the surgery will counteract the results because the nose will continue to develop.

This is why it’s important to look for a reputable board-certified plastic surgeon who won’t force the teenager to get a nose job just to earn money.

On that note, several factors still need to be put into consideration because nose jobs for minors still depend on the case. The doctor will examine other features as well, like the teenager’s emotional maturity.

Emotional Maturity

Emotional maturity is when you can manage your feelings in difficult situations. Rhinoplasty is an invasive surgery that has risks and requires a long downtime and recovery process—the final outcome won’t even reveal itself until up to a year or more.

That said, the doctor must know if the patient has the emotional capacity to understand and deal with the risks and possible results. The teenager also has to know that a nose job won’t make their appearance perfect.

It’s also a surgery that the patient has to absolutely be sure about instead of making a light decision because of peer pressure or social media trends—which has actively promoted plastic surgery in recent years.

If the teenager lacks the emotional capacity to understand the risks and responsibilities, then they may not be a good candidate for rhinoplasty. It may be ideal to check during the consultation if the minor is a candidate for non-surgical nose jobs since it’s not invasive.

What’s the consultation process for a nose job for minors?

If a minor is thinking of getting a rhinoplasty, the consultation is one of the most important parts of the process. Some surgeons will offer this both in-person or virtually, but the former is strongly recommended for plastic surgery.

This initial consultation is when the plastic surgeon will examine the nose, talk about the patient’s goals, and see if the minor is emotionally capable to handle a major procedure.

During the consultation, the surgeon will also talk to the patient and parent or guardian about the pre-op and post-op process, the recovery process, the cost of the surgery, and possible financing options.

If the procedure is medically necessary, the patient can also ask the surgeon about OHIP and other insurance plans that can cover the nose job for free. But do note that the cosmetic sections of the surgery are usually not covered by insurance.

For instance, if it’s a medically necessary procedure, OHIP or the extended insurance plan will cover only that part of the surgery and any procedure done to improve the appearance of the nose will be out-of-pocket expenses.

Is there a maximum age for a nose job in Toronto?

There’s no maximum age to get a nose job in Toronto. You can be in your 30s, 40s, or even 60s and still get the procedure.

However, it’s still a case-by-case basis because as we get older, our facial features begin to change—the nose starts dropping and the skin gets saggier. As people age, the nasal skin also thickens, which can also result in scarring after the surgery.

It may also be more difficult to predict the final outcome of the surgery for older people. Hence, you need to look for a board-certified plastic surgeon who can do a thorough evaluation of your nose.