The ideal candidate for a nose job is a healthy person with realistic goals and attitudes toward elective cosmetic surgery.  

Having a healthy body image is very important.  Typically the rhinoplasty patient should be over the age of sixteen but in certain situations, mentally and physically mature fourteen year olds can undergo this elective surgery safely.  

While young patients need the guidance and support of their parents, there should be no discrepancy or conflict in the post-operative goals between the parents’ aesthetic desires and what the teenage patient wants his or her nose to look like.  If there are such issues then the surgery should be postponed until the patient is more mature and can make independent decisions.  

Patients undergoing a rhinoplasty should first see digital computer imaging of their nose performed by their surgeon during the consultation.  This is an important aid in the dialogue between doctors and patients.  Computer imaging allows a patient to visualize what their nose may look like after surgery, before going through any operation.  

While there are minimum age limits, there is no upper limit to the age of a rhinoplasty candidate.  Many patients undergo a rhinoplasty in their 50’s, 60’s or even 70’s.  Most such patients had wanted a better nose for decades but postponed the surgery due to various factors, such as financial strains, or familial misunderstandings and lack of support.  

While physical health and maturity is important, mental health and maturity is much more crucial.  Some fourteen year olds may have the proper realistic expectations that some forty year olds continue to lack.  Having a healthy attitude towards elective surgery is one of the most important ingredients of a successful outcome.  

Obviously the other key ingredient is finding a skillful and artistic, board certified facial plastic, or plastic, surgeon.  But the attitude of the patient and their own body image must not be ignored.  Patients who seek “perfection” and an “exact” copy of what they think their nose should look like will ultimately never be happy.  Unlike a sculpture working on marble, the nose will heal and change over time.  

The proper goal of the “ideal rhinoplasty candidate” should be: a significant improvement of their current nose, to bring balance and harmony to the face, and highlight the beauty of the lips, and the intrigue of the eyes. The goal should always be to make things better.