in general, candidates for rhinoplasty should be done growing. facial growth in teens and young adults, for example, can affect the look and function of the nose over time. the exception would be pediatric patients who have a facial birth defect, such as cleft palate. additionally, patients should be in good overall health and should not smoke because smoking can lead to poor blow flow and increase the risk of tissue damage. rhinoplasty is possible for teens who understand the procedure and have full parental consent. ideally, girls should be at least 15 or 16 years old before having a procedure; boys should be at least 17 or 18.