Rhinoplasty / Surgery of the Nose
Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a "the nose job," remains one of the most common plastic surgery procedures in the United States. Rhinoplasty can reshape your nose to improve your appearance and indeed make your nose more proportional to the rest of your face.
Incisions can be made to increase or decrease the size of the nasal bridge, reduce the size or width of the nose, decrease the size of the nostrils, or reshape the tip of the nose.
Often times, if you are experiencing breathing problems, these can be corrected at the same time through the rhinoplasty procedure. To have rhinoplasty, plastic surgeons generally recommend a patient wait until the nose is fully developed (done growing). This age varies among individuals but usually falls in the mid-teen range.
Your Rhinoplasty Consultation
It is extremely important that you have clear expectations for your surgery and are prepared to discuss these goals with your plastic surgeon. Put together a list of questions which you would like to review with your doctor before coming in for the visit. We suggest bringing a pad of paper with you to write down the answers to your questions.
You should also come to the initial consultation prepared to discuss your medical history including pre-existing medical conditions, treatments, and prescriptions. The more your surgeon understands about your information, the more qualified he will be to give you sound advise on the potential for rhinoplasty surgery.
The consultation will include a routine, painless examination of your nasal passages. The doctor will review the procedure with you and explain the factors which will influence your results of the procedure. If the goal of the surgery is to attain more proportion in your facial features, the plastic surgeon may also recommend additional procedures such as a chin implant. Ask your doctor about complimentary procedures.
Prior to the rhinoplasty surgery, your Rhinoplasty surgeon will also explain where your surgery will be performed, what type of anesthesia will be used, the risks and costs involved and provide a list of guidelines for preparation for your surgery.
Rhinoplasty is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, you should be aware of the risks associated with Rhinoplasty surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Make sure to discuss this with your physician.
Your Rhinoplasty surgery
Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure that generally takes one to two hours to complete although more complicated procedures may take longer. Most patients will be able to go home the same day as surgery. The surgery will either be performed under local anesthesia with heavy sedation, or under general anesthesia.
Depending on what you decide with your surgeon as the best method to meet your expectations, one of two techniques is generally used to perform the surgery. The two types of Rhinoplasty surgery are: open Rhinoplasty and closed Rhinoplasty.
Open Rhinoplasty involves a small incision in the area between the nostrils (called the columella) in addition to the incisions inside of the nose. Some surgeons prefer to use this method because it allows them greater access to the nose.
Closed Rhinoplasty involves only incisions inside the nose and generally leaves less bruising and swelling. This procedure is usually performed in basic procedures because the surgeon is limited as to his ability to view all areas inside the nose.
Whatever incisions are used to reshape your nose, they will ultimately be very inconspicuous. With either closed or open Rhinoplasty, work is done to remove or reshape the cartilage and bone that form the framework of your nose. When the procedure is complete, a splint will be placed on the nose to help your new nose can shape.
After Your Rhinoplasty Surgery
Follow your surgeon's advice on when to begin work, exercises, and normal activities. You can reduce any post-operation risk of complication by closely following your surgeon’s instructions. You will probably experience some puffiness in the face and may also have a headache after the procedure. Most doctors recommend ice packs over your eyes for the first 2 days to minimize swelling.
You may also experience some discomfort which can be controlled by medication. Generally, bruising around your eyes and cheeks is most apparent during the first three days following surgery. Most of your swelling should disappear two to three weeks after surgery but you may not see the final results of the surgery for a year or more.
You will need to be available to schedule follow-up e-mails with your Rhinoplasty surgeon to check your progress for recovery. As always, if you feel any discomfort or have any unusual symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
To schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified rhinoplasty surgeons, click here or call us at (800)505-3627.