rhinoplasty procedures

What is it about your nose that you would like to change? Is it the shape or the size? Would you like to reduce airway obstruction and improve breathing?

People have Rhinoplasty surgery for a variety of reasons. Knowing what you like and dislike about your nose and having realistic expectations of what Rhinoplasty can do is essential to a positive experience. Spend some time thinking about what you truly want. The new nose will be beautiful and fit the proportions of your face, but it must retain the ability to bring air to the lungs.

Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, is a set of popular procedures used to either correct nose related health problems or to reshape the nose for cosmetic reasons. It can correct birth defects or help to relieve some breathing problems. It can reduce or increase the size of the nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip.

The Best Candidates for Rhinoplasty

The best candidates are those looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and self-image, but it will not make you look like a movie star. Those that are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and have realistic expectations make the best candidates. Age can also be a consideration.

Considerations Before Rhinoplasty Surgery

Some people are not happy with the shape of their nose. Parts of the nose may seem out of proportion to each other or the rest of your face. You may not like the position of the nostril. These concerns are cosmetic or appearance related. As such they are not covered by most insurance plans. Your option for cosmetic procedures is not to have surgery at all. Cosmetic surgery is elective, surgery that is designed to enhance the way you look, not to correct a condition that is affecting your health. If your nasal problem is great enough it may be a good idea to have the surgery but not if you have significant other medical problems. Cosmetic concerns, abnormalities and appearance are real problems. They are often dismissed as shallow or narcissistic, making individuals unhappy. Many patients who elect for a cosmetic change in appearance tell the doctor they wonder why they waited so long and did not have the surgery sooner.

When rhinoplasty is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are rare and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility that complications may occur. You can reduce your risks by closely following the doctor's instructions both before and after surgery.

As for scarring, when rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose, there is no visible scarring at all; when an "open" technique is used, the small scars on the base of the nose are usually not visible. Other scars near the bridge of the nose can come from changing the nasal bones from externally. Occasionally a second procedure may be required-for example, to correct a minor defect. Such cases are unpredictable and happen even to patients of the most skilled surgeons. The corrective surgery is usually minor.

What to Expect on the Day of your Rhinoplasty Surgery

Most nasal surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Depending on the procedure the doctor may use general anesthesia and/or sedation. With local anesthesia, you'll usually be lightly sedated, and your nose and the surrounding area will be numbed; you'll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. With general anesthesia, you'll sleep through the operation. General anesthesia is usually better for more extensive rhinoplasty or septal surgery. Local anesthesia is usually better for small adjustments or hump removal.

Rhinoplasty usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures may take longer. During surgery the skin of the nose is separated from the bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape. The type of sculpting will depend on your problem and the doctor's preferred technique. Finally, the skin is secured to the new underlying framework.

After the surgery you can expect to feel uncomfortable with a possible headache. Keeping the head and neck elevated will help reduce swelling and discomfort. An external splint will support the outside of the nose. Sometimes soft rubber splints will be used to support the inside. Packing is not necessary in most cases. Any stitches or splints will be removed in five to seven days and any swelling or bruising will last about seven to ten days. You will start to see results in as little as two weeks with further details revealed over the next six months.

A little drainage is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. The doctor will probably ask you not to blow your nose for a week or so, while the tissues heal.

Rhinoplasty Surgery Recovery

Most rhinoplasty patients are out of bed within two days, and able to return to their jobs on a limited basis a few days to a week or so following surgery. It will be several weeks, however, before you're back to a normal routine.

The doctor will give you guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They're likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, sexual relations-any activity that increases your blood pressure) for two to three weeks. Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it sunburned, for eight weeks. Be gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.

You can wear contact lenses as needed, but glasses will have to be propped on your cheeks for another six to seven weeks, until your nose is completely healed.

You will need to schedule follow-up visits in the months after surgery so the doctor can check on the progress of your healing. If you have any unusual symptoms between visits, or any questions about what you can and can't do, contact your doctor.

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