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Rhinoplasty - Nose Surgery Information provided by Facial Plastic Surgeon in Scottdale Arizona
As with all facial plastic surgery, good health and realistic expectations
are prerequisites. Understanding nasal surgery is also critical. Since
there is no ideal in rhinoplasty, the goal is to improve the nose aesthetically,
making it harmonize better with other facial features.
Skin type, ethnic background, and age are important factors
to be considered in discussions with your surgeon prior
to surgery. Before the nose is altered, a young patient
must reach full growth, usually around age fifteen or sixteen.
Exceptions are cases in which breathing is severely impaired.
Before deciding on rhinoplasty, ask your facial plastic
surgeon if any additional surgery might be recommended
to enhance the appearance of your face. Many patients have
chin augmentation in conjunction with rhinoplasty to create
a better balance of features.
Whether the surgery is desired for functional or cosmetic
reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon
is of paramount importance. Many facial plastic surgeons
are trained in both ear, nose, throat, and facial cosmetic
surgery, which provides you, the patient, with the highest
level of training and expertise. Your surgeon will examine
the structure of your nose, both externally and internally,
to evaluate what you can expect from rhinoplasty. You are
most likely to be pleased with the results of your surgery
if you have a realistic idea of what nasal surgery can
and cannot do.
You can expect a thorough explanation of the surgeon's
expectations and the risks involved in surgery. Following
a joint decision by you and your surgeon to proceed with
rhinoplasty, the surgeon will take photographs of you and
discuss the options available. Your surgeon will explain
how the nasal structures, including bone and cartilage,
can be sculpted to reshape the nose and indicate how reshaping
the chin, for example, could enhance the desired results.
The definition
of rhinoplasty is, literally, shaping the nose. First,
incisions are made and the bone and cartilage support system
of the nose is accessed.
The majority of incisions are made inside the nose, where
they are invisible. In some cases, an incision is made
in the area of skin separating the nostrils.
Next, certain amounts of underlying bone and cartilage
are removed, added to, or rearranged to provide a newly
shaped structure. For example, when
the tip of the nose is too large, the surgeon can sculpt
the cartilage in this area to reduce it in size. The angle
of the nose in relation to
the upper lip can be altered for a more youthful look or
to correct a distortion.
The tissues are then redraped over the new frame and the
incisions are closed. A splint is applied to the outside
of the nose to help retain the new shape while the nose
heals. Soft, absorbent material may be used inside the
nose to maintain stability along the dividing wall of the
air passages called the septum. Alternatively, soft nasal
supports that permit nasal breathing post-operatively can
be placed.
Immediately after surgery, a small splint will be placed on your nose to
protect it and to keep the structure stable for at least five to eight
days. If packing is placed inside the nose during surgery, it is removed
the morning following the surgery. Your face will feel puffy,especially
the first day after surgery. Pain medication may be required. Your surgeon
will advise you to avoid blowing your nose for seven days after surgery.
In the immediate days following surgery, you may experience bruising and
minor swelling in the eye area. Cold compresses often reduce the bruising
and discomfort. Absorbable sutures are usually used that do not have to
be removed. Nasal dressing and splints are usually removed six or seven
days after surgery.
It is crucial that you follow your surgeon's directions,
especially instructions to keep your head elevated for
a certain period after surgery. Some activities will be
prohibited in the weeks after the procedure. Sun exposure,
exertion, and risk of injury must be avoided. If you wear
glasses, special arrangements must be made to ensure that
the glasses do not rest on the bridge of the nose. Tape
and other devices are sometimes used to permit wearing
glasses without stressing the area where surgery was performed.
Follow-up care is vital for this procedure to monitor
healing. Obviously, anything unusual should be reported
to your surgeon immediately. It is essential that you keep
your follow-up appointments with your surgeon.
Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to enhance your
appearance and eliminate signs of premature aging that undermine
self-confidence. By changing how you look, facial plastic
surgery can improve your self-image.
Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is purely
for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve genetic
deformity or traumatic injury may be reimbursable in whole
or in part. It is the patient's responsibility to check with
the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.
For rhinoplasty in Scottsdale Arizona contact this board certified facial plastic surgeon serving the Phoenix area.
Content provided
by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery
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