Trust your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon
Understanding Rhinoplasty
Published on March 16, 2024 by P.C. M.D. David A. HechtThe nose plays a big role in the overall look of the face. If you’re currently unhappy with the shape of your nose, then rhinoplasty surgery may be the solution.
The Rhinoplasty Procedure Explained
Rhinoplasty is all about altering the cartilage, bone, and/or skin at the nose. While the main objective of this surgery is to alter the appearance of the nose, it can also involve steps that improve your breathing. It’s common to hear this procedure called nose reshaping or a nose job.
With rhinoplasty, you can better size the nose in unison with your entire facial balance. You can increase the width of your nose at the bridge to be more proportional to your nostrils. You can have visible humps or depressions in the bridge removed. The nasal tip can even be altered to a more flattering size or shape.
When you undergo a rhinoplasty procedure, you’ll be given general anesthesia throughout the process. This will ensure that it remains pain-free. Incisions will be made on either the exterior or the interior of the nose, depending on what section is going to be worked on.
The internal bone, cartilage, and skin will all be modified to create your desired appearance. If you also have trouble breathing due to a deviated septum, your surgeon will fix this issue while they’re performing the rhinoplasty. Once all the alterations have been completed, sutures will be put into the nose.
The Ideal Candidate for a Nose Job
Both men and women who are in good physical health and have completed their facial growth make good candidates for this procedure. These individuals should have a positive outlook and realistic goals for the improvement of their noses. They shouldn’t suffer from any severe chronic conditions or be pregnant.
Rhinoplasty Recovery: What to Expect
Throughout your nose job recovery, you can expect the nose to be splinted and packaged with gauze. This will help to not only provide necessary support to the nose but will protect it during the initial healing stages. You will experience swelling after the procedure up to a few weeks post-op. Most patients will notice gradual changes as the swelling starts to subside into a more permanent outcome.
You must reduce any strenuous activity for at least a month following your rhinoplasty procedure. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid resting any sort of eyeglasses or sunglasses on the nose. It’s a good idea to tape these into place so that the nose doesn’t have to support them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a rhinoplasty procedure take?
A standard rhinoplasty procedure can take one or more hours. The total time of your surgery is highly dependent on the complexity of the alterations that you want to have made.
What’s the difference between an open and closed rhinoplasty?
When you first start learning about the rhinoplasty procedure, you may read about open versus closed. This simply refers to how the incisions are made. In an open rhinoplasty, the incisions are made on the outside of the nose, whereas in a closed rhinoplasty, the incisions are made on the inside of the nose.
The Importance of a Professional Consultation
If you’re thinking of getting a nose job, you’ll want to schedule a professional consultation. This will allow you to discuss information like the nose job cost and allow you to look at the nose job before and after photos. Your surgeon will be able to discuss the entire surgery with you and help you create realistic expectations for what you’re looking to get out of the surgery.
If you’re currently dissatisfied with the look of your nose, then you may want to consider rhinoplasty surgery. This can alter the nose in many different ways to help create a more flattering overall appearance that you can be proud of.