Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, or re-structural nose surgery, is one of the most common and popular plastic surgery procedures. This surgery is performed for a number of reasons. It can increase or decrease nose size, change the nostril span, reshape the tip or bridge of the nose or change the angle between the upper lip and nose. Rhinoplasty is most often used as a cosmetic procedure but it can also relieve breathing problems and correct injuries or birth defects.

The Procedure

Rhinoplasty involves making incisions inside the nostrils which enables the surgeon to separate the skin from the bone and cartilage of the nose. Once this is done, the surgeon can then form the nose into the desired shape. The shaping will be different in every procedure because different techniques will provide different results. Once the nose is shaped to the surgeon’s desire, the skin is replaced over the underlying structure. When the procedure is finished, a splint will be placed over the nose to keep the shape in place. In conjunction with the splint, the nose will sometimes be packed from the inside in order to stabilize the septum, or the wall between the air passages.

Will It Hurt?

The Rhinoplasty procedure itself will not hurt because rhinoplasty is performed under either a local anesthetic, which keeps you awake and alert but numbs the area, or general anesthetic, which puts you to sleep for the procedure. This choice usually depends on the preference of the surgeon or the extent of the surgery being performed.

What Results Can I Expect?

Rhinoplasty surgery usually takes about 1 to 2 hours to perform. After surgery, the patient may experience small red spots on the nose which are broken blood vessels. The vessels are usually minor but some are permanent. The patient will not find any scarring from the surgery because all incisions are made from inside the nose. Scars will only be present when the procedure involves nostril alteration. In that case, small scars will remain on the base of the nose, but are usually barely visible.

Some patients will require a second procedure in order to remove all deformities. Surgeons are unable to predict if everything will be fixed during the first procedure, but the second procedure, if needed, is very minor.

There is always some risk to every surgery and this is no exception. When undergoing Rhinoplasty, making sure your surgeon is competent and qualified will significantly reduce your risk of any complications. Possible complications with this surgery include nosebleed, infection or possible reaction to the anesthetic. These rarely occur and can be treated if necessary.

Down-time?

For about a day after the surgery, the face will feel swollen, your nose will ache, and you may have a headache. Doctors will prescribe pain medication that will help with these side-effects. Most patients will also notice bruising around the nose and eyes, which will worsen at first, but then fade after the first several days. Swelling and bruising will subside after a week or so. Patients may also slightly bleed during the first few days and that is normal. Most patients are asked to refrain from blowing their noses for the first week to give the nostril tissue a chance to heal.

After one or two weeks, patients should look and feel back to normal. Most patients will still experience slight swelling for the first few months. This usually occurs in the tip of the nose and it is so slight, typically only the patient notices it. After the surgery the nose continues to shape, so most patients do not see full results until about a year after the procedure.

What Are The Costs?

Rhinoplasty generally costs anywhere between $3,000 and $4,000 or even higher depending on the extents of the procedure. This is a cosmetic procedure so it is not covered by insurance; however those using this treatment to correct breathing problems or fix injuries or deformities might be able to have it covered. This surgery is a perfect way to resculpt your nose and improve the overall appearance of your face.