Everything You Need to Know About Rhinoplasty
So you’re considering having a nose job? Congratulations! A well-done rhinoplasty can greatly improve the symmetry and harmony of the face, and can be almost undetectable. Over the years I have had patients that have found significant satisfaction from nose surgery, and the satisfaction is even more for me as a surgeon when they say their friends and family can’t quite put a finger on what is making them look different and more beautiful. Could it be a new haircut? A fabulous vacation? New makeup technique? The secret is safe with you and your surgeon.
Rhinoplasty procedures are cosmetic surgeries used to improve the appearance of the nose, or alter the shape in order to reduce breathing problems. A successful surgery in rhinoplasty requires careful and precise preoperative planning. Just like any other surgical treatment, from face lifts to eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty requires a marvelous deal of knowledge, training, and skill.
For a rhinoplasty procedure to be successful, every aspect of the nose, from the tip, the nostrils, and the dorsum, or bridge, must be analyzed carefully to assess the effect that the manipulation of one factor will have on the others. Rhinoplasty is often regarded as a complex combination of science and art.
During a consultation with a surgeon, pictures are first taken of the patient’s nose from several angles, allowing a computer simulation to demonstrate the potential results of the surgery.
Performing Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty procedures can be performed in one of two distinct ways: the closed approach, and the open approach. Each option has specific advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which to use will depend on the findings that become evident during a consultation and examination. Ultimately, the goal will always be to produce the most balanced and aesthetically pleasing result for the patient.
In a closed approach to rhinoplasty, no external incisions are made. Instead, the incisions are made within the nose, ensuring that no external scars are created. A lot of people seeking rhinoplasty surgery will be eligible for the closed approach, and this option can also be used to help minor breathing difficulties.
An open approach refers to when the surgeon makes a small incision across the Columella, (the bridge of tissue between the nostrils). This incision is typically made with caution, so that it is inconspicuous when it heals. The open approach is usually preferred when the patient requires extensive alterations to the tip of the nose, or requires complex work within the dorsum. This is also the preferred technique in treating patients with severe breathing difficulties.
Recovering from the Procedure
Generally, the recovery from rhinoplasty surgery will move through a number of stages. Patients should be able to return home after their surgery, and most experience very little pain, even if they had to have their nasal bones fractured in order to complete the reshaping procedure. There can be a lot of bruising and swelling for the first five days after surgery, however this will begin to improve.
For the first week after your surgery, you can expect to wear a splint and bandages over your nose, but these will generally be removed after seven days. Often times, patients are advised to wait approximately two weeks following their surgery before they visit social events, and if it is possible to take time off of work, they may benefit from the extra time to heal. Generally, most patients will begin to look and feel far better three or four weeks after their surgery has been completed. At this stage, many patients begin to recognize what their final results are going to look like, and can begin preparing for their new, and often improved, appearance.
Perhaps the most frustrating thing patients experience with a rhinoplasty is that for some people, it can take a long time for all of the swelling to dissipate and the final result to be revealed. Be patient, follow your post-operative instructions and you will be rewarded with a harmonious new profile and nose that fits your face beautifully.
