Whether you’ve decided on rhinoplasty surgery to improve the appearance of your nose or its functionality, the basic surgical procedure is strikingly similar. Rhinoplasty surgery is also known by its more common names “nose plastic surgery” and “nose job,” refers to the restructuring of the nasal cavity.
To help guide you through the process, consider what rhinoplasty surgery entails, and how it will be performed:
The Consultation
The planning stage of your surgery will be the longest and most detailed part of the procedure. You will describe your ideal nose shape with your cosmetic surgery clinic and discuss your expectations. The doctor will examine the aesthetics of your entire face in order to determine whether the internal structure will permit the changes you desire. Together you will formulate an agreeable plan, well in advance of your rhinoplasty surgery.
Before Surgery Instructions
Your doctor will provide an extensive list of “before surgery” instructions. It is essential that you comply with these instructions, as failure to do so will jeopardize the success of the rhinoplasty procedure, as well as the look of your new nose.
On Surgery Day
Before your rhinoplasty surgery, the doctor will provide an anesthetic. The exact type will vary with the nature of the procedure, but general anesthesia and sedation are amongst the most commonly used. Nose plastic surgery procedures are fairly expedient, taking between one and four hours to complete. After treatment, your designated driver will take you home to begin your recovery.
Rhinoplasty can be performed using an “open” or “closed” incision. As the names would imply, closed incisions are confined to the inner nose, whereas open incisions are visible and made on the portion of cartilage between the nostrils. Doctors usually opt for an open incision in more complex cases, since it facilitates better visibility.
Once an incision has been made, the doctor will begin recontouring the bone and cartilage under the nose. If rhinoplasty surgery is being used to remove a bump, the bone will be filed down gently with a rasp. The easiness of the rhinoplasty procedure will depend in part on the thickness of your facial skin. Although thick skin is harder to spread over the recontoured nasal structure, it also hides irregularities better than thinner skin.
When your restructuring is complete, the doctor will suture any wounds and insert a splint to hold your nose in position. This metal splint will be held in place with skin-colored tape. Usually, the dressings and sutures are removed around five days after the procedure, by which time swelling and bruising will begin to subside.
What to Expect After Surgery
After your rhinoplasty procedure, your whole face may feel bruised and swollen for several days. Numbness in the nose and lip regions may persist for up to two months after surgery, and this side effect is fairly common. Though the doctor will provide complete aftercare instructions, check for wound infections, and seek immediate medical help for sunstroke-like symptoms, as this can be a sign of toxic shock syndrome.
Rhinoplasty surgery is safe, effective, and a real confidence booster. If you have any questions or concerns about how rhinoplasty can help you, your doctor will be more than happy to oblige.