Rhinoplasty: Comprehensive Guide to Procedure, Benefits, Risks, and Recovery
Rhinoplasty is surgery to reshape the nose. It is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures.
Why Is It Done?
To reduce or increase the size of your nose
To change the shape of the tip or the bridge of nose
To narrow the span of the nostrils or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip
To correct a birth defect or injury
To help relieve some breathing problems
Who Should Go For Rhinoplasty?
You are a good candidate for Rhinoplasty if:
In comparison to your face your nose appears too large
A bump on the nasal bridge is visible when viewed in profile
When viewed from the front your nose appears too wide
Nasal tip is drooped or plunged
Nose tip is thickened or enlarged
Nostrils are excessively flared
Nose is off-center or crooked
Nose is asymmetrical due to previous injury
Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you’re physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
What Is The Preparation For The Procedure?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications, and washing your face.
Blood thinning medications must be avoided for at least 7 days prior to your surgery. Specific instructions on this will be given by your surgeon. If you smoke or consumed tobacco in any form, plan to quit at least three weeks before your surgery and not to resume for at least three weeks after your surgery.
While you’re making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed.
Will It Hurt?
Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and on what you and your surgeon prefer.
With local anesthesia, you’ll usually be lightly sedated, and your nose and the surrounding area will be numbed; you’ll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. With general anesthesia, you’ll sleep through the operation.
Techniques – open vs. closed
Rhinoplasty surgery can be performed entirely from within the nose using hidden incisions internally (closed rhinoplasty). However a small external incision across the bridge of skin that runs between the nostrils is sometimes necessary to allow fuller exposure of the underlying nasal skeleton (open or external rhinoplasty).
This procedure is favored in cases where the anatomy is complex and difficult to define in a closed approach, where the nose is severely twisted or in cases of revision rhinoplasty where increased access is advantageous.
The use of an open approach has become increasingly popular
Closed Rhinoplasty – Incision inside the nose
Open Rhinoplasty – Incision outside the nose
Rhinoplasty
in recent years. The incision does lead to some numbness of the tip of the nose which is usually transient and perhaps slightly greater swelling of the tip postoperatively. Your surgeon should discuss his/her preferences with the reasons why a particular approach is used.
What Happens During The Procedure?
There is not a universal type of rhinoplasty that will meet the needs of every patient. Rhinoplasty surgery is customized for each patient, depending on his or her needs. Incisions may be made within the nose or concealed in inconspicuous locations of the nose in the open rhinoplasty procedure. Internal nasal surgery to improve nasal breathing can be performed at the time of rhinoplasty.
After the rhinoplasty, the cuts inside or between your nostrils will be closed up with dissolvable stitches. Your nose may be filled with surgical packing to help control any bleeding. You may also have a nasal splint or plaster which may be kept for a week to 10days.
What Happens After The Procedure?
After surgery-particularly during the first twenty-four hours-your face will feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you may have a dull headache. You can control any discomfort with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. Plan to stay in bed with your head elevated (except for going to the bathroom) for the first day.
You’ll notice that the swelling and bruising around your eyes will increase at first, reaching a peak after two or three days. Applying cold compresses will reduce this swelling and make you feel a bit better. In any case, you’ll feel a lot better than you look. Most of the swelling and bruising should disappear within two weeks or so. Some subtle swelling-unnoticeable to anyone but you and your surgeon-will remain for several months.
A little bloody stained discharge is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. Your surgeon will ask you not to blow your nose for a week or so, while the tissues heal.
If you have nasai packing, it will be removed after a few days and you’ll feel much more comfortable. By the end of one or, occasionally, two weeks, all dressings, splints, and stitches should be removed.
What Are The Expectations From The Surgery?
Rhinoplasty aims at a nose that not only looks natural but blends harmoniously with your other facial features as well. Because of the gradual healing process you should expect to wait up to one year to see the final results of your surgery.
You might experience some unexpected reactions from family and friends. They may say they don’t see a major difference in your nose. If you’ve any doubts please contact your surgeon.
What Are The Benefits Of This Procedure?
The benefits of Rhinoplasty are:
Getting a desirable shape on the tip of the nose
Modification of an oversized/undersized nose
Improved balance between the facial feature
Increased confidence and hightened self-esteem.
What Are The General Risks Of Having An Operation?
These have been mentioned in the “Anesthesia Consent Form.” Please discuss this with your Anesthetist before signing the Anesthesia Consent Form.
What Are The Risks Of The Procedure?
While majority of patients have an uneventful surgery and recovery, few cases may be associated with complications. These are seen infrequently and not all the ones listed below are applicable to one individual. However it is important that you are aware of the complications/risks that may arise out of this procedure which are as below:
Note: The listed risks and complications are not all inclusive.
Chest infection (particularly if you smoke)
Heavy nose bleeding either shortly after the operation, or after a week to 10 days which may require treatment in hospital
Infection of the nose
Temporary loss or reduction in sensitivity to smell after the operation, which can become permanent, although this is rare
Changes in the shape of the nose as scar tissue matures which may require going back to hospital for minor adjustments at a later date
A manufactured implant if used can occasionally push through the skin of the nose or its lining and need to be removed (after an augmentation rhinoplasty). This can happen months or years later, and is more likely if a large implant has been used or if the nose is accidentally injured
Schedule a Consultation Today!
Contact us at 70091-82189 or visit EMC to book your appointment. Our team is here to guide you through every step of the journey, from consultation to recovery. Your transformation awaits!
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