Rhinoplasty – What to Know about the Surgery

The desire to make changes to the nose is one shared by many patients across the country. They often do not like the size or shape of their nose and want to make a change in its appearance. If you fall into the category of having a nose that you want to alter so it has an enhanced and contoured appearance, we’ve gathered the information you need to know about how to achieve a new look to your nose.

Surgical Rhinoplasty for the Nose

Rhinoplasty, AKA a nose job, is performed to narrow the appearance of the nose as well as straighten its appearance or change the angle of the nose. In addition to making aesthetic changes to the look of the nose, rhinoplasty can also be performed for functional reasons that help to improve the ability of the patient to breathe.

The first step in the rhinoplasty process is meeting with an experienced and board-certified surgeon to discuss your reasons for wanting the surgery along with your desired results. The surgeon will discuss your options, including open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty, and set realistic expectations for the final results.

If you are curious about the difference between open and closed rhinoplasty, take a look at this informative video from Cosmetic Town TV:

On the day of the procedure, the steps performed by the doctor will depend on your overall goals with the surgery. If you want to gain a narrower look to the bridge of the nose (AKA the area located above the nostrils), the surgeon will more than likely need to break your nose. Once the nose is broken, the surgeon will then reconstruct the bone in order to achieve the desired changes to the nose.

If you want to gain a look to the nostrils that is smaller in appearance, the surgeon will remove a certain amount of tissue from the targeted area. The incisions that are created to remove the tissue are tiny so they should not be visible to others after the procedure.

Once you return home to start the recovery period, you will need to keep your head elevated in order to reduce any swelling that occurs. You will also need to wear the bandages, placed on the nose by the doctor, for about a week after the procedure. Avoid blowing your nose whenever possible and also refrain from any exercise or other activities that might put a strain on your body.

There will be some swelling and bruising that is visible for two or three weeks after the procedure. It can take up to a year for the final results to be visible and the final results are permanent.

Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty

Are you interested in altering or enhancing the appearance of your nose but don’t want to undergo a surgical procedure? If so, you are not alone in having this feeling!

Many patients do not want to undergo surgical rhinoplasty because they don’t want to experience the required recovery time or they don’t want to spend the money necessary to have the procedure. FYI: Rhinoplasty that is performed for functional purposes might be covered by insurance if it is considered to be medically necessary. Check with your medical insurance provider for more information.

If you are not sure you will like the new look of the nose, nonsurgical rhinoplasty can be performed to make the desired changes to the nose without the results being permanent.

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, AKA liquid rhinoplasty or noninvasive rhinoplasty or a liquid nose job, is performed by injecting filler into the nose. It should be noted that nonsurgical rhinoplasty is not the best option for providing a narrow look to the nose. It is an ideal choice for altering the shape of the nose by smoothing out any bumps that are present as well as adding additional volume to the tip of the nose.

Once the liquid rhinoplasty is performed by the doctor, there is no downtime needed so you can return to work immediately. There will be some mild swelling and bruising along with some redness and a tender feeling to the nose for a few weeks. Depending on the type of filler used by the surgeon, as well as the amount of filler placed in the nose, the final results can last anywhere from 10-12 months to two years.

Rhinoplasty – Is it Right for You?

Before undergoing rhinoplasty, you will need to discuss the procedure with your doctor of choice. The doctor will ask questions regarding your reasons for wanting the surgery in order to make sure you are making the desired changes for yourself and not to make someone else happy with your appearance. Once you are in agreement with the doctor about the type of rhinoplasty that will be performed, the procedure can be scheduled and performed by the surgeon.

- MA