Rhinoplasty: What to Expect

Your nose is at the center of your face. It lets in the oxygen to energize your body. But that doesn’t mean you have to like the way it looks or functions. If your nose is deformed after an injury or has a birth defect or makes it hard for you to breathe, then you should opt for surgery to improve it—a procedure called rhinoplasty or nose job.

Why should you undergo nose surgery?

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to change the size, shape or proportions of the nose. You may benefit from rhinoplasty if you have difficulty breathing through your nose. The surgery can change all of the structures of the nose, including the bone, cartilage and skin, or remove any obstructions that may interfere with your exercise, sleep and other activities. It can resolve problems such as snoring and sleep apnea. The surgery may also repair a nasal deformity caused by injury, correct a birth defect, or improve the appearance of the nose.

Choosing the right plastic surgeon

If you are considering rhinoplasty, make sure to find a surgeon you feel comfortable with who is board-certified and licensed. It is advisable to find a specialist with a good reputation who regularly performs the procedure in an accredited facility or hospital.

When you speak with the surgeon, use that time to convey your expectations and goals and build a good rapport. Spend your consultation time finding out if nose surgery is appropriate for you and what it will help you achieve. You should also take your time looking at your surgeon’s before and after photos and ask for an simple explanation of what happens during the surgery.

Preparing for the surgery

There is no one size fits all when dealing with noses. To guarantee satisfactory results, your surgeon will consider your other facial features, the skin on your nose and the aspects you would like to change. Your doctor will take photographs of multiple views of your face and these photos will be retouched to give you a clear picture of what your nose might look like after the procedure. With the evaluation and consultation complete, the surgeon will develop a customized plan for you.

How is rhinoplasty done?

Surgical rhinoplasty is done under general anesthesia. A small incision is made along the base of the nose and then connected to other incisions made inside the nose. Through the incisions, the surgeon has access to cartilage and bones of the nose in order to reshape and improve the nasal passageway.

A new and emerging trend in rhinoplasty is a non-surgical technique which uses fillers and neurotoxins to change the shape and contours of the face. This technique can be applied to achieve drastic changes to the nose, correct a large nose by reductive surgery, improve breathing difficulties, and boost overall appearance. The advantages of non-surgical rhinoplasty are that it is less expensive, less time-consuming, less painful, and gives non-permanent results.

No hospital stay

Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure so you will go home the same day. You will leave the hospital with a small cast on your nose to protect it and reduce swelling. Splints (bendable, thin plastic sheets) placed inside your nose will keep the septum straight, and two rubber tubes inside the nose provide support. The splints and cast are removed during your first post-operative visit, usually 5-7 days after surgery.

After removal of splints and cast, you can return to work or resume cardio exercise, such as running or walking, and should be back to normal activities and routines within two weeks while avoiding contact sports for up to six weeks.

Recovery after surgery

Expect to take at least a week off to recuperate. Typical recovery time is two weeks, though full recovery occurs after 6-8 weeks. There are usually no revisions within the first year. During the first two weeks or so, you will need ice and a regimen of nasal cleaning. While pain medications are provided, you may only need them for a few days. During your initial consultation at Politis Plastic Surgery, Dr. Effie Politis will provide you with a plan that will yield the results you want.

Great results

The slight changes made to the structure of your nose can make a huge difference in how your nose looks and functions. Your nose can be made smaller or narrower, with nostrils reshaped, the bridge made straighter, and the airway obstruction removed. And of course, most of the time, an experienced surgeon can get results both of you are satisfied with.

If you feel that you are a good candidate for rhinoplasty, whether surgical or non-surgical, please call Dr. Effie Politis for a consultation. For more information on rhinoplasty and other plastic surgery services, visit the Politis Plastic Surgery website.