Like all plastic surgery procedures, nose surgery is major surgery and should not be taken lightly. The nose is supported by bone (on the back and on the bridge) and by cartilage (on the front). On the left, a woman's nose before rhinoplasty. On the right, the same woman photographed one year after surgery.
Rhinoplasty (RIE-no-Plas-Tee) is surgery that changes the shape of the nose. The reason for rhinoplasty may be to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing, or both. The upper part of the structure of the nose is bone. Rhinoplasty can change bones, cartilage, skin, or all three.
Talk to your surgeon about whether rhinoplasty is right for you and what you can achieve with it. When planning the procedure, your other facial features, the skin on your nose, and what you would like to change are taken into account. If you're a candidate for rhinoplasty, your surgeon will develop a personal plan for you. Sometimes insurance covers part or all of the rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape, or proportions of the nose. It may be done to fix problems caused by an injury, correct a birth defect, or improve some respiratory problems. The healthcare provider performs a physical exam. The facial features and the inside and outside of the nose are examined. The physical exam helps determine what changes need to be made.
It also shows how physical characteristics, such as the thickness of the skin or the strength of the cartilage at the tip of the nose, can affect the results. The physical exam is also important to determine how rhinoplasty will affect breathing. Talk about the reasons for the surgery and what to expect. The surgeon can discuss with you what rhinoplasty can and cannot do for you and what your results might be.
It's normal to feel self-conscious when talking about your appearance. However, it's important to talk to your surgeon frankly about your wishes and goals regarding surgery. It's important to look at the general proportions of the face and profile before undergoing rhinoplasty. If you have a small chin, your surgeon can talk to you about surgery to strengthen your chin.
This is because a small chin can create the illusion of a larger nose. Chin surgery isn't necessary, but it can better balance the facial profile. Each rhinoplasty is customized to the individual's anatomy and specific goals. Rhinoplasty can be performed inside the nose or through a small external cut, known as an incision, at the base of the nose, between the nostrils.
The surgeon will likely readjust the bone and cartilage under the skin. The shape of the bones or cartilage in the nose can be changed in several ways. It depends on how much needs to be removed or added, the structure of the nose, and the materials available. For small changes, cartilage may be removed from the deepest part of the nose or ear. For larger changes, cartilage from a rib, implants, or bones from other parts of the body may be used.
Once these changes have been made, the skin and tissue of the nose are repositioned and the incisions are sewn up. Sometimes, the wall that separates the two sides of the nose, known as the nasal septum, is bent or crooked. This is called a deviated septum. It can be straightened during surgery to make breathing easier.
After surgery, you need to rest in bed with your head raised higher than your chest. Your nose may be blocked due to swelling. It may also be due to splints placed inside the nose during surgery. Most of the time, internal bandages stay in place 1 to 7 days after surgery. A splint may be placed on your nose to protect and support your nose.
It usually stays in place for about a week. You may have some bleeding and oozing of old mucus and blood for a few days after surgery or after removing the dressing. An anti-drip pad (a small piece of gauze held in place with adhesive tape) may be placed under your nose to absorb discharge. Change the gauze as directed by your healthcare provider.
Do not place the drip pad firmly against your nose. Also, don't put glasses or sunglasses on your nose for at least four weeks after surgery. They can put pressure on the nose. You can use armrests or tape your glasses to your forehead until your nose heals. Use SPF 30 sunscreen when you're outside, especially on your nose.
Too much sun can cause permanent discoloration of the skin on the nose. 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, you may have some swelling or a black and blue color on your eyelids. The swelling of the nose can last longer, sometimes up to a year. Eating less sodium will help the swelling go away faster. Do not put anything, such as ice or cold packs, on your nose after surgery.
Your nose changes throughout life, whether you have surgery or not. For this reason, it's hard to say when the final result of the surgery was obtained. However, most of the swelling goes away within a year. Very small changes in the structure of the nose, even a few millimeters, can make a big difference in the appearance of the nose. Most of the time, an experienced surgeon can get results that both of you are happy with.
However, in some cases, small changes aren't enough. You and the surgeon may decide to have a second surgery to make more changes. If this is the case, you should wait at least a year for follow-up surgery because your nose may undergo changes during this time. Rhinoplasty is surgery to change the shape of the nose. Both breathing and the shape of the nose are related.
Rhinoplasty can be used not only to change the appearance of the nose, but also to improve breathing. Septoplasty is surgery to improve breathing. It straightens the inner wall of the nose that divides the nostrils into a right and a left side, known as the nasal septum. When the septum is crooked, it can make it difficult to breathe through the nose.
Septoplasty is often done at the same time as the rhinoplasty. This is due to several factors. First of all, the nose is a complicated 3D shape located in the center of the face. The changes that occur during rhinoplasty are often very minor.
However, these changes can make a big difference in the way your nose looks and works. As these changes are small, so is the margin of error. Swelling and the placement of local anaesthetic on the skin distort the nose during surgery. That can hide many of the small changes made.
Rhinoplasty also does not have a regular plan or an established order of steps. Surgeons customize each operation to the patient's needs. Nearly everyone who has rhinoplasty can leave the hospital safely the same day of surgery. Rarely, you can stay in the hospital overnight if you're having difficulty with nausea or if you have other health problems that need to be watched out for.
After surgery, there will be some swelling. It may take several months for the swelling to go away. Most people stop noticing it after a couple of months. People usually return to most of their activities after a week and all activities after 2 to 4 weeks. Fortunately, the risks of rhinoplasty are small and the complications are rare.
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the risks and benefits before surgery. The cost of a rhinoplasty depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the surgery, the training and experience of the surgeon, and the geographical location. At Mayo Clinic, the cost of surgery will be the same no matter which surgeon you choose. Before surgery, some surgeons use simulations to show what you would look like after surgery. Your provider takes pictures of several views of your face.
These photos can be changed to give you an idea of what your nose might look like after surgery. However, you may have some soft splints on your nose. These splints have a hole so you can breathe through them, at least for a few days. They can be easily removed in a week's visit.
Any minor bruise usually lasts about a week. Most rhinoplasties are performed by plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, or otolaryngologists, also called otolaryngologists. Training and board certification in one of these specialties is a good starting point. You'll probably want a surgeon who does rhinoplasty often.
Look for a surgeon with a good reputation among patients and other providers. Experts publish articles on rhinoplasty in medical journals and often give lectures at educational meetings. Rhinoplasty care at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic is not an endorsement companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Rhinoplasty is a permanent body modification procedure. The results will last a lifetime. You may want to undergo a second rhinoplasty to adjust any cosmetic changes to meet your expectations once you heal. completely.
Similarly, changes in the bones and cartilage of the nose are harder to notice in people with thick nasal skin. The thickness of the nasal skin plays a crucial role in helping surgeons decipher the risks of rhinoplasty and decide on a treatment plan. The answer depends on why you want or need surgery. Surgery is considered elective and is not covered by insurance if it is done to correct the appearance of the nose.
This may include reducing a bump on the bridge of the nose or adjusting its shape or size. Another factor that is considered before performing the rhinoplasty procedure is the thorough verification of your medical history. If you have several facial features that aren't balanced, consider addressing all facial features together to achieve facial harmony. The surgeon will guide you through the process and jointly evaluate the considerations to decide if you are an ideal candidate for rhinoplasty or Don't.
However, it should be noted that the risks and complications of rhinoplasty are much lower than in most other major surgeries. Before considering rhinoplasty, the surgeon will consider a wide range of other factors, including facial features, skin, bone structure, and so on.
