Rhinoplasty or nose surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed today. It can reshape, reduce or augment a person’s nose to achieve facial harmony and boost self-confidence. It may be performed as a reconstructive procedure to correct a birth defect or an injury such as a broken nose. Rhinoplasty may be performed for functional reasons rather than cosmetic. Combining nose reshaping with septoplasty or endoscopic sinus surgery can effectively treat certain breathing problems such as those caused by a deviated septum.
What can rhinoplasty do for me?
Rhinoplasty is an excellent procedure for achieving the following:
- Balance the size of the nose with other facial features
- Modify the width of the nose at the bridge
- Improve the nasal profile including removing humps or depressions
- Contour a nasal tip that is too large, boxy, drooping or upturned
- Change the angle between the nose and the mouth
- Narrow and reshape the nostrils
- Correct asymmetry or deviation
Am I a good candidate for rhinoplasty?
The best candidates for rhinoplasty:
- At least 13 years old
- Have finished facial growth
- Generally healthy
- Do not smoke
- Seeking rhinoplasty for personal reasons not pressure from others
- Have realistic goals for the procedure
How is the procedure performed?
Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. Surgeons use one of two techniques when performing nose surgery. In a closed rhinoplasty, incisions are made within the nostrils. In an open rhinoplasty, the incision is made across the columella which is the tissue between the nostrils. With both methods, Dr. Kurtzman gently lifts the soft tissue covering the nose and sculpts the bone and cartilage to the desired shape. Any additional cartilage needed to augment the nose can often be taken from the septum.
If the patient has a deviated septum, Dr. Kurtzman will adjust the septum and the inner structures of the nose to improve breathing. The tissues are then redraped and stitched closed. Nostril reshaping is done as the final stage of rhinoplasty. The procedure generally lasts one to two hours.
What is the recovery from nose surgery like?
For a short time after surgery, patients may experience puffiness, nose ache or a dull headache; some swelling, bruising, bleeding or stuffiness. Most patients feel like themselves within two days and return to work in about a week.
The results of rhinoplasty become more apparent as the days pass after surgery and the swelling recedes. Swelling may reappear from time to time in the first year after the procedure. It is typically more noticeable in the morning and fades during the day. Contact lenses can be worn immediately. Glasses may need to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for up to seven weeks.
Will I like the results of my nose surgery?
Patients with realistic goals for rhinoplasty are generally very happy with the new shape of their nose. The exact results depend on the patient’s nasal bone and cartilage structure, facial shape, skin thickness and age.
What are the possible risks of rhinoplasty
Complications are rare and when they occur may include infection, nosebleed or a reaction to the anesthesia.
What is revision rhinoplasty?
Revision or secondary rhinoplasty corrects deformities caused by a previous nose operation. This procedure is more difficult to perform than primary rhinoplasty because there is less cartilage to work with and there may be scarring or tissue contracture (tightening). Skilled plastic surgeons can improve both the appearance and the function of the nose.