Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, nose surgery or nose job surgery, is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures. You may consider undergoing rhinoplasty for one or more of the following reasons:

• To reduce the size of your nose
• To change the shape of the tip or bridge
• To narrow the span of the nostrils
• To change the angle between your nose and your upper lip
• To correct a birth defect or injury
• To relieve a breathing problem (functional rhinoplasty)

How is rhinoplasty / nose job surgery performed?

During surgery the skin of the nose is separated from its supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape. The nature of the sculpting will depend on your problem and your surgeon's preferred technique. Finally, the skin is redraped over the new framework.

Many plastic surgeons perform rhinoplasty from within the nose, making their incision inside the nostrils. Others prefer open rhinoplasty, especially in more complicated cases. This involves making a small incision across the columella, the vertical strip of tissue separating the nostrils.

When the nose job surgery is complete, a splint will be applied to help your nose maintain its new shape. Nasal packs or soft plastic splints also may be placed in your nostrils to stabilize the septum, the dividing wall between the air passages.

How long will the surgery take?

Rhinoplasty usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures may take longer.

What is a typical recovery time?

Recovery time varies from patient to patient, but most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days, and able to return to school or sedentary work a week or so following nose job surgery. It will be several weeks, however, before you feel completely back to normal.

Your surgeon will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They're likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity for two to three weeks. Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it sunburned, for eight weeks. Be gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.

You can wear contact lenses as soon as you feel like it, but glasses are more difficult. Once the splint is off, they'll have to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for another six to seven weeks, until your nose is completely healed.

Your surgeon will schedule frequent follow-up visits in the months after cosmetic nose surgery, to check on the progress of your healing. If you have any unusual symptoms between visits, or any questions about what you can and can't do, don't hesitate to call your doctor.

What am I to expect after my surgery?

For around the first twenty-four hours it is likely that your face will feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you may have a dull headache. However, any discomfort can be controlled with medication prescribed by your doctor. Plan on staying 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 two or three days after cosmetic nose surgery. 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.