What Every Patient Should Know About Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, more commonly referred to as a nose job, is cosmetic nasal surgery which is used to change the shape of your nose. It can also increase or decrease the size of the nose as well as change the angle in relation to your other facial features. Some people opt for rhinoplasty to change defects such as bumps or indentations. It is normally performed under general anesthesia which will allow you to remain comfortable throughout the procedure. 

During the procedure, a surgeon will make incisions that will allow access to the bones and cartilage. These incisions are usually on the inside of the nose where they won’t leave a visible scar. Bone or cartilage might be removed or tissue from another part of the body or synthetic filler might be added to increase the size. Once the surgery is complete, the skin and tissue will be placed back over the nose and a splint will be attached to the outside to support the nose while it is healing.

Depending on the extent of the procedure and the surgeon, you may have rhinoplasty performed as an outpatient procedure or you may be required to stay overnight in the hospital or in the surgery center. Within two days following the nose job, the packing that is inside your nose will be removed and then the splint and support materials will follow in about a week.

You should expect your face to be puffy in addition to the bruising and swelling that normally occur. Your doctor might recommend medication for pain and you can also use cold compresses which will reduce both pain and swelling. Plan on spending the first few weeks after the rhinoplasty without doing any strenuous activities and keep your head elevated for the first several days.

The goal of having a nose job is to improve the imperfections in your nose and give it better proportion with the rest of your face. Sometimes rhinoplasty is needed to correct other problems that can cause you physical discomfort such as congestion or other breathing problems.

It is important to have realistic expectations of what rhinoplasty can do to your appearance. Depending on the procedure, it may have a significant or minor influence on your appearance. Be certain to talk with your surgeon about what you expect to accomplish from the rhinoplasty procedure.