Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)
Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is the fourth most common plastic surgery procedure done at our CosmeSurge centers after liposuction, tummy tucks and breast enlargement. Some people are unhappy with the noses they were born with, and some with the way aging has changed their nose. For others, an injury may have distorted the nose, or the goal may be improved breathing. But one thing is clear: nothing has a greater impact on how a person looks than the size and shape of the nose. Because the nose is the most defining characteristic of the face, a slight alteration can greatly improve one's appearance.
Since there is no ideal in rhinoplasty, the goal is to improve the nose aesthetically, making it harmonize better with other facial features.
Skin type, ethnic background, and age are important factors to be considered in discussions with your surgeon prior to surgery. Before the nose is altered, a young patient must reach full growth, usually around age fifteen or sixteen. Exceptions are cases in which breathing is severely impaired.
The best candidates for Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently.
The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you're physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
Did you know that the nose “grows” from age 17 till 70 by one centimeter or 20% more of its original length. It does not really grow but it droops due to skin sagging with age.
Planning your surgery
Good communication between you and your physician is essential. In your initial consultation, the surgeon will ask what you'd like your nose to look like, evaluate the structure of your nose and face, and discuss the possibilities with you.
In some cases, the appearance of your nose may also be influenced by some weakness in the features that surround it, such as flat cheeks, a week chin, thin lips, a recessed forehead, a double chin, etc. These features can be corrected at the same time or shortly after nasal surgery to enhance the final appearance of your nose.
In the case of revision surgery when the nose has undergone one or more previous unsuccessful operations, improvement is possible but the surgery is technically more difficult and the results more limited than in the case of a virgin nose.
Be sure to tell your surgeon if you've had any previous nose surgery or an injury to your nose, even if it was many years ago. You should also inform your surgeon if you have any allergies or breathing difficulties; if you're taking any medications, vitamins, or if you smoke.
Possible complications
When rhinoplasty is performed by a qualified surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility or complications, including infection, nosebleed, or a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon’s instructions both before and after surgery.
In about one case out of ten, a second procedure may be required-for example, to correct a minor deformity. Such cases are unpredictable and happen even to patients of the most skilled surgeons. The corrective surgery is usually minor.
The Surgery
“Nose jobs” (Rhinoplasty) are the most sophisticated of all cosmetic surgeries, the reason being that the nose is a completely hollow structure. The surgeon has to change the shape of the nose, while preserving intact both its support (outside walls) and its breathing function (inside wall).
Nose surgery consists of removing the excess cartilage and gently filling down the excess bone. The scars are usually hidden inside the nose. If it is necessary to decrease the size of the nostrils, a tin scar is left at the base of each nostril. All stitches are absorbable. On average, nose surgery is performed within one to two hours.
After Your Surgery
At the end of the operation, a small plaster cast is applied to the nose. After a week, the cast is painlessly removed. Most of the swelling and discoloration around the eyes tend to disappear within the following week. While we can correct a deviated septum at the same time, there is no guarantee that your breathing will actually improve although frequently it does.
Your nose will continue to improve for at least six months following surgery. Therefore, do not expect to see your final result when the cast is removed. Do not be alarmed if the shape of our nose keeps changing during the first few months. On average, you are presentable and may return to work ten days after surgery.
Numbness of the upper teeth and mild nasal blockage may be experienced for a few days to a few weeks following surgery. Thick nasal skin makes the surgery more difficult, limiting somewhat its final result and prolonging recovery.
This is because thick skin does not shrink as mush as think skin (therefore the nose cannot be made much smaller). If you have thick nasal skin, your nose may be improved by surgery, but you must be patient while awaiting the final result and realistic in your outlook.
How to choose your nose surgeon:
Too many surgeons claim to be experts at 62 different cosmetic procedures. At CosmeSurge, we have a nose plastic surgeon who has done thousands of nose surgeries and does one everyday.
The average cosmetic surgeon is lucky to perform one per month. Remember: Practice Makes Perfect
While we do not guarantee perfect results, we sure try to give you the best advice, best surgeon and the best surgical and
anesthesia team.
You fees cover not only the lab work and hospital stay, but any procedure you may need to fix any problem resulting from the nose surgery in he next three months after surgery. In our hands, problems are rare enough we can offer such a service.
Your New Nose
In the days following surgery, when your face is bruised and swollen, it’s easy to forget that you will be looking better. In fact, many patients feel depressed after a while after plastic surgery-it’s quite normal and understandable.
Rest assured that this stage will pass. Day by day, our nose will begin to look better and your spirits will improve. Within a week or two, you’ll no longer look as if you’ve just had surgery.
While we do perform computer analysis of your nose and preview the expected results, you have to keep in mind that no two noses are exactly similar and healing can be unpredictable.
Healing is a slow and gradual process. The final results of rhinoplasty may not be apparent for six months to a year although most patients can see significant improvement in three weeks.
|
