Rhinoplasty Information

Rhinoplasty:

Rhinoplasty involves making incisions inside the nostrils which enables the surgeon to separate the skin from the underlying structure of the nose. Once this is done, the surgeon can then reshape the cartilage and bone. Depending on the desired shape, there are two different rhinoplasty procedures that can be performed: open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty.

Open Rhinoplasty - this procedure involves an incision being made across the columella which is the skin between the two nostrils. This incision allows the physician to have an open view of the internal structure of the nose. While this procedure does allow for more precision, it also results in a longer period of swelling and discomfort post surgery
Closed Rhinoplasty - this procedure does not involve any external incisions. This method does allow for the deformities to be corrected but requires less down time and less swelling and discomfort after the surgery

The shaping will be different in every procedure because different techniques will provide different results. Once the nose is shaped to the surgeon's desire, the skin is replaced over the underlying structure. When the procedure is finished, a splint will be placed over the nose to keep the shape in place. In conjunction with the splint, the nose will sometimes be packed from the inside in order to stabilize the septum, or the wall between the air passages.

When Can I Have This Done?

Rhinoplasty generally should not be performed on girls until they have reached the age of 13 and boys until they have reached the age of 15 (boys tend to have their growth spurt later than girls). By these ages, the nose will have grown to about 90% of its adult size. It is not recommended for patients younger than these ages to undergo surgery because their noses will still be susceptible to change. Ideal candidates include girls that are over the age of 16 and boys that are over the age of 17.

Will It Hurt?

The procedure itself will not hurt because rhinoplasty is performed under either a local anesthetic, which keeps you awake and alert but numbs the area, or general anesthetic, which puts you to sleep for the procedure. This choice usually depends on the preference of the surgeon or the extent of the surgery being performed.

Results:

Rhinoplasty usually takes about 1 to 2 hours to perform. After surgery, the patient may experience small red spots on the nose which are broken blood vessels. The vessels are usually minor but can sometimes be permanent.

The patient will not find any scarring from the closed surgery because all incisions are made from inside the nose. Scars will only be present when the procedure involves nostril alteration or when the open procedure is performed. In these cases, small scars will remain on the base of the nose and/or across the columella, but once healed, are usually barely visible.

Some patients will require a second procedure in order to remove all deformities. Surgeons are unable to predict if everything will be fixed during the first procedure, but the second procedure, if needed, is usually very minor.

Risks:

There is always some risk to every surgery and Rhinoplasty is no exception. When undergoing Rhinoplasty, making sure your surgeon is competent and qualified will significantly reduce your risk of any complications. Possible complications with this surgery include nosebleed, infection or possible reaction to the anesthetic. These rarely occur and can be treated if necessary.

Down-time?

For about a day after the Rhinoplasty surgery, your face will feel swollen, your nose will ache and you may have a headache. Doctors will prescribe pain medication that will help with these side effects. Most patients will also notice bruising around the nose and eyes, which will worsen at first, fade after several days and subside after a week or so. Patients may also bleed slightly during the first few days which is completely normal. Most patients are asked to refrain from blowing their noses for the first week to give the nostril tissue a chance to heal.

After one or two weeks, patients should look and feel back to normal. Most patients will still experience slight swelling for the first few months. This usually occurs in the tip of the nose and it is so slight, typically only the patient notices it. After the surgery the nose continues to shape, so most patients do not see full results until about a year after the procedure.

What Are The Costs?

Rhinoplasty generally costs anywhere between $3,000 and $4,000 or even higher depending on the extents of the procedure. This is a cosmetic procedure so it is not covered by insurance; however those using this treatment to correct breathing problems or fix injuries or deformities might be able to have it covered. This surgery is a perfect way to resculpt your nose and improve the overall appearance of your face.