Nose Surgery

Photo Gallery -- Rhinoplasty
Nose Deformities: Overview
Rhinoplasty: At A Glance
Rhinoplasty: BDD
Rhinoplasty: Boxy Tip
Rhinoplasty: Crooked Nose
Rhinoplasty: Dorsal Hump
Rhinoplasty: Nose Reshaping
Rhinoplasty: Parrot Beak Deformity
Rhinoplasty: Tip Grafting

Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. It may also correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing problems. It is best to wait before operating on teenagers until after they've completed their growth spurt-around 14 or 15 for girls, a bit later for boys. It is important to consider teenagers' social and emotional adjustment and to make sure it is what they really want.

 

From Left to Right: Illustration 1: Before surgery, these rhinoplasty patients have large, slightly hanging noses, with a hump and an enlarged tip. Illustration 2: Incisions are made inside the nostrils or at the base of the nose, providing access to the cartilage and bone, which can then be sculpted into shape. Illustration 3: Incisions are placed inside the nose to provide access to the cartilage (blue shaded area) and brown (light brown shaded area) that form the nasal framework.

 
From Left to Right: Illustration 1: Depending on the surgical technique used, a splint may be placed on the bridge of the nose for the purpose of holding the tissues in place until they have stabilized. Illustration 2: After surgery, the patient has a smaller nose, a straighter bridge, a well defined nasal tip, and an improved angle between the nose and upper lip.

Rhinoplasty Surgery Incisions

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 the problem. 

Rhinoplasty can be performed from within the nose, making the incision inside the nostrils.  Another procedure is the "open” procedure where a small incision is made across the columella, the vertical strip of tissue separating the nostrils.

When surgery is complete, an external splint will be applied to help your nose maintain its new shape.  Internal nasal splints will be used as needed if septal work is done.

Recovery

You can go home and resume normal light activities within the first week and most activities within 3 weeks. Showering is permitted on the second day after surgery.  Pain is minimal and is mostly gone within 2 or 3 days and is easily controlled by medications. You may experience some congestion and nasal drip for 2 or 3 days. Swelling, which is mild to moderate and peaks at 2 to 3 days, disappears rapidly over the next 3 weeks. Insignificant swelling slowly resolves over the next 6 to 12 months.  There is a variable degree of bruising between the eyes and onto the cheeks that often disappears within a week. Sutures are removed 1 week postoperatively.

Results

It is likely that you will have a balanced nose to compliment your other facial features and proportions. Continued improvement can be expected during the first 3 to 6 months as the swelling disappears and the nose continues to take shape. Results are usually permanent except if you experience trauma to the nose.

The Best Candidates For Rhinoplasty

Many patients who have a nose that is too large, long or wide in comparison to the rest of their face are good candidates for a rhinoplasty. In addition, grafting procedures are available to correct depressions, lack of development, or inadequate tip projection. The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. You may be a good candidate if you"re physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations.

Contact Us for More Information

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