Information about Rhinoplasty Procedure
Rhinoplasty is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures. Also called nose job, it 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.
The ideal candidates for Rhinoplasty
• First of all, those who are well adjusted and otherwise happy with their lives, and simply want to improve the nose appearance, (but do not seek perfection) observing next points.
• Highly recommended to those who feel unhappy and conscious of a psychological or social distress due to a disharmonic and disproportionate nose.
• Gender and age: the procedure should wait until after the teenage growth period that occurs in the mid-teens. This growth period normally occurs from ages 14 to 15 for girls and somewhat later for boys.
• The surgery is also performed for those who are willing to correct birth defects or breathing problems.
• Rhinoplasty is often an enhancement to facial rejuvenation, particularly in the correction of the aging nose (drooping of the tip).
The procedure
First, incisions are made, separating the skin of the nose from its supporting framework of bone and cartilage. The majority of incisions are made inside the nose, where they are invisible. In some cases, an incision is made in the area of skin separating the nostrils. Next, certain amounts of underlying bone and cartilage are removed, added to, or rearranged to provide a newly shaped structure.
The skin is then redraped over the new frame and the incisions are closed. A splint is applied to the outside of the nose to help retain the new shape while the nose heals. Soft, absorbent material may be used inside the nose to maintain stability along the dividing wall of the air passages called the septum. Alternatively, soft nasal supports that permit nasal breathing post-operatively can be placed.
Anesthesia: performed under sedation with local anesthesia, or general anesthesia. With local anesthesia, you'll usually be lightly sedated, and your nose and the surrounding area will be numbed; you'll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. With general anesthesia, you'll sleep through the operation.
Length: The operation usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures may take longer.
After the surgery
The recovery process starts with staying in bed with the head elevated for the first 24 hours. The face will be felt puffy, and the nose may ache, and a dull headache may be present. Pain can be managed with medication prescribed by the surgeon.
Swelling and bruising will peak after two to three days — this can be lessened with the application of cold compresses. A little bleeding is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. It is requested to the patient not to blow the nose for approximately one week. As part of rhinoplasty post operation instructions, patients will also be advised not to bend over with the head below the heart as this may increase swelling and bleeding. The nasal packing will be removed after a few days, and the splint (which covers the nose after surgery) and/or stitches will be removed one to two weeks later.
Returning to Normal Routine
Patients are usually up within two days, and are able to return to sedentary work or school approximately one week after rhinoplasty surgery, but recovery may take longer if post operation instructions are not followed. Patients should not participate in sports or return to weight lifting for two weeks after rhinoplasty and should not take part in any activity that may result in a blow to the nose for about eight weeks. Airline travel is not recommended in the first few weeks following surgery. And to be gentle when washing the face and hair or using cosmetics, is also required.
What are the possible side-effects and complications of a nose job?
The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although this operation doesn’t have practically any type of side-effects some of the risks and potential complications that can occur are infection, fluid accumulation, changes in skin sensation, rupture of small surface vessels of the nose, skin discoloration and/or swelling, etc
Last Update: 02/28/2011
Note: This information is directed to support and not to replace your doctor opinion.
