Rhinoplasty: The Third Most Performed Surgery of 2016

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Rhinoplasty Infographic

The nose is perhaps one of the most aesthetically influential features of your face.

An oversized or misshapen nose can not only affect your appearance but your confidence and self-esteem as well.

What is it?

  • A Rhinoplasty procedure:
    • Is a surgical reshaping of the nose.
    • Can be done either for aesthetical or functional reasons.
    • Can help correct chronic congestion and, breathing problems.
  • A Rhinoplasty surgery can change:
    • Nose size
      • To create facial balance.
      • It can be reshaped larger or smaller.
    • Nose width
      • At the bridge.
      • In the size and position of nostrils.
    • Nose profile
      • To correct:
        • Visible humps and bumps.
        • Depressions on the bridge.
        • Indentations
        • Other defects
      • Nasal tip
        • To correct a nasal tip that is:
          • Enlarged or bulbous.
          • Drooping
          • Upturned
          • Hooked
        • Nostrils
          • Large
          • Wide
          • Upturned
        • Nasal asymmetry
          • Nose is angled differently in relation to the upper lip.

The Procedure

  1. Is done under general or local anesthesia.
  2. It is generally done as an outpatient procedure.
  3. Incisions are made to access the cartilage that supports the nose:
    • Closed procedure: Incisions are hidden in the nose.
    • Open procedure: Incision is made of the skin tissue that separates the nostrils.
  1. Depending on the objective:
    • Bone and cartilage are removed.
    • Tissue may be added.
  2. After the nose cartilage and bone have been reshaped, skin and tissue is redraped over the structure of the nose.
  3. A splint is placed outside the nose to support the new shape of the nose while it heals.
  4. After approximately one week, the splint and bandages are removed.

Recovery

  1. Face will feel puffy.
  2. Area around eyes and nose will be swollen and bruised.
  3. It’s recommended to apply cold compressions to reduce swelling and pain.
  4. Most of swelling and bruising will improve in about 10 to 14 days.
  5. Keep your head elevated and still for first few days.
  6. Several weeks of recovery are needed before any strenuous activity can be done.

Results

  1. Are permanent.
  2. Injuries experienced later as well as other factors can alter the nose’s appearance.
  3. Appearance will get altered if surgery is done on a nose that hasn’t fully developed.

Complete development:

  • 15 or 16 years in females
  • 17 or 18 years in males

Risks

  1. Bleeding
  2. Injury or holes to the septum.
  3. Skin problems:
    1. Breakdown of skin tissue.
    2. Skin irritation from tape and bandaging.
  4. Infection
  5. Nasal blockage caused by swelling.
  6. Change in skin sensation.
  7. Anesthesia risks.
  8. Scarring issues.

As with other surgical procedures, make sure you have clear, realistic expectations about the surgery’s results, and share these with your plastic surgeon.

Rhinoplasty Candidates

                  A good candidate for a rhinoplasty procedure will:

  • Have a complete facial growth development.
  • Be physically healthy.
  • Not smoke.
  • Have a positive mindset and realistic goals.

Costs

                  Rhinoplasty costs include:

  • Anesthesia fees
  • Hospital or surgical facility costs
  • Medical tests
  • Post-surgery garments
  • Prescriptions for medications
  • Surgeon’s fee

According to a 2014 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average rhinoplasty cost is $4,694.

                  *This fee does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other expenses.*