Rhinoplasty is as much art as it is science and you need to put your faith in the right artist to get results that make you healthy and happy.
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 caused by birth defects or injury
An often overlooked side of rhinoplasty is that it can help relieve some breathing problems, better airflow results in more oxygen to the blood and brain and a reduction in stress.
If you are considering Rhinoplasty this information will give you some basic information about the procedure.
Should you get a Rhinoplasty?
The best candidates for Rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection in the way they look (Check out these 5 Myths about Nose Jobs). If you are physically healthy and realistic in your expectations then you’ll get good results.
The Surgery
Rhinoplasty usually takes from an hour to two and half hours though as with all medicine complicated procedures may take longer. 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 your requirements.
Rhinoplasty is usually done from within the nose with the incision being made inside the nostrils or some times via a small incision across the columella (lower side of nose). In either case the incision is either invisible or barely visible on close inspection.
Types of Anaesthesia
Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and on what your surgeon prefers. General anaesthesia costs a little more then local anaesthesia.
After the Surgery
When the surgery is complete, a pack is put inside your nose and a plastercast is put on outside the nose.The nasal pack is removed within the first two days and the external plaster is kept for a fortnight.
After surgery your face will be swollen in the first 24hrs which may increase over the next couple of days. You may have some pain over the nose or a slight headache. Pain killer medication and cold fomentation (ice packs) help in controlling these symptoms.
A little bleeding is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some nasal blockage and discomfort for several weeks. If the stitches are on the outside they will be removed at the end of the first week.
Getting Back to Work
Most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days, and able to return to college or sedentary work a week or so following surgery. Hard strenuous work is to be avoided for a few weeks.
When will you see results
In the couple of days following surgery when your face is a little swollen many patients feel underwhelmed for a while after Rhinoplasty — it’s quite normal and understandable. But rest assured that this stage will pass. Day by day, your 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. In general you start noticing the improvement in a couple of weeks which keeps on improving as the days pass and the fine tissue swelling subside.
In the meantime, you might experience some unexpected reactions from family and friends. They may say they don’t see a major difference in your nose. But trust yourself and your doctor.
