Rhinoplasty: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape your nose. This can mean changing the size of your nose to make it either bigger or smaller or modify the contours of your nose to change your profile. Although the upper part of your nose is made of bone and the lower portion is made of cartilage, both of these areas can be cosmetically altered with rhinoplasty.

If you are considering rhinoplasty your first step is to find a plastic surgeon that is qualified to do the job. You should start by looking for a surgeon who has been board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. This will help to ensure that the doctor you are entrusting your nose with will have the skills and background necessary to do the job you expect.

During your initial consultation you should be prepared to discuss with your doctor why you want the surgery and what your expectations are after-wards. Unrealistic expectations are one of the top reasons many patients are unhappy with their surgical results so be sure to discuss with your doctor what you expectations are to help ensure you’re happy with the end results. You should also bring a list of any and all current medications that you are currently taking and be prepared to have an honest conversation with your doctor regarding any substance abuse including drugs or alcohol so your doctor can gauge your medical history as accurately as possible. This becomes very important when you and your doctor are discussing what type of anesthesia to use for your surgery.

The surgery itself can be performed under either general or local anesthesia depending one what you and your doctor feel will work best for you. And even though the surgery itself is done on an outpatient basis you should plan on having someone available to drive you home and care for you the first twenty four hours while you recover.
The most common side effects that you should expect include drainage of mucus and old blood which usually last a few days. Other less common side effects include swelling around the nose and eyes that may last up to six months or in rare cases a year.

Your doctor will normally advise you to avoid some activities while your nose heals for the first week or so including exercising and swimming. Other things to avoid while you recover include blowing your nose, pulling your shirt over your head and wearing glasses that rest on your nose since these activities could interfere with your ability to heal properly after surgery.

Rhinoplasty generally is permanent and does not need to be redone unless you are unhappy with the final results. So if you are realistic and upfront with your expectations with your plastic surgeon, you should be able to plan on your rhinoplasty being a one time thing.