How Rhinoplasty Works

A rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that modifies the nose’s form.
The purpose of rhinoplasty may be to alter the nose’s appearance, enhance breathing, or both.

The structure of the nose is composed primarily of cartilage at the bottom and bone at the top.
Bone, cartilage, skin, or all three might be changed during rhinoplasty.
Discuss the benefits of rhinoplasty and whether it is right for you with your surgeon.

Your surgeon will take into account your other facial characteristics, the skin on your nose, and the changes you want to make while planning a rhinoplasty.
Your surgeon will create a unique strategy for you if you are a candidate for surgery.

Insurance may cover all or a portion of a rhinoplasty.

Why is it done?

Your nose’s size, shape, or proportions can be altered by rhinoplasty.
It might be carried out to fix congenital defects, heal injury-related abnormalities, or ease breathing problems.

Risks

As with any significant procedure, rhinoplasty has risks, including the following:

Infection in Bleeding

a negative response to the anesthetic

In addition, but not only, there are additional potential dangers associated with rhinoplasty

breathing through your nose is challenging.

Numbness that lasts forever in and around your nose

the potential for a nose that looks uneven

persistent pain, discolouration, or edema

Scarring

There is a septal hole (septal perforation)

a requirement for more operations

How these hazards affect you should be discussed with your doctor.

How you get ready

You must consult with your surgeon to establish whether rhinoplasty is likely to be successful for you before making an appointment.
This gathering often consists of:

your medical background.
Your doctor will mostly inquire about your reasons for undergoing surgery and your objectives.
Your doctor will also inquire about your medical background, including any operations, nasal obstructions, and drugs you may be taking.
You might not be a candidate for rhinoplasty if you have a blood problem like hemophilia.

a medical checkup.
A thorough physical examination, including any necessary laboratory tests like blood testing, will be performed by your doctor.
He or she will also check your nose’s interior and outside, as well as your facial features.

The physical examination assists your doctor in determining what modifications are necessary and how physical characteristics, such as skin thickness or the durability of the cartilage at the tip of your nose, may affect the outcome.
Determining how rhinoplasty will affect your ability to breathe depends on the results of the physical examination.

Photographs.
Your doctor’s office will take pictures of your nose from various perspectives.
In order to demonstrate the types of outcomes that are possible, your surgeon may modify the photographs using computer software.
These images will be used by your doctor for long-term evaluations, before-and-after comparisons, and surgical reference.
Most significantly, the photographs provide a detailed discussion of the surgical objectives.

an examination of your hopes.
You should discuss your goals and expectations with your doctor.
He or she will go over what rhinoplasty can and cannot do for you, as well as potential outcomes.
It’s common to experience some self-consciousness when talking about your appearance, but it’s crucial that you are honest with your surgeon about your preferences and surgical goals.

If you have a small chin, your surgeon might discuss chin augmentation surgery with you.
This is due to the fact that a small chin will give the appearance of a larger nose.
In some situations, chin surgery is not necessary, although it could help to better balance the facial profile.

If you’re having an outpatient surgery, you’ll need to make arrangements for transportation after the procedure is planned.

You can experience memory lapses, reduced reaction time, and poor judgment in the initial days following anesthesia.
So make plans for a family member or friend to spend one or two nights with you so they can assist with personal care as you heal from surgery.

medicines and food

For two weeks before and after surgery, refrain from taking any aspirin- or ibuprofen-containing drugs (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.).
These drugs might make bleeding worse.
Take just the meds that your surgeon has approved or prescribed.
Also, stay away from over-the-counter vitamins and herbal medicines.

Stop smoking if you do.
Smoking hinders the recovery from surgery and increases your risk of developing an infection.

What to anticipate

There is no set sequence of procedures for rhinoplasty.
Every surgery is special and tailored to the patient’s personal anatomy and objectives.

In the operating room

Depending on how complicated your procedure is and what your surgeon chooses, rhinoplasty involves either local anesthetic with sedation or full anaesthetic.
Before having surgery, discuss with your doctor which type of anesthetic is best for you.

sedation and local anesthesia.
Typically, an outpatient setting is when this kind of anesthetic is employed.
It only affects that region of your body.
Your doctor sedates you by administering drugs through an intravenous (IV) line while also administering a pain-killing injection into your nasal tissues.
You feel dazed but not asleep as a result.

general sedation
The anesthesia is administered to you orally or through an IV line that is inserted into a vein in your hand, neck, or chest.
Your entire body is affected by general anesthesia, which renders you unconscious throughout surgery.
A breathing tube is necessary for general anesthesia.

A small external cut (incision) can be made at the base of your nose, in the space between your nostrils, or within your nose for rhinoplasty.
The bone and cartilage underneath your skin will probably be readjusted by your surgeon.

Depending on the amount that needs to be taken out or added, the structure of your nose, and the materials that are available, your surgeon can alter the form of your nasal bones or cartilage in a number of ways.
The surgeon may utilize cartilage from your ear or from deeper into your nose to make minor adjustments.
The surgeon may utilize implants, bone from other parts of your body, or cartilage from your rib for more significant alterations.
After making these adjustments, the doctor closes the incisions in your nose and replaces the skin and tissue.

The surgeon can also improve breathing by straightening the septum, the wall that divides the two sides of the nose.

You will be in a recovery room following the procedure, where the nurses will keep an eye on your return to consciousness.
If you have further health difficulties, you might stay the night or depart later that day.

after the procedure

To lessen bleeding and edema after surgery, you must rest in bed with your head elevated above your chest.
Because of swelling or from the splints put inside your nose during surgery, your nose may be stuffy.

The internal dressings often stay in place for one to seven days following surgery.
Your doctor may also apply a splint to your nose as support and protection.
It normally lasts for a week or so.

For a few days following the procedure or after the dressing has been removed, there may be some little bleeding as well as mucus and old blood discharge.
A “drip pad,” which is a little piece of gauze taped under your nose to absorb drainage, may be applied by your doctor.
As instructed by your doctor, change the gauze.
Place the drip pad loosely, not right up against your nose.

Your doctor might advise that you take precautions for a few weeks following surgery to further reduce the likelihood of bleeding and swelling.
Your physician may advise you to:

Avoid vigorous exercises like jogging and aerobics.

While your nose is wrapped in bandages, take baths as opposed to showers.

refuse to blow your nose.

To prevent constipation, eat high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables.
You might strain as a result of constipation, which would put pressure on the surgical site.

Avoid making exaggerated facial gestures like laughing or smiling.

To prevent your top lip from moving too much, softly brush your teeth.

Put on front-fastening clothing.
Avoid pulling items of clothes over your head, such as shirts or sweaters.

In order to reduce strain on your nose following surgery, avoid resting eyeglasses or sunglasses on it for at least four weeks.
Until your nose has healed, you can clip the glasses to your forehead or utilize cheek rests.

Apply SPF 30 sunscreen liberally to your nose when you’re outside.
The skin on your nose could become permanently irregularly colored from too much sun exposure.

Your eyelids may temporarily enlarge or turn blue-black for two to three weeks following nose surgery.
Nasal swelling takes longer to go away.
Consuming less sodium will hasten the swelling’s recovery.
After surgery, refrain from applying anything to your nose, such as ice or cold packs.

Whether you had surgery or not, your nose changes with time.
Because of this, it might be challenging to determine whether you have reached your “ultimate result.”
But after a year, the majority of the swelling has subsided.

Results

Changes to your nose’s structure that are commonly measured in millimeters can have a significant impact on how your nose appears.
A skilled surgeon can typically provide outcomes that both of you are happy with.
However, in certain instances, the small adjustments are insufficient, and you and your surgeon can opt to do a second surgery for more adjustments.
If so, you will need to wait at least a year before having the follow-up surgery because your nose may change over that time.