Commonly referred to as a nose job, rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to change or correct the look or shape of the nose. It is also performed by surgeons to improve the function of the nose due to birth defects or trauma. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, rhinoplasty is among the top 10 most performed procedures by plastic surgeons. However, due to the complexity of the nose, rhinoplasty is a relatively difficult cosmetic surgical procedure that needs to be performed by skilled and experienced surgeons.
How to know if you are a suitable candidate for rhinoplasty
To know if you are the right candidate for this surgical procedure, you need to visit a surgeon for thorough nose examination. The surgeon will then tell you if you are the perfect candidate for rhinoplasty or not.
What is involved during the procedure?
Rhinoplasty is usually done on the same day basis. The surgery will be performed under general anesthesia and the entire surgical procedure will not last for more than 2 hours. Depending on your specific situation, the surgeon may make incisions using an open technique or a closed technique in order to give you the desired results. During the procedure, the surgeon will rearrange or remove cartilage or in some cases break and rearrange the bone in order to reshape the nose. Afterwards, the surgeon will close the incisions on the nose and a long acting numbing agent will be used to ensure that you leave the surgery center pain free.
Recovery period for rhinoplasty
You will be required to wear a nasal splint for a period of 10-15 days after the surgical procedure. You may experience moderate bruising and swelling especially around your eyes but the problem will subside after one week. During the recovery period, you will expected to avoid involving yourself in strenuous activities for a period of 4 weeks. Your surgeon will let you know when you should resume performing your normal daily activities.
What to expect after rhinoplasty
Positive results from this surgical procedure will be noticed once the swelling and bruising goes down and your surgeon removes the nasal splint. However, once you have fully recovered, the appearance of your nose as well as its function will greatly improve.
Risks involved during rhinoplasty
Just like any other surgical procedure, rhinoplasty also involves some risks. However, if done by the right surgeon, the risks involved are very minimal. Some of the risks involved include numbness, swelling, infection, possible collapse of the nose, residual deformity, external scaring and nose bleeds.