Rhinoplasty or a nose job is a type of cosmetic surgery which is done to reshape your nose and to improve your facial symmetry and harmony. Although it might seem that this procedure is done purely from cosmetic reasons (to improve the visual appearance) but it can also be used to treat certain medical conditions like breathing problems.
Now even though this is a surgical procedure but it is highly customizable for each individual patient and the goals they would like to achieve. Through a nose job, your surgeon could focus on specific areas of your nose:
- The width of your nose and position of nostrils
- Nose size in respect to your facial shape and features
- Angle of your nose
- Defects such as indentations or bumps
- Tips of the nose
- Nasal asymmetry and so on
Who is a good candidate for a nose job?
Generally speaking, everyone is a good candidate for a rhinoplasty, although certain conditions and requirements have to be met:
- Your facial growth is complete
- You’re in good health and fit
- You don’t smoke and
- You have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure
What steps are involved in a rhinoplasty?
Every nose job or rhinoplasty, even though it can be highly customized to fit every patient’s needs, has certain steps:
The procedure can be done either under local or general anesthesia.
In order to successfully complete a nose job, your cosmetic surgeon will need to have good access to the bone and cartilage inside your nose. That’s why he will make a tiny incision inside your nostrils.
Depending on the end results you want to achieve, tissues from other parts of your body could be added to your nose or the surgeon could use synthetic fillers. And sometimes, if you want to make your nose smaller, bone and cartilage could be removed from the nose.
Once the surgeon is done with the reshaping of the bone and nose structure, the tissue and nasal skin is redraped and incision is sealed.
On the outside of your nose, the surgeon will place a splint which will help provide additional support to your new nose while it heals
Recovery after the procedure
After a nose job, the recover usually takes several weeks although you could return to work after 2-3 weeks. This can be different from one patient to the other.
The swelling which is normal after every surgery, should subside after a week or so but the final refinement and end result after a nose job is to be expected within a year. Each patient received detailed post-op instructions how they should take care of the surgical site and what medications to take to manage the pain or discomfort.
- During the first month of the recovery process, it’s recommended not to use reading glasses or sunglasses.
- When going outside, it’s highly recommended to use sunblock with an SPF of 30 or more in order to protect your nose
- Strenuous activity should be avoided.
- In the first few days after the procedure, you should keep your head elevated and to keep your face as steady as possible.
- Healthy diet with a lot of fiber and nutrients is also highly recommended
- Applying cold compresses should help reduce the swelling and promote better healing
- Avoid wearing clothes that go over your head and nose.
If you’re unhappy with the way your nose looks or you’re having difficulty breathing due to the irregular shape of your nose, contact Dr. Kotoske to schedule a consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for a nose job.
