6 Main Things to Know About Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is also known as a nose job. This is a procedure, which involves sculpting the shape of your nose internally for breathing. It can be also done for cosmetic purposes in order to change the shape of the nose. The main goal of this process is to achieve a natural look of the nose, which should ideally balance a person’s face.

Consultation

The first step of the nose job process starts in the office of a qualified rhinoplasty specialist. During this stage, the rhinoplasty doctor will consult the prospective patient, take initial photos and ask about his/her cosmetics or medical concerns. Normally, professional plastic surgeons would also show the patient their previous work in terms of the before-and-after effect.

Preparation

Just like any other surgical intervention, rhinoplasty surgery also requires thorough preparation. Preparation is critical for a smooth surgery process and recovery. As part of the rhinoplasty surgery preparation, nose job doctors advise using arnica before the actual surgery. This is a homeopathic herb, which could help to reduce the bruising, swelling and bleeding. Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and caffeine is also encouraged prior to surgery.

Procedure

Rhinoplasty can be performed in two ways: open or closed. The closed approach involves incisions made within the internal nostril region. Internal incisions in the nose are made with the closed approach. On the other hand, the open approach adds an external incision on the undersurface of the columella. The final decision regarding the appropriate approach is based on the specific structural changes needed for the patient.

Risks

Rhinoplasty, just like any other surgery, involves some degree of risk. However, the nose job surgery is considered a safe procedure if compared to other types of surgeries. The main risk associated with rhinoplasty surgery is its unsatisfactory result. That is the main reason why this type of surgery has the highest revision rate among other plastic surgeries performed. The poor outcome means that the final appearance does not meet the expectations of the patient. In some cases, the final outcome might be even worse than before the surgery.

To make it more clear, cosmetics rhinoplasties are under the risk of worsening breathing in a person who had no problems with breathing before the surgery. However, all the risks associated with nose job surgery are much lower than compared with other types of surgeries. Your rhinoplasty doctor will normally explain the potential risks for your personal situation.

Recovery

The recovery time from a nose job surgery generally depends on the type of operation itself. Although, the closed and open approaches typically require a one-to-two week recovery period. In some cases, patients are able to recover within the first five days. Mainly, after five to six days you can remove the splint from your nose with almost no bruising. While the recovery process normally takes a few days, the healing stage could last for one-to-three years depending on the patient. This is due to the fact that the skin needs to shrink. There is also a myth that rhinoplasty involves a high degree of pain but in reality, the majority of people feel little to no pain after the procedure. Even if you experience pain, it can be well managed by prescribed medication.

Cost

It is almost impossible to state the exact price for the rhinoplasty surgery. It highly depends on the patient. The main factors that influence the price are whether it is a closed or open approach, the skill set of a surgeon, the clinic itself and the cost of anesthesia. In general, rhinoplasty surgery’s cost varies from $6,000 dollars to $15,000 dollars.