Rhinoplasty Surgery
Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a 'nose job' is a type of surgery performed to change the shape of your nose by modifying the bone or cartilage.
Some facts about Rhinoplasty Surgery:
- The purpose of rhinoplasty is to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing or both.
- The bone, cartilage, skin or all three can be changed by a Rhinoplasty Surgery.
- Your other facial features, the skin on your nose and what you would like to change will be considered by your surgeon and a customized plan will be developed for you when planning rhinoplasty.
- The size, shape or proportions of your nose can be modified by Rhinoplasty.
- It can also be done to correct a birth defect, improve some breathing difficulties or repair deformities from an injury.
- Bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to the anesthesia are some off the common risk associated with Rhinoplasty Surgery.
- Difficulty breathing through your nose; permanent numbness in and around your nose; the possibility of an uneven-looking nose; pain, discoloration or swelling that may persist; scarring; a hole in the septum (septal perforation) and a need for additional surgery are some of the possible risks specific to rhinoplasty.
Preparation for Rhinoplasty Surgery:
- You must meet with your surgeon to discuss the important factors that help determine whether the surgery is likely to work well for you or not before scheduling rhinoplasty.
- Questions about your medical history including a history of nasal obstruction, surgeries and any medications you take will be asked by your surgeon in this discussion.
- You may not be a candidate for rhinoplasty if you have a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia.
- A complete physical examination, including any laboratory tests, such as blood tests will be conducted.
- Your facial features as well as the inside and outside of your nose will also be examined.
- The changes need to be made on your nose can be determined by these physical examination. It also helps your doctor determine how your physical features, such as the thickness of your skin or the strength of the cartilage at the end of your nose, may affect your results.
- The impact of rhinoplasty on your breathing can be determined by these physical examination.
- Photographs of your nose from different angles will be taken which can be used by your surgeon on computer software to manipulate the photos to show you what kinds of results are possible.
- These photos are also used for before-and-after assessments, reference during surgery and long-term reviews
- Medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) must be avoided for two weeks before and after surgery as these medications may increase bleeding.
- Herbal remedies and over-the-counter supplements should also be avoided.
- Stop smoking if you smoke as smoking slows the healing process after surgery and may make you more likely to get an infection.
Procedure for Rhinoplasty Surgery:
- Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia is required during Rhinoplasty, depending on how complex your surgery is and what your surgeon prefers.
- Local anesthesia with sedation is usually used in an outpatient setting which is limited to a specific area of your body.
- A pain-numbing medication will be injected into your nasal tissues and you will be sedated with medication injected through an intravenous (IV) line which makes you groggy but not fully asleep.
- General anesthesia can be received by inhaling it or through a small tube (IV line) placed in a vein in your hand, neck or chest which affects your entire body and causes you to be unconscious during surgery. A breathing tube is required for general anesthesia.
- Rhinoplasty can be done inside your nose. A small external cut can also be made at the base of your nose, between your nostrils.
- The bone and cartilage underneath your skin will be adjusted by your surgeon.
- The shape of your nasal bones or cartilage can be changed in several ways, depending on how much needs to be removed or added, the structure of your nose and available materials.
- Cartilage can be taken from deeper inside your nose or from your ear to be used by the surgeon for small changes.
- Cartilage will be taken from your rib, implants or bone from other parts of your body to be used by the surgeon for larger changes.
- The skin of your nose and tissue will be placed back by the surgeon and he/she will stitches the incisions in your nose after these changes are made.
- The deviated septum can also be corrected by the surgeon during the procedure to improve breathing.
- Removing a hump on the nose, straightening the bridge, reshaping the nose's tip, increasing or decreasing the size of the nostrils, correcting the nose after an injury, opening breathing passages and making the nose bigger or smaller are different types of rhinoplasty.
