rhinoplasty / nose surgery
Thinking of making your nose more proportional to the rest of your face? Rhinoplasty can reshape your nose to improve your appearance and indeed make your nose more proportional to the rest of your face. Incisions can be made to increase or decrease the size of the nasal bridge, reduce the size or width of the nose, decrease the size of the nostrils, or reshape the tip of the nose.

Often times, if you are experiencing breathing problems, these can be corrected at the same time through the rhinoplasty procedure. To have rhinoplasty, plastic surgeons generally recommend a patient wait until the nose is fully developed (done growing). This age varies among individuals but usually falls in the mid-teen range.

before the rhinoplasty surgery
As with any surgery, it is important that you have clear expectations for your surgery and are prepared to discuss these goals with your plastic surgeon. You should also come to the initial consultation prepared to discuss your medical history including pre-existing medical conditions, treatments, and prescriptions. The more your surgeon understands about this information, the more qualified he will be to give you sound advise on the potential for rhinoplasty surgery.
The consultation will include a routine, painless examination of your nasal passages. If the goal of the surgery is to attain more proportion in your facial features, the plastic surgeon may also recommend additional procedures such as a chin implant. Ask your doctor about complimentary procedures.

Prior to the rhinoplasty surgery, the physician should provide a list of guidelines for preparation for your surgery.

the rhinoplasty surgery
Depending on what you decide with your surgeon as the best method to meet your expectations, one of two techniques is generally used to perform the surgery. The two types of rhinoplasty surgery are open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty.
Open rhinoplasty involves a small incision between the nostrils in addition to the incisions inside of the nose. Some surgeons prefer to use this method because it allows them greater access to the nose.

Closed rhinoplasty involves only incisions inside the nose and generally leaves less bruising and swelling. This procedure is usually performed in basic procedures because the surgeon is limited as to his ability to view all areas inside the nose.
Whatever incisions are used to reshape your nose, they will ultimately be very inconspicuous. With either closed or open rhinoplasty, work is done on the cartilage and bone that form the framework of your nose.

The operation normally lasts about 1-2 hours. The surgery will either be performed under local anesthesia with heavy sedation, or under general anesthesia.

after the rhinoplasty surgery
Follow your surgeon's advice on when to begin work, exercises, and normal activities. You can reduce any post-operation risk of complication by closely following your surgeon’s instructions.

There may be some discomfort which can be controlled by medication. Depending on the surgical technique used, a splint is usually applied to the nose to maintain the shape. Most doctors recommend ice packs over your eyes for the first 2 days to minimize swelling. Generally, bruising around the eyes and cheeks is most apparent during the first three days following surgery.

Rhinoplasty is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Make sure to discuss this with your physician

The information presented on this site is intended to be used for informational use only, it is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. If you are planning on having a procedure performed or if there is anything you don't understand about your procedure, please consult a physician.

If you have question about any procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Rosenthal by clicking here or by calling (800)505-3627.