Overview
Rhinoplasty (RIE-no-plas-tee) is a surgical procedure that alters the shape of the nose. Reasons for getting rhinoplasty include changing the appearance of your nose, improving your breathing or both.
The upper portion of the nose is formed by bone, and the lower portion is cartilage. Rhinoplasty alters bone, cartilage, skin, or all three. Set up consultation with our surgeon about whether rhinoplasty is appropriate for you and what it can achieve.
When planning rhinoplasty, your surgeon will take into account your other facial features, the skin on your nose, and what you would like to change. If you are a candidate for surgery, your surgeon will create a customized plan for you.
Insurance may cover a portion of the total cost of a rhinoplasty or the entire cost.
Why it is done
Rhinoplasty can change your nose in terms of its size, shape, and proportion. This may be done to repair deformities from an injury, to correct a birth defect, or to fix breathing problems.
Risks of Rhinoplasty Surgery
As with any major surgical procedure, the risks of rhinoplasty include:
- An adverse reaction to the anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infection
There are other possible risks specific to rhinoplasty, such as:
- A need for additional surgery
- Pain, discoloration or swelling that may persist
- Scaring
- A hole in the septum (septal perforation)
- Permanent numbness in and around your nose
- The possibility of an uneven-looking nose
- Difficulty breathing through your nose
Talk to your doctor about how these risks could apply to you.
How to prepare for surgery
Before having surgery, you must meet with your surgeon to determine whether the procedure is likely to work well for you.
This meeting generally consists of the following:
- Your medical history. Your doctor’s most important question will be about your motivation for surgery and your goals. Your doctor will also ask you questions about your medical history — including a history of nasal obstruction, surgeries, and what medications you take. Patients with bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, may not be candidates for rhinoplasty.
- A physical exam. Your doctor will conduct a complete physical examination, which may include laboratory tests such as blood tests. He or she will also examine your facial features, your nose, and the inside of your nose.
- A physical exam allows your doctor to determine what changes should be made and how your physical features, including the thickness of your skin and the strength of the cartilage at the end of your nose, affect your results.
- The Physical exams are important to determine whether your breathing will be affected by rhinoplasty.
Photographs. Someone from your doctor’s office will take photos of your nose from different angles. Your surgeon may use computer software to manipulate the photos so you can see what kind of result you can expect. Your doctor will use these photos for before-and-after assessments, reference during surgery and long-term reviews. Most importantly, the photos permit a specific discussion about the goals of surgery. - A discussion of your expectations. You and your doctor should talk about your motivations and expectations. He or she will explain what rhinoplasty can and can’t do for you and what your results might be. It’s normal to feel self-conscious about discussing your appearance, but it is very important to be honest with your surgeon about your desires and goals for surgery.
- If you have a small chin, your surgeon may discuss the possibility of augmenting your chin. This is because a small chin will give the illusion of a larger nose. It is not necessary to have chin surgery in those circumstances, but it may better balance the facial profile.
If you are having outpatient surgery, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home once the surgery has been scheduled.
It is likely that you will experience memory lapses, slowed reaction times, and impaired judgment for the first few days after anesthesia. So ask a family member or friend to come stay with you for a couple days after surgery to help with personal care tasks.
Food and medications
For two weeks before and after surgery, avoid ibuprofen or aspirin (Advil, Motrin IB, others). These medications can increase bleeding. Take only those medications approved or prescribed by your surgeon. Furthermore, avoid over-the-counter supplements and herbal remedies.
If you smoke, you should stop smoking. Take only the medications your doctor has approved or prescribed for you. Smoking can make you more likely to get an infection after surgery and slows the healing process.
What to expect
Rhinoplasty does not have an ordered sequence of steps. Each surgery is unique and customized for the specific anatomy and goals of the person having it.
