What You Need to Know about Rhinoplasty - The decision to have rhinoplasty surgery, like any surgery, is one that does not come lightly. Whether your nose is responsible for breathing difficulties, needs to be fixed after it has been broken, or you inherited a nose you never grew into, rhinoplasty may be the key to getting back your self-confidence and really breathing easy (literally, for some people). As with any surgery, there is a lot to consider before visiting the cosmetic surgeon. This guide will provide the information you need so you can make the right decision for you, your body, and your life.
What is Rhinoplasty? - A rhinoplastry procedure is also called a nose job, and it is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. Cosmetically, it can reduce the size of your nose or reshape the tip for a more aesthetic look. Surgeons can also change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. According to PlasticSurgery.org, rhinoplasty can enhance facial harmony and self-confidence. Besides changing the aesthetics of the face, rhinoplasty can be very helpful to those with health issues emanating from their nose. Surgeons can repair a nose to a proportional size and shape or correct breathing constriction from a broken nose, injury, or birth defect. If you have a health issue like this, talk to you doctor about rhinoplasty. It doesn't necessarily have to change the way you look, but it can certainly change the way you breathe. It is remarkable that such a change in your appearance (or more accurately, your enjoyment of your appearance) or in your health takes only 1 to 2 hours, but this is the usual length of a rhinoplasty procedure. If you have no complicating factors, your surgery should be completed on an outpatient basis. If you require more extensive surgery, such as corrective and aesthetic treatments, your procedure will likely last longer and result in an overnight hospital stay. Choosing Your Rhinoplasty Surgeon - Choosing your surgeon is the single most crucial aspect of rhinoplasty. Not every plastic surgeon is created equal, and with something as visible and as important as your nose, you want a highly qualified doctor. Do the following:
*Make sure that he (or she) is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
*Check www.abms.org to see if your doctor is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
*Check on the surgeon's license and check for disciplinary actions or malpractice judgments.
*Ask if your surgeon's malpractice insurance is current. You're not being rude, just thorough.
*Ask for before and after shots of his patients and/or references.
*Check with FaceForum (http://www.faceforum.com/rhinoplasty/rhinoplasty_doctors.html) for state information links to help with your research.
*Meet with your surgeon and make sure he listens to your concerns and understands what you want. If he doesn't have the time for you, you can take your nose elsewhere. It is critical that your surgeon knows what you want and advises you knowledgeably.
Rhinoplasty Procedure:
Before: What to Expect When You Visit the Surgeon - The initial consultation with your rhinoplasty surgeon is crucial. Here, you will talk about your goals for the surgery and the changes you would like to make. Your doctor should take a thorough, holistic approach, explaining how the changes in your nose will affect the aesthetics of your entire face and if the changes you would like are possible with your particular nose, face, and tissue. Your doctor will examine your nose and face so he can see the cosmetic or functional issues you would like resolved. Another step that both patients and doctors find enormously helpful is computer imaging. With this, your doctor can take a picture of your face and manipulate it on a computer to reflect the planned changes. Patients, in essence, get a sneak peak at their results (though you should be aware that your surgeon can't guarantee that it will be 100 percent the same or exactly as you pictured it). In this YouTube video, you can see how Dallas surgeon, Dr. Spencer Cochran, uses 3D imaging to do this.
The Rhinoplasty Procedure - There are two methods that doctors use to perform rhinoplasties: closed and open. Typically, they will do a closed rhinoplasty, in which the surgeon makes small incisions inside your nostrils. This ensures that there is no visible scar tissue. If your particular situation is more complicated, your doctor may opt to do an open rhinoplasty. In this procedure, he makes an incision across the tissue that separates your nostrils, which is called the columella. This provides him with more room to work, and a good surgeon will suture the columella to ensure no visible scarring. Your procedure will be done under local or general anesthesia depending on your needs. If you're feeling brave, you can see an open rhinoplasty here (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=closed%20rhinoplasty) and a piece on closed rhinoplasty here. You can see anything on YouTube!
After: What Happens Now? - After rhinoplasty surgery, you may want to rip that bandage off and take a look at your new nose. Don't! Your nose is still healing; you will be swollen, a little puffy, and a little stuffy for several weeks. So, if in a month you look in the mirror and hate your nose, just wait. Likely, it is still swollen from the procedure. Give yourself some time to adjust and to allow your nose to heal.
During the first 24 hours, your nose will feel achy and stuffy, similar to a bad head cold. This is absolutely normal. Take a day of bed rest to heal. Surgery of any kind is a trauma to the body, and it needs to recuperate. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication, and cold compresses around (NOT ON) your nose to will soothe the ache. During the first few days, you'll feel stuffy and swollen; you may also have some bloody nasal discharge, which is also normal. If you have gauze packing in your nose, your doctor will remove it in the days following the surgery. Though it's hard, do not blow your nose. This can not only hurt, but disrupt the stitches and wounds.
Bruises will fade in a week or two, and if you have a job that doesn't require strenuous physical activity, you can go back to work after about a week. If you have a strenuous job, plan on 3 to 4 weeks. Remember, while bruising will fade, your nose may still be swollen for several weeks.
Rhinoplasty Cost:
How Much Does Rhinoplasty Cost? - Rhinoplasty is expensive; at the low end, it will cost $3000. At the high end, $12,000. According to SurgeryResearch.info.portal, the average cost is $4500, which should include surgical, anesthetic, and facility costs. You may have to pay for pain medication, and in some cases, you'll have to pay a consultation fee. If the procedure is needed to help resolve medical issues, your health insurance may cover some of the cost. Rhinoplasty for solely cosmetic purposes is not covered by insurance; many doctors will accept monthly payments, however, so inquire about this.
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