Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is the surgical re shaping of the nose to improve it’s appearance and sometimes function.  It is commonly referred to as a “nosejob”. Over 200000 people underwent  rhinoplasty in the USA and Canada in 2013 making it one of the most popular aesthetic surgery procedures.  The overall goal of rhinoplasty is to restore balance to the facial features so the nose fits the face. Most commonly people seek rhinoplasty because their nose is too prominent on their face.  It may have a bump on the bridge or stick out too far, be too wide or perhaps not straight. Sometimes the nose may in fact be augmented to allow it to stand out more.

During the surgery the skin of the nose is lifted from the underlying bone and cartilage and these structures are modified to give the nose a new more attractive shape. This may be  performed all through the nostrils  in a closed approach or with a small incision in the the little piece of skin between the nostrils in an open approach.  The bones and cartilages can be reduced , reshaped  and sometimes augmented.  The nostrils can be narrowed. This is done  usually with sutures and sometimes with cartilage taken from the nasal septum. In some cases it may be necessary to take tissues from other areas of the body to build up the nose.

After surgery most patients can expect some swelling and bruising around the eyes and cheeks and some degree of nasal congestion. Generally all bandages are removed one week after surgery. Most patients are able to return to work and most activities by about 2 weeks following rhinoplasty. It is generally recommended to refrain from contact sports for 4-6 weeks following surgery.

Rhinoplasty like all surgeries has some risks. There is a small risk of significant nose bleed and infection in the immediate period after surgery. Some patients may have more difficulty breathing through their nose and may require further surgery to improve this.  While the vast majority of patients are happy with their outcome some patients may wish to have further surgery to improve it. To ensure the best possible results it’s important to seek out a qualified and experienced Facial Plastic Surgeon.