Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping)

Corrective surgery of the nose is the most difficult and poorly understood procedure in the world of cosmetic surgery. It takes a highly trained specialist to achieve dramatic results when, in reality, the changes are often measured in millimeters. Every nose is different and every face is different. Matching a surgical result to a face that is natural is the key.

When researching your Rhinoplasty options you should choose a doctor who specializes in Rhinoplasty surgery. Preferably you should find a doctor who is Board Certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. Your doctor should be able to communicate to you that there are both surgical and psychological results.

One consequence of Rhinoplasty Surgery is a slight alteration of facial features. Making a nose smaller or more refined can and often will make the lips or eyes appear more prominent. This is actually the desired effect most patients want to achieve.

Healing after a Rhinoplasty can take up to a year but in most cases the main swelling is gone in a few weeks. It is not uncommon for some patients to take a bit of time getting used to their "new look."

About Rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty, or nose job, is a nose surgery procedure to reshape the bone, skin, and cartilage of the nose. This can be done for strictly cosmetic reasons, strictly medical reasons, or some combination of both.

Rhinoplasty can correct a variety of medical and cosmetic problems, including the following:

• A nose that is too large or too small
• Bumps or crookedness of the bridge of the nose
• Too large or too wide nostrils
• Difficulty breathing due to deformity or injury

The rhinoplasty nose surgery procedure presents some unique challenges to cosmetic surgeons, so it is particularly important to locate a skilled, experienced cosmetic surgeon for your rhinoplasty procedure. Any cosmetic procedures to the nose must be carefully planned and executed so as not to interfere with breathing, and any medical procedures should take into account the cosmetic effects of modifications to the nose structure as well. It is very important, regardless of the reasons for the rhinoplasty, to maintain enough tissue in the nose to provide structural support, as a poorly executed nose job can cause weakening and even collapse of the nose.

The rhinoplasty procedure

Each rhinoplasty procedure will differ, depending on the individual patient's needs and goals, and on the facial plastic surgeon's assessment.

Most rhinoplasty nose surgery procedures begin with small incisions to the inside of the nostrils and, in some cases, to the columella, the area between the nostrils.

Depending on your specific procedure, your surgeon may perform any of the following steps:

• Trim the septum-the thin layer that separates the nostrils-to correct the angle of the nose, either for cosmetic reasons, or to correct breathing problems.
• Remove excess skin, cartilage, and/or bone to reduce the size of the nose.
• Add skin, cartilage, and/or bone, or a synthetic material, to increase the size of the nose
• Break and reset the bone to change the shape and positioning of the nose
• Once the surgeon has completed all the elements of the rhinoplasty nose surgery, the incisions are sutured.