Blog

A rhinoplasty, often referred to as a nose job, is by far one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the U.S. and has been for the last three years, according to the Plastic Surgery Statistics Report 2020. It’s also one of the most difficult procedures, with revision (or corrective surgery) rates as high as 15 percent.

This USD 6.2 billion market shows no sign of slowing down, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5 percent between 2021 and 2028. All impressive figures. But what is rhinoplasty and how should you prepare for one?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, rhinoplasty “enhances facial harmony and the proportions of your nose.” And the nose, no doubt, is a complex organ, right in the middle of your face. So, any flaw can easily disrupt not only your sense of smell and breathing but the proportions and symmetry of your face.

There are many reasons to get a nose job, separate from looks alone. For example, patients may decide to undergo rhinoplasty for a deviated septum, structural damage, or breathing problems. However, even when fixing non-cosmetic issues with the nose, the surgeon must focus on both the nose’s complex functions and natural shape, “crucially important for patients’ physical and psychological well-being.”

Read on to learn more about rhinoplasty and the recommended preparations you should take before surgery.

Before Your Rhinoplasty

Before your rhinoplasty surgery, the surgeon office will want to meet with you, and potentially run some lab tests and x-rays, depending on your current health and the reason why you want to undergo a rhinoplasty. You’ll also need to provide a list of your medications. 

Your surgeon will also walk you through the steps of your surgery and recovery. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, as most patients leave the hospital or accredited surgery center the same day.      

The Surgery Itself

Now let’s look at the procedure itself.

As with any surgery, you’ll receive general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, whichever is the best choice for you. Next, the incision.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons, explains that rhinoplasty “is performed either using a closed procedure, where incisions are hidden inside the nose, or an open procedure, where an incision is made across the columella, the narrow strip of tissue that separates the nostrils.” 

Through these incisions, the surgeon can reshape your nose’s structure by removing bone or cartilage or by adding cartilage grafts.

After your incisions are closed, the surgeon will set your nose with splints, gauze and/or bandages, giving your nose additional support while you heal in the first few days. 

Let’s look more specifically as to what to expect post-surgery.

After Your Rhinoplasty

Once your nose is set, and you’re home, you may experience soreness and swelling. Because of the swelling, it may be difficult to see you’re improved nose. However, after a few days, as the swelling goes down, you’ll begin to see how your nose will look permanently. If swelling seems to come and go over the course of the first year, no worries—this is normal. 

Be sure to be an active participant in your recovery. Understand how to care for your incisions during healing. Take any medicines as prescribed. Follow up with your surgeon. Know how long you should rest and when you can resume normal activities. More than likely, running a marathon or scuba diving will be out of the question until you’re fully recovered.

 If anything looks out of sorts, call your doctor’s office. 

What If You Need a Revision

What if you’ve already had a rhinoplasty, and it didn’t seem to fix your structural problems, or it doesn’t look like it should. Perhaps it looks “skeletonized,” or artificial. Perhaps it collapsed, giving you additional breathing problems. 

Technically, revision rhinoplasties embrace “the concept of ‘reinforcing noses’ that have been structurally weakened by previous surgeries or require further aesthetic correction. In most cases, a good portion of revision rhinoplasty demands a clear understanding of the functional or breathing problems that are often simultaneously associated with these revision cases.” You may need a revision rhinoplasty when this occurs, meaning you may need additional minor or major procedures. 

And, if you think a regular rhinoplasty is complicated, imagine fixing one. 

To fix a bad nose job, you need to go to a surgeon with expertise in this area, making sure you have a good outcome. Dr. Binder can analyze your nose for your first rhinoplasty, or analyze your botched surgery, taking you through the steps for your revisions—getting you back on path. Contact us today and be ready for your close-up!