A nose job, also known as rhinoplasty in medical terms, is a surgery aimed at changing the shape of the nose. It can be performed for aesthetic purposes or due to health issues such as difficulty breathing.
The upper portion of the nose is made up of bone, and the lower part is made of cartilage. A nose job can alter the bone, cartilage and skin. Before considering cosmetic nose surgery, please discuss with your doctor thoroughly whether it suits you. The doctor would make a plan as per your case.
Types of rhinoplasty
Nose operations are done for the following reasons:
- Removal of a hump from the nose
- Straighten the nose bridge
- Defining the nose tip
- Altering the size of nostrils
- Correcting the nose after an accident
- Increasing the size of the breathing passage
- Increasing or decreasing the size of the nose
A nose job is also performed to change the shape of the nose for medical reasons. For instance, anyone with a problem with the cartilage separating the two nostrils can undergo rhinoplasty. In addition, cosmetic nose surgery is done by choice to enhance one’s features.
Anyone below the age of 18 should not undergo cosmetic nose surgery as the nose has not grown yet fully. In girls, the maturity time is 15-16 years, and in boys, it is 18 years.
Rhinoplasty in detail
Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient does not have to stay overnight. Instead, the doctor uses local or general anaesthesia. If general anaesthesia is used, the patient is asleep throughout the procedure. In the case of local anaesthesia, the nose is just insensitive to pain for some hours while the process is carried out.
Deciding about rhinoplasty
While considering rhinoplasty, it is essential to look for a surgeon who is an experienced plastic surgeon and has performed several nose surgeries. In addition, you can check that the surgeon is certified by the Indian board of plastic surgeons.
It is advisable to undergo rhinoplasty in an accredited hospital or facility. Then, in case of any serious complication, the doctor would be able to work with the temp of a well-trained doctor who would handle the situation better.
In the consultation session, talk about your goals and expectations from the surgery to your doctor. The doctor would also help youtube understand the details and extent to which the surgery would help give the desired nose.
Although there is no such ideal and perfect nose, the surgery can help enhance the structure’s existing features and beauty. The surgeon would assess your physical features and change or improve them accordingly.
The surgeon would examine the structure of your nose and other facial features. After that, they would be able to give you a real-time result on the extent of your expectations.
The surgeon would also ask about your overall health condition and the presence of any chronic diseases such as heart issues, diabetes etc. They would also enquire about your ongoing medications. All the associated risks, the surgery’s recovery time, and the cost required.
There are different kinds of procedures available to get a more defined nose. Once you have decided on the method to go forward with, the doctor will explain every step of the surgery in detail.
If you have any health insurance plans, talk to the insurer to check to what extent they would cover the surgery cost. It is necessary as health insurance is not bound to pay for cosmetic procedures.
Recovery time of rhinoplasty
After a nose operation, it is required to wear the nose splint in the first week. In addition, it is necessary to maintain your head in an elevated position for at least 24 hours after the surgery. It is common to see some bruising and swelling in the surrounding area, which would improve by the third day. The condition would gradually become normal down by 2 weeks.
During the recovery time of rhinoplasty, it is common to notice a slight swelling in the nose for up to 6 months. The final result of the surgery would be visible after it has completely healed.
It is essential to avoid any high-intensity activity for 3 to 6 weeks during the rhinoplasty recovery time. You can resume normal activities after 2 to 4 weeks without any visible signs of the surgery.
What are the risks associated with rhinoplasty?
Any surgery has some extent of risk associated with it. Bleeding, infection and allergic reaction to anaesthesia are some of the common ones.
Here are some of the risks due to rhinoplasty:
- Nose bleeding
- Lack of sensation
- Inflammation
- Permanent nerve damage
- Scarring in the basal areas of the nose
- Need for further surgeries for correction.
- Rupturing of small blood vessels
If you experience any abnormalities after the surgery, immediately seek medical help. You can get effective treatment from some of the best doctors at ALCS Clinic.
