Rhinoplasty is a surgery that changes the shape of the nose.
The motivation for rhinoplasty may be to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing or both.
The upper portion of the structure of the nose is bone, and the lower portion is cartilage. Rhinoplasty can change bone, cartilage, skin or all three.
Talk with your surgeon about whether rhinoplasty is appropriate for you and what it can achieve.
Here are a few things you need to know about rhinoplasty:
1. It can take about a year for your nose to heal fully.
Depending on the extent of your rhinoplasty, you may be able to see the most noticeable aspects of your results immediately after your splint and bandaging is removed.
But your nose will be slightly swollen for a few weeks after your surgery and can take almost a year to fully return to normal.
Over this time, your scars will slowly diminish, residual swelling or irritation will subside and your skin texture and tone will return to normal.
For patients with naturally thicker skin, it can take up to two years for your result to be fully realized. However, most of your visible healing should be done within the first three to six months.
Changes after the six-month mark are typically subtle, and since you likely look at your face every day, you won’t notice any significant changes on a daily basis.
It is best to review before and after pictures of your nose several months after the procedure. This will give you a more realistic look at the long-term changes achieved with the procedure.
2. Not Everyone is an Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for a nose job is one who is unhappy with the appearance of their nose or has difficulty breathing.
However, you must be willing to be flexible and have realistic expectations.
In order to heal properly, you must be in good overall health and it is recommended that you quit smoking, or at least stop until you are fully healed.
3. If It’s Done Right, No One Will Be Able to Tell
If your nose job is done right, it will enhance your natural beauty.
A good nose job only involves minor alterations that allow your nose to blend in with the rest of your face. People will notice your beautiful appearance, rather than zeroing in on your nose.
4. Internal splints or nasal packing can dry out your mouth.
For about a week following your surgery, you will have splints or bandaging to help your nose heal correctly. Depending on your surgeon and your procedure, this may include splints inside your nose.
The newer splints are designed to allow you to breathe through them, improving your post-rhinoplasty experience. However, you may feel more comfortable mouth breathing.
Therefore, it is recommended that you stock up on lip moisturizers, hydrating beverages, and foods that require minimal chewing to help ease your discomfort during this time.
Rodgers Center for Plastic Surgery offers a number of options for facial plastic surgery, including rhinoplasties and treatments for nasal obstruction. Contact us for more information.
