Does the look of your nose bother you? How about getting a nose job to have a sleek and perfect looking nose?
The surgery is also known as rhinoplasty.
You may want to correct your nose not only due to its appearance but also its function.
Rhinoplasty surgery is also performed for medical reasons. It can cure your birth defects and disfigurement as well as breathing problems.
Though, there’s no shame in getting it for purely aesthetic reasons. If you are unhappy with the way your nose looks you can certainly get this nose surgery to become confident in your skin.
This article discusses the need and procedure of rhinoplasty surgery. Keep reading to know if you should get one too.
Why Do You Need a Nose Job?
The medical reasons for getting rhinoplasty can be asthma, inflammation or other breathing problems like a deviated septum.
The surgery corrects the nasal structure to align it to prevent the obstruction of the airways that hinder air flows.
Birth defects such as cleft lip will also require a secondary cleft rhinoplasty to reconstruct your nose.
The nose consists of cartilage at the lower part, a bone at the upper and skin covering both. Rhinoplasty can make changes in all three of these.
It can make changes to its proportion, alter the shape of the nose and its size.
The surgery can change the nose symmetry but remember that the face in itself is a little asymmetrical hence, it is hard to achieve a perfectly symmetrical nose.
If you have visible humps and depressions on your nose, then a rhinoplasty can also treat that.
Moreover, it can make changes to large, upturned and wide nostrils to narrow them down.
You can also change the size and width of your nose. The width of the nostrils and bridge change whereas the size changes according to the facial balance.
Your nasal tip can also be hooked, enlarged, bulging, upturned or drooping. However, rhinoplasty can treat it.
Hence, if you have any of these concerns, book your appointment with a plastic surgeon.
Let them know your concerns and how this surgery can help enhance your facial features.
The surgeon will examine your nose structure and facial features to determine if they meet your expectations.
They will also highlight the risks, downtime and the nose job cost.
If you are still willing to go with the procedure then once check with your health insurance if they cover the treatment.
Preparation Before Surgery
In your consultation, your doctor will take your physical exam, medical history and photographs for a nose job before and after comparison.
They will ask about the medicines you take, previous surgeries, medical conditions like hemophilia (which makes you unsuitable for the procedure) and nasal obstruction.
Next, they will also conduct a physical exam to check if certain features of the nose such as the cartilage strength and skin thickness affect the surgery.
They will also carry out blood tests to make sure the procedure goes on smoothly.
Furthermore, they will check your facial features and take before and after photographs to run them through software to give you an idea of how your surgery will look like.
Your consultation with the doctor will help you analyze your situation better. Sometimes your nose looks bigger or smaller because of other facial features.
For instance, your surgeon may recommend augmenting your chin if it is small in size as a small chin makes your nose look bigger.
Furthermore, follow the common protocol. Do not smoke before the procedure, rather quit smoking a few days before the procedure.
It not only slows healing ut may also result in post-surgery infection.
Also, don’t take aspirin or ibuprofen as they increase bleeding. Stop taking these and supplements about 2 weeks before the procedure and continue to stop using them 2 weeks after surgery.
Nose Job Surgery
Step 1
Your surgery will be an outpatient procedure which means that you will require someone to drive you back because of the anesthesia.
In an outpatient setting, your doctor will preferably give you local anesthesia to numb the area concerned.
They numb the treatment area by injecting the numbing medication into the nasal tissues.
Furthermore, you will also get sedated using an IV line. Hence, you will no longer feel pain.
Or they will use general anesthesia to give you a drug using an IV line in your hand’s vein. This will cause you to be unconscious while you will still stay awake using a local anesthetic.
Step 2
They make cuts either inside the nose or an incision between the nostrils right beneath at the base known as open rhinoplasty.
In order to make your features more appealing, they will make changes to the shape of the nasal bone and cartilage.
It depends on the structure of your nose and the amount that should be removed and added.
Smaller changes will require cartilage from ear and deeper in the nose. While large one may take the cartilage from ribs, implants and bones.
Your doctor puts the nose skin and tissue back and stitches it on the bone or cartilage.
If the surgery goes well, you can immediately leave after you gain proper consciousness.
Post-Procedural Care
Immediately after the surgery, take some rest and raise your head so that it is above the chest.
This is crucial as it helps to reduce bleeding and swelling.
Moreover, you may wear a nasal splint and dressings in the first week. This provides protection from bacteria and support.
There will also be swelling and bruising in the eye area which can last up to 2 days.
Do not worry about bleeding and mucus coming from your nose after your doctor removes the dressings. It is normal and to control it they may attach a gauze under your nose.
They will instruct you on how to change the drip pad yourself so that it absorbs drainage. However, never press it tightly against your nose.
Old blood and mucus will drain from your nose but you can reduce this and the swelling over time by taking some precautions.
These are:
- Avoid showering, take a bath instead especially when you have bandages
- Don’t blow your nose
- Be careful while smiling or laughing, keep a stiff expression
- Brush gently so that there is little lip movement
- Skip hardcore exercises and avoid strenous activities like jogging to control the blood flow in your body for at least 6 weeks
- Don’t blow your nose
- Wear comfortable clothing that you don’t have to pull over your head but button or zip in the front.
- Eat a good diet especially rich in fiber to prevent constipation. Constipation can put pressure on the treatment area as you strain.
- Don’t put glasses on your nose, tape them to your forehead to avoid pressure on the nose.
- Use less sodium to let the swelling disappear
- Use a sunscreen for face and nose with an SPF 30 to prevent discoloration
You can go back to your daily routine in a matter of two weeks. However, your swelling may subside by 6 months to 1 year.
Nose Job Results
The nose is the part of the body that keeps changing in your life.
The swelling lasts for about 6 months till a year. You will see the final results once you have completely healed.
Even if there are smaller changes in millimeters, they can make a big difference in the look and structure of your nose.
However, if you are not satisfied with your results then you can go for a second surgery.
These slight changes may not be enough at times. Hence, you can have a follow-up surgery known as revision rhinoplasty, but at least a year after your first one.
Though, make that choice carefully as it is not an easy surgery and there are risks involved.
The nose is a three-dimensional shape lying in the center of the face. Hence, your doctor can only make minute changes carefully.
There is no set pattern or plan for this surgery as your doctor tailors it according to your needs.
Hence, it is beneficial for the doctor and the patient to get it done well on the first try.
It also takes time for the swelling and bleeding to subside and your nose to completely heal to come into proper structure. The recovery time can be for six months.
Though, what are the risks of getting the surgery once or twice? Find them out below!
Surgery Risks
It is normal to get bleeding and swelling. Swelling around the nose can take up to a year to completely stop.
Whereas those around the eyes can last up to 3 weeks. This is, however, normal.
What isn’t normal are the risks of infection and reaction to anesthesia.
There is also a risk of having permanent numbness in the treatment area.
Furthermore, you may face an issue while breathing through your nose and also get a hole in the septum.
Your nose can discolor and remain painful for a long time.
With every plastic surgery and cosmetic procedure like Botox and Fillers, there is a risk of not getting the results you want.
An uneven or distorted nose with scars is a huge risk. Moreover, needing a second surgery also counts as a risk that you do not expect to get.
That said, look for a board certified plastic surgeon and check their results to assure that your surgery goes smoothly.
Summing Up
It is completely fine to consider plastic surgery if you are not happy with the way you look.
Every surgery has its own set of risks and so does this one.
Getting a nose job can help make you feel good about yourself.
If you feel that plunge in self-esteem and confidence with regards to your look then book your appointment with a plastic surgeon soon.
