What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty or nose job is the process of reconstructing nose in an effort to correct nasal impairments and making it aesthetically improved. Rhinoplasty is frequently used to correct congenital deformities (deformities that are present at the time of birth) and acquired impairments (impairments as a result of accidents or diseases). A maxillofacial surgeon, an otolaryngologist or a plastic surgeon performs Rhinoplasty.
Who is a suitable candidate for Rhinoplasty?
The minimum age to undergo Rhinoplasty is when your bones and soft tissue structures are fully developed. Usually it is around 16 years of age or in late teens. You must keep realistic goals in mind because nose job can only enhance the shape and form of your nose but it cannot give you a new nose.
What can Rhinoplasty do?
Following is the list of possibilities that are often achieved through Rhinoplasty.
- To provide skin coverage and reconstruct nose tip when skin, tip and support cartilage are lost due to excision of cancerous skin.
- Correction of congenital deformities like cleft lip and cleft palate
- Restoration of normal breathing through treating obstructed airways formed due to an over-trimming of soft bones in nose during a previous Rhinoplasty.
- Reconstruction of a saddle nose formed due to excessive use of nasal aerosol, intranasal drug or due to a collapsed nasal framework or autoimmune problems.
- Correction of an enlarge nose tip due to late-stage Rosacea
- Achieving an ideal nose shape by treating very small or wide noses
What is the procedure of Rhinoplasty?
There are two types of procedures namely closed Rhinoplasty and open Rhinoplasty. In closed Rhinoplasty every incision is made within the nose and it involves reduced cutting of nasal tissues as compared to open Rhinoplasty.
Apart from their procedural differences the procedure involves separating the soft tissues from the nasal framework, correcting the bones and tissues, suturing back the incisions and applying a stent.
What should I expect in the recovery process?
The length of the recovery process is dependent upon the type of surgery you have opted for; open or close, however, it may take 12 weeks for your nose to recover from swelling and taking the final shape. A cast is applied to immobilize the treated area. Common complications and risks are swelling, nausea, bruising and prolonged discomfort. A hemorrhage may occur in patients whose noses bleed easily. You may feel depress right after the treatment because no matter how direly you wanted to change your nose shape, every patient feel low on seeing their nose swollen and in a cast.
How I can help my recovery procedure?
Following some advises can speed up your recovery process.
- Do not blow your nose for ten days following surgery as it will affect the healing process.
- Do not rub or hit your nose.
- Do not resume exercise for at least 2 weeks or so.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure for a month.
- Sleep with your head high.
- Avoid multivitamins and other medicines that can cause bleeding.
- Avoid smoking.
Is there any non-surgical Rhinoplasty?
Yes, there are non-surgical Rhinoplasty treatments that use injectable fillers like collagen to make desired changes in nose shape. It uses fillers to lift the tip of the nose, fill in depressions or smoothens the bumps on nose.
What are the limitations of non-surgical Rhinoplasty?
Fillers are not an alternative to surgical Rhinoplasty because they cannot do everything that a nose job does like fillers cannot alter the size of the nose. Although fillers are used to correct some nasal deformities, there are situations where surgery is the only solution.