Rhinoplasty – What Is Involved?
If you're not happy with how your nose looks or you have trouble with breathing because of its shape, you're not alone. There are lots of other people out there who have these problems and are interested in rhinoplasty. However, there are some things you should learn before you choose this surgery.
Rhinoplasty gives you the ability to change many different thing about your nose, from size and width to the profile, and the position or size of your nostrils. Rhinoplasty can reshape the tip of the most, fix asymmetry or oddly shaped nostrils, and correct breathing difficulties, whether they're inborn or accidental.
Rhinplasty refers to any surgical procedure that reshapes the nose, and is commonly referred to as a nose job. There are a few important things to think about before you choose this kind of procedure.
Before you have any surgery, you'll have to quit smoking, and you'll have to avoid food and drink for six to twelve hours before your surgery. Some medications may have to be discontinued, too. This helps you avoid complications related to the procedure.
You have to tell your surgeon about herbal supplements, vitamins, and drugs you're taking, any health conditions you may have, or your daily activities. Be sure you discuss even the things that don't seem important.
Rhinoplasty is among the top five cosmetic surgery procedures, and has a long history of success. However, you could still suffer from some side effects, from bleeding or infection to nasal obstruction or an undesirable appearance after surgery.
There are two basic types of rhinoplasty - primary and secondary. Primary rhinoplasty is further divided into open and closed surgeries.
Open rhinoplasty is used to majorly reshape the nose, and incisions are made in the strip of skin that's located between the nostrils. The skin is pulled up and off of the structure of the nose, allowing the surgeon to see the nasal anatomy clearly.
Closed rhinoplasty is a more minor procedure, with less severe incisions. Secondary rhinoplasties are done to correct problems from previous surgeries, and may take a long time.
Filler rhinoplasty uses filling agents and cartilage from other parts of the body to get rid of depressions, instead of cutting tissue away.
If you're interested in this kind of surgery, you'll have to talk to your surgeon about your anatomy and expectations. Bring pictures that you like to show the surgeon what you want, and think about having other procedures you want performed at the same time.
The procedure itself is performed on an outpatient basis and can take between fifteen minutes and several hours. It uses local anesthesia with some sedation or general anesthesia.
It takes a while to recover from a rhinoplasty. You may not be able to breathe through your nose for a day or two, and you'll have pain medication as well. Some people are nauseated after their procedure.
Remember that bleeding might occur for a few days, and you'll need a cold compress and elevation for your head. Avoid trauma to your nose, and use decongestants instead of blowing your nose.
February 16 2009 10:22 am | Rhinoplasty