Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty (RIE-no-plas-tee) is surgery that changes the shape of the nose. The reason for rhinoplasty may be to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing or both. The upper part of the structure of the nose is bone. The lower part 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.

Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape or proportions of the nose. It may be done to fix issues from an injury, correct a birth defect or improve some breathing problems.

As with any major surgery, rhinoplasty carries risks such as: Bleeding. Infection. A bad reaction to the anesthesia. Other possible risks specific to rhinoplasty include but are not limited to: Problems breathing through the nose. Permanent numbness in and around the nose. The possibility of an uneven-looking nose. Pain, discoloration or swelling that may last. Scarring. A hole in the wall between the left and right nostrils. This condition is called septal perforation. A need for additional surgery. Change in the sense of smell. Talk to your health care provider about how these risks apply to you.

Before scheduling rhinoplasty, you meet with a surgeon. You talk about things that determine whether the surgery will work well for you. This meeting usually includes: Your medical history. The most important question is about why you want the surgery and your goals. You also answer questions about your medical history. This includes a history of nasal blockages, surgeries and any medicines you take. If you have a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia, you may not be a candidate for rhinoplasty. A physical exam. Your health care provider does a physical examination. Your facial features and the inside and outside of your nose are looked at. The physical exam helps determine what changes need to be made. It also shows how your physical features, such as the thickness of your skin or the strength of the cartilage at the end of your nose, may affect your results. The physical exam is also important for determining how rhinoplasty will affect your breathing. Photographs. Photographs of your nose are taken from different angles. The surgeon may use computer software to change the photos to show you what kinds of results are possible. These photos are used for before-and-after views and reference during surgery. Most importantly, the photos let you have a specific discussion about the goals of surgery. A discussion of your expectations. Talk about your reasons for surgery and what you expect. The surgeon can review with you what rhinoplasty can and can't do for you and what your results might be. It's normal to feel self-conscious talking about your appearance. But it's important that you're open with the surgeon about your desires and goals for surgery. Looking at the overall proportions of the face and profile is important before having rhinoplasty. If you have a small chin, the surgeon may speak with you about surgery to build up your chin. This is because a small chin can create the illusion of a larger nose. It's not required to have chin surgery, but it may better balance your facial profile. Once the surgery is scheduled, find someone to drive you home after the procedure if you're having an outpatient surgery. For the first few days after anesthesia, you may forget things, have a slower reaction time and impaired judgment. Find a family member or friend to stay with you a night or two to help with personal care as you recover from surgery.

Each rhinoplasty is customized for the person's specific anatomy and goals.