Rhinoplasty, more commonly known as nose job surgery, is one of the most common performed surgical procedures in the world for both men and women. The procedure allows the patient to have free control of any aspects of their nose, including the bridge to the nostrils, as well as the gap between the nose and upper lip.
In a cosmetic case, a patient may choose to undergo rhinoplasty to address issues such as a bulbous tip, a hooked or crooked nose, a wide or narrow bridge, or asymmetry in the nose. It can also be used to improve the overall proportion of the nose in relation to the other facial features.
Functionally however, a rhinoplasty can be performed to correct breathing problems caused by structural issues in the nose such as a deviated septum.
There are two different forms of rhinoplasty surgery, which are known as a reduction rhinoplasty, and an augmentation rhinoplasty. As the names state, reduction rhinoplasty is a procedure that is used to make the nose smaller. In a reduction rhinoplasty the surgeon will generally make necessary cuts inside the nostrils to reach the bone and cartilage, which will result in minimal scarring. Sometimes however, this will require external cuts across the nostrils to reach the desired goals.
An augmentation rhinoplasty however is the procedure of making the nose larger, which in most cases requires additional bone from another place (usually elbow, rib, skull, or hip), as well as cartilage (from ears) as a graft to give you the shape that you desire. It doesn’t matter which form of rhinoplasty you plan on having, you will be asked questions to assist your surgeon in creating the perfect shape for your nose.
The procedure itself can be performed using 2 different techniques. These techniques are known as the open technique, and the closed technique. In the open technique, an incision is made across the columella (the strip of skin between the nostrils) and the skin is lifted to access the underlying bone and cartilage. In the closed technique, all incisions are made inside the nostrils, and the skin is not lifted. Both rhinoplasty techniques have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of technique will depend on the surgeon’s preference and the specific needs of the patient.
A fact about your nose is that is usually stops growing at age 16, so after this time there will be no more drastic changes to the appearance of the nose, without having damage caused to it, or altering it yourself. This will mean that the nose job will be a permanent alteration to your nose, unless you suffer damage to your nose.
Steps of a rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty does not actually have a set of steps that have to be followed in order. Each rhinoplasty can be unique as the results for each person can be different, so the steps would be individualized.
Your surgeon can change the shape of your bones inside of your nose, or cartilage in many different ways. Depending on what needs to be removed or added, your nose’s shape or size, and available materials. For smaller alterations, the surgeons are able to use cartilage taken from deeper inside your nose, or ear. For bigger alterations, the surgeon can use rib cartilage, implants or bone from other body parts. After these changes are made, the surgeon will re-place the nose’s skin and tissue, then stitch the incisions made to access your nose.
If the wall between the two sides of the nose (septum) is bent or crooked (deviated), the surgeon can also correct it to improve breathing.
After a rhinoplasty, its quite common to have a blocked nose, which will mean that you will have to breathe through your month for around a week. Another side effect could be a stiff or numb nose, as well as nosebleeds for the first few days. Sometimes after a rhinoplasty its also common for your eyes to be sore, or have bruising, which can last up to 3 weeks.
Rhinoplasty can be an expensive choice to some people who cannot afford to pay the full price outright. This is why we allow our clients to apply for finance with us using our free consultation form.
In conclusion, a rhinoplasty is a surgery that allows people to either reshape their nose or completely improve its overall appearance. It can be performed for different reasons, cosmetic or functional, and can be performed using 2 separate techniques, the open and closed technique. If you think a rhinoplasty surgery could be a good option for you then please consider filling out our free customer alteration form here, to see what we will be able to do for you.