Rhinoplasty or commonly known as a nose job is one among the most popular cosmetic surgeries in india and in the world today. Majority of people undergo rhinoplasty surgery to reshape their nose to suit the face. Some people do rhinoplasty to treat their birth defect, or abnormality caused due to trauma or accident. For plastic surgeons or doctors performing it, the goal is to change the appearance of the nose suitable to the patient’s face while giving it a natural look.
According to the latest survey conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) on aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, approximately 9,54,423 rhinoplasty operations were performed throughout the world in top ten countries performing rhinoplasty. Nose surgeries represented 8.2 percent of the total 1,15,99,336 surgical procedures recorded. Of the total rhinoplasty procedures reported by the ISAPS, 72.1% were performed on females, and 27.9% were performed on males.
There are plenty of popular people or celebrities who have got a nose job done. While some celebrities like to tell the truth, others rather not confess having performed a rhinoplasty. A few of the well-known or rumoured names are Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Moss, Bipasha Basu, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra, and Katrina Kaif.
So, let’s take a look at
A Complete Guide To Rhinoplasty
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- What is Rhinoplasty?
- What can rhinoplasty treat ?
- How long does it take to recover from rhinoplasty?
- What are the precautions after rhinoplasty surgery ?
- Is Rhinoplasty permanent?
- Can I wear makeup after rhinoplasty?
- Does Rhinoplasty leave scars?
- Risks associated with the procedure.
What Is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty or nose job surgery is a procedure that sculpts the appearance, size or shape of the nose either for cosmetic purposes or to treat other defects.
There are various reasons why people go for the nose job or rhinoplasty – either for aesthetic purposes, to treat any abnormality or reshaping of the nose. Here is a list of benefits that people seek out of the treatment.
- Personality – The most common reason for rhinoplasty is to boost one’s confidence by improving the appearance.
- Breathing issues – People seek rhinoplasty to treat breathing issues caused due to a birth defect or other reasons.
- To treat abnormality – It helps treat abnormalities due to accident or trauma.
- Sinus treatment – Sinus troubles such as breathing issues, headaches and congestion in the nose can be treated using rhinoplasty.
- Snoring can also be reduced to a great extent using the procedure.
- Revision rhinoplasty can help correct any untreated issues or complications that have come out of previous surgeries.
- Face appearance – the surgery helps reshape the nose, fix minor issues or crooked nose and restore the face symmetry.
What All Does The Procedure Treat?
Rhinoplasty is a very individualized procedure that is completely based on your requirement and objective of undergoing the procedure. Therefore, the first step is consultation with a cosmetologist or surgeon.
The surgeon from the clinic will hear out your troubles and help you figure out the right kind of treatment to reshape or correct your nose shape and appearance.
Here are various conditions that can be treated via rhinoplasty:
- Nose size – Whether you have a short or a long nose with respect to your face structure.
- Nose shape - Similarly, nose job can help you correct a small, large, flat or wide shaped nose.
- Rhinoplasty can help reshape the nose by working on the structure of the bridge and/or nostrils of your nose.
- Whether you have a hump or narrow nose.
- Many people also choose to undergo the surgery for their nose-tip correction – whether it is enlarged or unturned.
- It can work on the overall nasal asymmetry and give your face a more balanced look.
- Commonly, the rhinoplasty also focuses on correcting the deviated nasal septum.
- Other conditions that can be treated include unequal nostrils or columella correction.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Rhinoplasty?
“Most people are able to return to their daily routine in not more than 5 days”~Dr.B.K.Garg
We will be honest to let you know that the rhinoplasty can take a long time for complete recovery. This is in part due to the nose itself – it takes a considerable amount of time to heal and for the swelling to completely subside.
While the entire process may take anywhere from 6 to 12 months, most people are able to return to their daily routine in not more than 5 days after the surgery. The exact length of recovery depends on an individual nose anatomy and response to the treatment.
During the first week after the surgery, some bruising and swelling may continue, and you may be asked to wear a splint to protect the nose. Once the bruising and swelling starts to subside after a week, the surgeon will remove the splint, sutures and clean the nose. The surgeon will also perform dressing on the nose to check for the healing and to keep the area clean.
While the recovery process may seem long, consulting with your surgeon on a regular basis will help you have the right expectations and take informed decisions to manage the swelling and pain.
What Are The Precautions After The Rhinoplasty Surgery?
Since rhinoplasty is an intensive procedure, it is best to follow the guidelines and take advice from your surgeon for a faster and less painful recovery.
Here are a few precautions one can take after the surgery:
- To help minimize swelling, sleep on your back during initial weeks post surgery and keep your head in an elevated position during sleep.
- Keep the surgical site clean and dry.
- Follow and take all the medication advised by the doctor for the smooth recovery process.
- Avoid blowing the nose.
- Either use contact lenses or tape glasses to your forehead. Refrain from resting them on the nose to avoid pressure on the treated area.
- Avoid strenuous activities such as running or workout during the recovery process.
- Until recovery, wear comfortable clothes that do not come in the way of your nose such as buttoned or zipped clothes.
- Use a moisturizer or a good sunscreen to prevent discoloration of the nose skin.
- Report any complications such as bleeding or irritation to your surgeon.
Is Rhinoplasty Permanent?
“Rhinoplasty procedure are permanent therefore it’s important to choose the right plastic surgeon so that you get the desired sculpt”~Dr.B.K.Garg
Rhinoplasty is either performed by an open or closed kind of surgery. In both types, incisions are made into the nose. The type of procedure performed depends on the requirement for the kind of structural modification required to your nose and the gravity of the situation.
In rare cases, one has to go for a revision rhinoplasty in case the previous rhinoplasty was not performed correctly or if there is a requirement for further reshaping of the nose. But in most cases, one surgery is enough.
And since, it is a long, intensive procedure, it is, therefore, important to choose your surgeon carefully. You can consider a few of the following points while deciding on your surgeon for the nose job.
- Ensure that the surgeon and the facility have a valid medical license and certification to perform cosmetic surgeries.
- Usually, surgeons have a speciality in a particular field of study or surgery. Check if your surgeon has enough skill and expertise in cosmetic procedures and that too, specifically in rhinoplasty.
- Look for endorsements or testimonials for the surgeon either through word-of-mouth or on the internet to check the credibility of surgeon from patients’ perspective.
- Finally, consult the surgeon in person and understand more about their experience in the field of rhinoplasty, past operations, post-surgery support and technology available at the clinic or hospital.
You can expect a few changes/complications post your surgery such as,
- Adverse reaction to anaesthesia
- Numbness around the nose
- Swelling and pain
- Scarring
- Difficulty in breathing
- Uneven looking nose
- Nose bleeding
Don’t worry. You don’t have to wait for long to wear makeup after the nose job. Makeup can be worn in a week or two post the surgery as long as it is not applied directly over the incisions.
If there’s a nasal splint, avoid putting on the makeup for at least a week since the nasal spilt needs to be kept dry and clean. Once the cast comes off after a week, one can start wearing the light makeup. However, tanning should be avoided prior to the nose job and at least 4 weeks after the surgery. Otherwise, the tanning can cause pigmentation problems and lead to inflammation in the skin.
Carefully applied makeup such as sunscreen and beauty creams can help you cover bruising, swelling and incision lines. Concealers can help you reduce signs of the surgery such as scarring or pigmentation. Sunscreen can help prevent discolouration of the skin.
Rhinoplasty, as discussed is performed by either by open or closed type.
In case of open rhinoplasty, an external incision is also required that separates the columella (nostrils). This could sometimes lead to a scar. Post the external incision, the surgeon lifts the layers of skin and cartilage to expose the anatomy of the nose. This allows the surgeon to make major changes or reshaping of the nose. It is possible for this type of surgery to leave a tiny cut or a scar on the treated skin.
In closed rhinoplasty, only internal incisions are made. The surgeon then reshapes the nose by making minor changes. This doesn’t carry any risks of scars or cuts.
Overall, in either type of surgery, incisions made are strategically, are small and placed in a way to avoid any major scars or damage to the skin. Consult and choose an experienced surgeon who has the necessary skills and technology to give you optimum results from the job.
“Risks associated with the procedure are similar to any surgical procedure,If performed under trained hands the procedure can give great results”~Dr.B.K.Garg
Before undergoing rhinoplasty, ensure that you are the right candidate for the procedure based on following points.
On the day of rhinoplasty, the doctor will start with the preparation of surgery. This will include following,
Medical evaluation or few lab tests to check if you are fit for the surgery.
The clinic staff will take a few photos of your nose to allow for computer images to demonstrate pre and post-surgery comparison.
Local anaesthesia will be given before the procedure. In a few cases, general anaesthesia is used. Therefore, normally you would not feel any pain while the procedure is performed. Post the surgery, there can be some level of pain or discomfort for a few days. But for most people this pain is only minor and easily manageable. One can also consult with the clinic to recommend pain relieving medications that can be taken post the treatment.
Similar to any other surgical procedure, there are also a few risks involved with rhinoplasty. These include bleeding, infection, minor cuts and scars. Minor swelling and stuffiness of the nose is common for at least a few weeks after the surgery. You can check with the surgeon prior to the procedure to manage these risks better.
In case you are not satisfied with the results, consult your surgeon as soon as possible. This will help you understand more about your condition or concern and consider any possible remedy for the same. In rare cases, one has to go for an additional procedure (revision rhinoplasty) to treat any major complications.
