Find the best surgeon near you with our new surgery professional search.
Join our Facial Plastic Surgery Discussion Forum to begin talking to real patients now!
See pictures of real people before and after a facial plastic surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhinoplasty
2. At what age can rhinoplasty be performed?
3. What does a typical rhinoplasty consultation entail?
4. How is rhinoplasty performed?
5. What should I expect postoperatively?
6. When will the cast be taken off and does this hurt?
7. When will I be able to see the results?
8. What are the risks of rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is surgery of the nose. Also known as nasal refinement or a nose job, it is often performed strictly for cosmetic reasons. With rhinoplasty, defects or asymmetries of the nose either natural or due to trauma can be corrected. A nose can be straightened, shortened, reduced in size, made narrower, have a bump or hump removed or have the nostrils adjusted in size or flare. In many cases, the shape of the nose is changed by fracturing the bones of the nose and resetting them in the desired shape. Rhinoplasty can soften an otherwise beautiful face by refining one's features.
One form of nose surgery is septoplasty, which is usually done strictly to improve the function of the nose, when a deviated or crooked septum makes breathing difficult. In septoplasty, the nasal septum - the vertical wall between the two nostrils - is adjusted. Septoplasty is often combined with rhinoplasty to improve both the looks and function of the nose.
2. At what age can rhinoplasty be performed?
It is usually wise to avoid extensive nasal surgery in children unless it is absolutely necessary because of birth defects or trauma. There are major growth centers in the nose that affect the growth of the whole face and if these are disrupted, the face may not grow properly. In cases of severe disfigurement due to accidents, surgery is performed in an attempt to restore the alignment of those centers. For lesser deformities such as a hump on the nose or an overly large nose, surgery is deferred until after the child stops growing, usually in the late teens. Rhinoplasties performed on teenagers and young adults are often beneficial to the social development and self-confidence of the individual.
3. What does a typical rhinoplasty consultation entail?
At your consultation, your doctor will discuss your goals with you.You will describe how you hope the surgery will change your nose and he or she will explain whether that can be achieved realistically. A good doctor will not just slim your nose, shorten it, or lengthen it, rather he or she will take into account what type of a rhinoplasty your facial features and bone structure would benefit from most. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to this procedure. It is all individual.
4. How is rhinoplasty performed?
Usually, rhinoplasty is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that you go home the same day as your surgery. The surgery can be done in a hospital, in a freestanding surgery center, or in your surgeon's office. The surgeon may use general anesthesia or light sedation, with local anesthesia applied to the nose. Surgery generally lasts about one and a half hours.
A rhinoplasty can be done with an open technique or a closed technique. With an open technique, a small incision is made across between the two nostrils and the skin of the nose is pulled back to expose the cartilage and bone. In a close technique, the incisions are made inside the nostrils. Which technique is chosen may depend on how extensive your surgery will be.
After the surgery is finished, a bandage is applied to the nose and, often, a splint or cast is applied, which will stay on for about a week. You will stay in a recovery area for a few hours after your nose job and then must be driven home by a responsible adult. You absolutely can not drive yourself home after a rhinoplasty.
5. What should I expect postoperatively?
After your surgery your surgeon will have placed a dressing over your nose and a gauze pad underneath your nose to catch blood and mucus, and perhaps a splint or cast to support the new shape of your nose. Your nose will also be packed with gauze. You will remove the pressure dressing after a few hours or as specified by your surgeon. Because you are laying on your back during the surgery, some blood may be swallowed. Some people become sick from ingested blood and vomit, expelling a black mixture of stomach acid and blood. The nausea will pass as soon as the blood is expelled. If you continue to vomit and/or run a high fever, contact your doctor immediately.
You will be bruised and swollen. Many people get two black eyes after a nose job. This is normal.
You nose will be sensitive for approximately a month and a half, although most patients report no serious pain or discomfort. However, patients do report some discomfort due to breathing with the packing and cast on the nose. Some patients feel claustrophobic because of the packing or feel s if they have a bad head cold or sinus infection. Swelling and bruising will subside over the course of the first week.
6. When will the cast be taken off and does this hurt?
Removing the cast may be a bit uncomfortable but not too much. After it is removed, you may feel a slight stiffness in the upper lip as the swelling from your nose moves downward. This will subside in a matter of hours. you must be very careful not to bump your nose after the case comes off because it is vulnerable to breakage. It isn't a bone china figurine, but it still hasn't healed completely yet either. The bones will mend within 2 months.
If your nostrils were narrowed, you will have your sutures removed a few days to a week or so after surgery. This may sting a bit, especially since it is in a sensitive area, although most patients report only minor discomfort.
7. When will I be able to see the results?
The nose will be very sensitive for about a month and a half. As the swelling goes down, you will start to see the results. The swelling starts to generally disappear about a week after the cast is removed. ABout 80% of the swelling and all the bruising are usually gone by 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. 90% of the swelling is gone by three months after surgery and the rest slowly disappears over the next year or more. Although your nose is still slightly swollen even after the first few months, most other people will not notice. You will notice that the nose becomes more refined with better definition over the first year after surgery. The inside of your nose may be swollen for about 3 weeks after the surgery. Nasal breathing may be difficult during this time. If surgery is performed to straighten the nasal septum, an improvement in breathing will be apparent by about 3 weeks.
8. What are the risks of rhinoplasty?
Even when a highly skilled surgeon performs your surgery, sometimes your body may not heal "correctly" or have adverse reactions causing undesired results. If so it is quite possible that additional surgeries may be needed. With all surgeries, there is the risk of infection or problems due to anesthesia.
With rhinoplasty, it is possible to develop tiny red marks and spots as a result of blood vessels that have burst under the skin's surface during the surgery. Although this is extremely rare, it can happen and the spots may not go away. Scarring with rhinoplasty is usually minimal if the incisions are made inside of the nose. However, when an open technique is used, or if narrowing of the nostrils is desired, the scars made on the outside of the nose may be visible for a time.
Some patients will lose their sense of smell temporarily after rhinoplasty. Your nose may be swollen for up to a year. Scar tissue may heal in a way that may cause a whistling sound to be heard when you breathe in and out.
One thing to keep in mind is that rhinoplasty has the highest rate of re-dos. It seems that some people, especially older persons, may not readily accept their new look and just can't seem to comfortably make the transition. Revisions may also be needed for rhinoplasties that just don't heal correctly.
Find out about other procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction and tummy tucks.