What to Know About Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is the aesthetic surgery performed to alter the shape of the nose.
Some people prefer a straight and gentle outward-oriented nose than a hooked or curved nose, and they undergo this procedure to achieve their desired look.
Whether you are curious about the procedure or want to get the facts straight before undergoing it, this guide has you covered.
So in this guide, we will delve into what to know about rhinoplasty—in particular, its purpose and risks as well as what the procedure and recovery entail.
The Purpose of Rhinoplasty
In general, a person undergoes rhinoplasty for cosmetic purposes. But they can also resort to it in order to fix breathing issues or genetic defects.
So what about your nose can be changed by rhinoplasty? These are the following:
- Its size
- Its angle
- To straighten its bridge
- To reduce the nostrils’ size
- To reshape its tip
Note that rhinoplasty can’t be done at a young age unless it needs to be done to correct a breathing problem. The reason is that the nasal bone of kids is not yet fully grown.
Girls’ nasal bones will have grown by the time they’re 15 years of age, whereas those of boys can take little much longer.
The Risks of Rhinoplasty
While rhinoplasty is a generally safe procedure, some risks may come with that if it’s not done well, such as:
- A bleeding nose
- A numb nose
- A crooked nose
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nausea (a side effect of anaesthesia)
- Scars
- Infections
The Procedure of Rhinoplasty
Compared to other surgeries, rhinoplasty is a lot simpler and safer to do. It merely takes between one to two hours—or more for complex nose jobs.
First, it involves the use of local anaesthesia on your nose to numb your face to surgical pain. You may also be hooked up to an IV so your body can get the medicine, but this can make you a bit dizzy.
If the doctor uses general anaesthesia—done mostly for kids—you will receive it through the IV drip line or have to inhale a certain drug. This will make you unconscious so you won’t feel any pain during the operation.
Once your nose is numb or you’ve become unconscious, the doctor will proceed with the surgery. For this, he will make a cut between or inside your nostrils and separate the skin from your nasal bone and cartilage to shape your nose as agreed on.
In some instances, the cartilage isn’t enough to shape your nose, so the doctor will need to take one from your ear or deep within your nose. Otherwise, they will have to perform a bone graft or implant to supplement that.
Recovering from Rhinoplasty
Aftercare is just as important as the surgery itself. If you want your nose to look and feel great, then you have to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and attend the post-surgery sessions.
Now, once the surgery is done, your nose will be held in place by a metal or plastic splint inside. Its function is to keep the new shape of your nose as you recover.
Your nose can bleed or be swollen post-surgery, and so you would have to rest or sleep with pillows to make your head higher than your chest.
You can also feel that your face and/or nose are swollen or painful, or you may have a headache. To deal with them, just drink the medicine prescribed to you by your surgeon.
Due to the medications used, you may experience memory lapses, a slower reaction time, or dizziness. As such, you have to ask a family member or friend to stay with you on the first night of the surgery.
Besides that, avoid sun exposure at all costs, as this can discolour your nose.
Furthermore, don’t do any strenuous exercise, like biking or running, as well as other activities that may disturb the healing area, like smiling or frowning, blowing your nose, and putting a shirt over your head, among other things.
The recovery process should take about one to three weeks whether for an adult or a child. But keep in mind, that some effects can remain for several months, and so, it can take an entire year for you to feel normal again.