Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a nose job, can smooth a bump, make nostrils  more symmetrical, and otherwise reshape your nose to be better proportioned to the rest of your face.

Healthy adults or older teenagers whose facial structure has finished growing.

Most obvious swelling will subside within two to three weeks, but mild swelling may come and go for the first year following surgery. Most patients are very pleased with their new profile as soon as the splint is removed, but it can take up to 12 months for the tip cartilage swelling to disappear and the permanent shape to settle.

This is an outpatient surgery, performed under general anesthesia. In an open rhinoplasty, an incision will be made across the underside of the tissue that separates  your nostrils. The skin and cartilage will be lifted, and your surgeon will expertly reshape your nose. In a closed rhinoplasty, the surgeon enters and reshapes your nose through your nostrils. Depending on your particular anatomy and desired outcome, cartilage may be removed or grafted from one part of your nose to another, or rarely, from your ear. You will be swollen for a week or two, but you shouldn’t have much pain. You’ll need about a week off of regular activities. If you have a deviated septum, your surgeon will straighten it, in a process called a septoplasty. This repairs the structural function of the nose and corrects breathing problems.

All surgeries carry risks for medical complications, which your surgeon will discuss with you. Don’t take aspirin, Advil, fish oil, or other blood thinners for two weeks leading up to surgery, to avoid bleeding and excessive bruising.