What Rhinoplasty Treats & What to Expect

Everything You Need to Know About Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is one of the most technically nuanced procedures in cosmetic surgery, which makes choosing an experienced, skilled physician especially important. Here's a closer look at what the procedure can address, how it works, and what recovery involves.

What Can Rhinoplasty Correct?

Rhinoplasty can address a wide range of concerns, both cosmetic and functional. The most common reasons patients pursue the procedure include:

• Reducing the overall size of the nose, so it's better proportioned to the rest of the face
• Removing a dorsal hump, the bump along the bridge of the nose that can make a profile look prominent or angular
• Refining the nasal tip, whether it's bulbous, drooping, upturned, or asymmetrical
• Improving the nasal angle, which is the relationship between the base of the nose and the upper lip
• Correcting asymmetry, including a nose that appears crooked or off-center
• Narrowing the nostrils, for patients whose nasal base feels too wide
• Addressing breathing difficulties caused by a deviated septum or structural irregularities within the nose

Rhinoplasty can be performed on men and women of a wide range of ages. For younger patients, it's generally recommended to wait until the nose has finished growing, which typically happens in the mid to late teenage years. Your physician will help determine whether the timing is right during your consultation.

Preparing for Rhinoplasty

Before your surgery, you'll have an in-depth consultation with your physician to discuss what you'd like to change and what's realistically achievable. Dr. Will and Dr. Will use digital photographs and computer imaging as part of the planning process, which allows you to visualize potential outcomes and helps your physician understand your aesthetic goals with greater precision.

In the weeks before surgery, you'll receive pre-operative instructions that typically include avoiding medications containing aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs, as these can increase the risk of bleeding. You may also be prescribed antibiotics to take before the procedure as a preventive measure.

How the Procedure Works

Rhinoplasty at Will Surgical Arts is performed under general anesthesia. The procedure is outpatient, meaning you'll go home the same day.

The specific techniques used depend entirely on what needs to be changed. For procedures involving size reduction or the removal of a dorsal hump, the skin of the nose is gently separated from the underlying bone and cartilage. The bone and cartilage are then carefully reshaped, and the skin is re-draped over the new structure. For tip refinements or nostril adjustments, the approach is more targeted and involves reshaping the cartilage directly.

Incisions can be made either entirely inside the nostrils (a closed approach, which leaves no visible external scarring) or with a small incision across the narrow strip of tissue between the nostrils (an open approach, which allows for greater visibility and precision for more complex cases). Your physician will determine which approach is appropriate for your goals and anatomy.

Some patients also choose to combine rhinoplasty with chin augmentation, since the relationship between the nose and chin plays a significant role in overall facial balance. If this is something you're interested in, it's worth discussing during your consultation.

Rhinoplasty Recovery

Rhinoplasty recovery is very manageable, and most patients find it much more comfortable than they expected. Here's what you can generally anticipate:

• Immediately after surgery, a lightweight splint is applied to help maintain the new shape of the nose while it heals. This splint is typically removed within about a week.
• If work was done on the nasal septum, nasal packs may be placed inside the nostrils at the time of surgery to protect the area. These are usually removed within a few days.
• Some stuffiness is normal, especially in the first week or two, and is most noticeable when septal work has been performed.
• Bruising around the eyes is common and typically begins to fade within a few days, usually clearing up within two weeks.
• Pain is generally mild and well-managed with prescribed medication.
• Most patients are able to resume normal daily activities and return to work within one to two weeks.
• Strenuous exercise and contact sports should be avoided for a longer period, and you'll want to be careful to protect your nose from any bumps or impacts during the early weeks of healing.
• While you'll notice a significant difference relatively quickly, some swelling can persist for several months, and the nose can continue to refine subtly for up to a year after surgery.