5 Myths About Rhinoplasty – Revisited

It’s not uncommon for people to turn to the internet for advice and information regarding cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty. It’s also not uncommon that myths about these procedures circulate on the web, just as they do in person. To make sure you don’t walk into surgery with any misconceptions, we present 5 myths about rhinoplasty – revisited.

Are there really different types of noses? 

Yes! There are different shapes of noses, some more standard and others more exotic. Generally speaking there is a rounded or triangular shape nose, an upturned or down-turned nose and a straight (or convex) nose. It’s important to incorporate your wishes and goals in choosing a nose shape for surgery. After all, you are the one that will wear it.

Does rhinoplasty hurt?

Yes, even though there are places where more pain is experienced than others, everyone who has had rhinoplasty has experienced some level of pain at one point or another. The most painful part of rhinoplasty is the incisions made to the outside and inside of your nose (although usually local anesthetic is used for these incisions – more on this below). It is rare that patients experience discomfort during the first week after surgery. Pain after surgery is dependent upon the procedure that was performed.

Is it possible to have a nose job without incisions?

Yes! Depending upon your goal for rhinoplasty, it is possible to get a result with very little scarring using other procedures such as endoscopic brow-lift. In fact, this technique can also be used in conjunction with making incisions (to the inside and outside of the nose) to create an even more refined result. The main limitation of non-incisional rhinoplasty is that it usually only has one or two degrees of freedom when sculpting the nose (rotation and lift).

Can I really “fix” my crooked nose?

Many times patients come into consultation thinking that a rhinoplasty is going to fix the problem right away. I don’t think anyone can take away from the appropriate time for all-of-the-body surgeries when someone is recovering after being hurt. A rhinoplasty to fix a crooked nose would most likely be more of an elective procedure because it takes so long for tissue and bone to heal after surgery. Sometimes rhinoplasty can be performed quickly after trauma. But, it all really depends upon how crooked the nose is and what procedures are needed to address the problem.

Do I have to be under general anesthesia?

This depends on your procedure and choice of surgeon. For some rhinoplasties, local anesthesia with sedation is used. This allows you to stay awake during surgery so that you can see (and also breathe through) your nose right after surgery. For patients who cannot tolerate general anesthesia (even with sedation), there are other options. Your Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon will let you know if local anesthesia is an option for your surgery.

As you can see, there is a lot of misinformation about rhinoplasty circulating on the web. Before making any life changing decisions, it is important to discuss your concerns with a certified facial plastic surgeon that specializes in nose surgery.

Your surgeon should be able to guide you through all of the steps of a rhinoplasty procedure in an effort to help you make an informed decision that will ensure the best results for your nose.

For more information on rhinoplasty recovery and type of anesthesia used during surgery, visit our blog: http://blog.drhareshmatthews.com/rhinoplasty-and-sedation-options/[/ARTICLE END]

Picture Sources: Images from Freepik, Open Clipart Library, Pixabay and Pexels.com.

A Nose Job (also called a nose reshaping or rhinoplasty) is a surgical procedure to correct an abnormally large or small nose, often perceived as ugly. People who suffer from breathing difficulties because of a large or small nose typically seek out this kind of surgery. Many women also seek out nose jobs to enhance their own attractiveness and to improve their self-image.

It is important to understand that a nose job is a procedure that involves cutting the nose and externally manipulating its shape, so there will be some scarring at the site of incision. However, a good rhinoplasty specialist will hide any scars beneath folds in your nose or within the nostrils.

A potential side effect of this surgery might be a change in your sense of smell after rhinoplasty, as nerves attached to your septum can become surgically severed during the procedure. While you may be able to detect smells after surgery, it is not uncommon for people to find that they have lost some sensitivity.

A nose job can be performed in one of two ways, depending upon the underlying issue. A patient with a large nose that is centered within their face might be a good candidate for a closed rhinoplasty procedure. This kind of rhinoplasty involves cutting incisions inside your nose to realign and reduce the size of your nose. Your surgeon will then use their fingers to mold and shape your nasal bones until the desired size and shape is achieved.

A closed rhinoplasty procedure is sometimes referred to as a closed-approach rhinoplasty, meaning that incisions are hidden within your natural anatomy. Because the incisions are not visible, your nose will heal over time with minimal scarring. However, there are some risks with this type of rhinoplasty, namely that pints which grow around the origin of your nose can distort the shape of it. A revision rhinoplasty is performed if this occurs, which involves making additional incisions at the site where you had a closed rhinoplasty procedure.

A revision rhinoplasty often involves more than one incision to sculpt your new nose to match how you want it to look before suturing up any wounds. Some patients with a crooked nose might be a good candidate for an open rhinoplasty procedure. This type of rhinoplasty involves making one incision below your eye and another across the middle of your nose to reshape and restructure it.

A traditional open rhinoplasty procedure is sometimes called a “four-incision” surgery, because there are actually four cuts made to allow for the reshaping of your nose. However, modern techniques have combined the nasal skin with certain muscles in order to avoid this four-cut approach.

Conclusion

In the end, it is important to realize that there are a lot of different priorities when it comes to choosing a nose job. Some people might seek out a rhinoplasty because their nose is large, and they would rather have a more proportional profile. Others might want to reduce the size of their nose because they hate sitting above their desks in greasy classrooms with broken AC units. Still others might choose a rhinoplasty because they suffer from breathing problems related to an unusually small nose or other underlying issue.

Regardless of your situation, there are plenty of reasons as to why you might consider getting a nose job.