A rhinoplasty, also called a nose job, is plastic surgery to change the shape of or repair your nose. The purpose is to either improve your breathing or for cosmetic reasons to improve your self-confidence.
Most nose jobs are performed through nostrils so there are no visible scars left behind. But that depends on the type of procedure and it may require cutting the tissue between your nostrils to do the rhinoplasty.
Why get a rhinoplasty?
There are many reasons why you may want a rhinoplasty, including to:
- Change the size of your nose
- Improve your breathing
- Correct birth defects
- Fix damage after an injury, skin cancer surgery or a medical condition
- Straighten the nose
- Open up blocked nasal passages
- Repair a broken nose
- Alter your overall appearance.
What to discuss at your initial consultation
When you are looking for a rhinoplasty Sydney, the specialist plastic surgeons at Pure Aesthetics are highly experienced. When you attend your initial consultation, keep the following in mind:
- There will be limits to how much your surgeon can change the shape of your nose as it is only possible to work with the existing cartilage and bone.
- The final results can take up to a year once you fully heal.
- If you smoke, then you have a higher risk of complications from the surgery so it is advisable to quit smoking before having a rhinoplasty.
- You cannot have a rhinoplasty until you are an adult when the bones of your face and nose have stopped growing.
- You may need to take up to two weeks off work.
- You cannot claim the cost on Medicare or private insurance if the procedure is cosmetic, however if the rhinoplasty is done for medical reasons, rebates may apply. Ask your specialist plastic surgeon if you are eligible for a rebate.
Rhinoplasty complications
As with all surgery, there is a degree of risk of complications and having a rhinoplasty is no different. Before undergoing surgery, you need to understand all the possible complications even if they are unlikely to occur. Some of the potential complications include:
- Slow healing usually if you are a smoker or have diabetes.
- Infections that need antibiotic treatment.
- Nausea from the anaesthetic.
- Temporary numbness in your top front teeth.
- Difficulty breathing through your nose if the airways are narrowed.
- Darkened skin under your eyes for up to six months.
- An altered sense of smell.
- Ongoing pain.
- An unsatisfactory result or appearance that may need additional surgery.
While this is not a complete list of potential complications, your lifestyle and medical history can determine the likelihood of some complications. Talk to your specialist plastic surgeon to get better insight into your personal situation.
Rhinoplasty procedure
Expect to have your rhinoplasty as an outpatient procedure which means you can go home the same day. But you will need someone to drive you to the clinic or hospital and to pick you up after the procedure.
You will have either a general or local anaesthesia depending on the complexity of the procedure. The surgery can take between one and three hours, and the procedure will involve:
- Your surgeon will use either a closed or open technique:
- Closed technique.In a closed technique, your surgeon makes an incision inside your nose. This allows access to the nasal bones inside your nose after lifting the skin to expose the cartilage and bones underneath.
- Open technique.In an open technique, your surgeon makes an incision at the base of your nose and inside your nostrils to better access the nasal bones and underlying tissue.
- After raising the skin, the surgeon will perform the procedure.
- Once completing the work, the skin is put back into position and stitched in place using small stitches.
Rhinoplasty healing process
When you wake up after the surgery you will experience:
- Some mild to moderate pain
- Bruising and swelling
- Numbness
- The feeling of a blocked nose.
- Dressings along with splints to support the healing of your nose.
After the procedure, you will receive instructions on how to care for yourself at home, such as:
- Medications so make sure you know what they are for and how long you should take them.
- Calling the surgery if there is any unusual symptoms or you have a nose bleed, severe pain or any bleeding.
- Pain management.
- Looking after the wound.
- A date and time for your follow-up appointment.
Here is a rough timeline of what to expect over the next 12 months:
- Week one.There will be some minor bruising and swelling around your eyes but you should be well enough to go about your usual activities. But do not spend too much time out in the full sun, lift anything heavy or put pressure on your face. You will also have a follow-up appointment and it is likely your surgeon will remove the splint and the packing inside your nostrils.
- Week two.Nearly all the swelling and bruising should have gone down.
- Week three and four.You can start doing cardiovascular exercises again.
- Week six.By this time, your nasal bones should be stable so you can start doing more strenuous activities. Just make sure to consult your specialist plastic surgeon before you start doing physical activities that are more demanding.
- Three to six months.All the unusual skin sensations and numbness should be completely gone.
- 12 months.The healing process should be complete after 12 months. There should be no more redness, swelling, pain, bruising or discomfort and you should be able to see the final results of your nose job. If you are experiencing any side effects, consult your specialist plastic surgeon straight away.
When you are looking for a nose job Sydney, contact the Pure Aesthetics to set up a consultation with one of the highly experienced specialist plastic surgeons.
