Rhinoplasty (Nose Job)

Rhinoplasty or nose surgery, sometimes referred to as “nose reshaping” or a “nose job,” improves the appearance and proportion of your nose, enhancing facial harmony and self-confidence. Surgery of the nose may also correct impaired breathing caused by structural abnormalities in the nose.

Rhinoplasty surgery can change or correct:

• Nose size in relation to the other facial structures
• Nose width at the bridge and base
• Nose profile, with visible humps or depressions on the bridge
• Nasal tip that is large or bulbous, drooping, or too upturned
• Nostrils that are large, wide, or upturned
• Nasal asymmetry and deviation

The majority of people who undergo nose reshaping surgery are unhappy with the appearance of their noses and want to improve the proportions of their facial features. A smaller number are individuals who deal with discomfort or breathing difficulties due to structural abnormalities or previous nose injuries. The best candidates for rhinoplasty are in good general health, understand the risks, and have realistic expectations regarding results. Skin type, ethnicity, and age are additional factors considered before rhinoplasty surgery.

Rhinoplasty is popular among teenagers, but doctors recommend girls wait until age 14 or 15 and boys a few additional years before undergoing nose surgery to give the nose time to finish growing.

What Rhinoplasty Involves

Rhinoplasty is often performed under light general anesthesia and generally takes about two hours to perform. During the procedure, your board-certified Kelsey-Seybold plastic surgeon will remove, modify, or add tissue or synthetic material, depending on the patient’s goals. Surgery can be performed as an open or closed procedure. Open rhinoplasty consists of lifting the skin off the nasal structure to expose deeper layers of tissue. Closed rhinoplasty involves incisions hidden within the nostrils, resulting in no visible scarring and decreased recovery time.

Once surgery is completed, a plastic splint is placed on the outside of the nose, and soft packing is placed in the nostrils, which generally can be removed within three to five days followed by removal of the splint about a week post-surgery. Typically, patients can return to work within two weeks of surgery, provided strenuous exercise is avoided, and glasses or sunglasses can’t be worn for at least four weeks post-surgery.

Expect swelling, which can take up to two years to be completely resolved. The final results of rhinoplasty can take up to a full year to be achieved.

Among the risks of rhinoplasty are infection, numbness, chronic nosebleeds, a perforated septum, and difficulty breathing. To minimize these risks, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing nose jobs.

Types of Rhinoplasty

There are several types of rhinoplasty, including:

• Reduction rhinoplasty, which can give a patient a nose that is more proportionate to other facial features.
• Augmentation rhinoplasty, during which the surgeon performs bone or tissue grafting to build up the nasal tip and bridge, in most cases using cartilage from other parts of the nose.
• Reconstructive rhinoplasty, during which the surgeon rebuilds the nose following an accident, skin cancer, or other serious illness.

Many patients have additional treatments along with their nose surgery to help maintain the balance of the face. These can include:

• Chin augmentation or reduction surgery
• Cheek augmentation
• Facelift
• Brow lift
• Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery

Additional information is available from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.