Nose Surgery / Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is performed to increase or reduce the size of your nose, change the overall contour of the tip of your nose, the bridge of your nose and/or narrow the nostrils. It may also be performed to correct birth defects, injury and may even help relieve some types of breathing problems.

Are you a good candidate for Rhinoplasty?

The best candidates for Rhinoplasty are people who are realistic in their expectations, people who are looking for improvement, not perfection and those who are physically healthy and psychologically stable.

Age also plays a part in whether or not you are good candidate. It is best to wait to operate on teenagers until after they’ve completed their growth spurt, usually around 15-16 years old.

A little about the procedure
 Rhinoplasty is performed in an outpatient setting under IV sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours. During the procedure the skin is separated from the bone and cartilage and then reshaped to the desirable look. This can be done as an open procedure, where a small incision is made across the small piece of skin between the nostrils, or within the nose making an incision inside the nostrils. After surgery a small splint/cast is applied to the nose to help keep its new shape. You may also have packing inside your nose to help with this as well.

After the procedure What to Expect
During the first 24 hours you will experience puffiness, a dull headache and your nose may ache. You will also experience swelling and bruising around the eyes and nose. Using ice packs may help with you with the swelling.