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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.
Getting back to
normal:
In most cases Rhinoplasty patients are up
and about in two days. You may return to
work or school in one week. Avoid hitting or
rubbing your nose. You need to also be very
gentle when washing your face and applying
make-up. You will also be instructed to
avoid strenuous activities and any activity
that may increase your BP. It will take at
least 6-8 weeks to be completely healed. The
final result may not be noticeable for up to
1 year.
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