Rhinoplasty is becoming a more common procedure. Whether due to genetics, aging, or injury, some people simply aren’t happy with the shapes of their noses. So, if you’re considering getting surgery, here are the 8 questions about rhinoplasty that might be crossing your mind.
Question #1. Is rhinoplasty an in-office procedure?
Depending on the rhinoplasty procedure, it can occur in a hospital or in the office. It’s dependent on how invasive the procedure needs to be since safety is paramount to the patient’s health.
2. What surgical technique is recommended?
There are different techniques available, so the one that’s right for you is dependent on what you want or need to be done. It also depends on the specifics of your nose and your goals for the procedure. Usually, a consultation will help you and your doctor to determine together which technique would be right for you.
3. What kind of results can I expect?
The best thing you can do is ask any prospective surgeon to show you pictures of the before and after results of their other patients so that you know what to expect. Keep in mind that your results may vary depending on what you want to do, but on average, photos should provide you with good expectations for your procedure.
4. What Is the recovery process like?
The good news is that rhinoplasty surgery is not extremely painful. There may be some discomfort involved since there might be some swelling afterward, but the pain is usually mild enough to manage with pain medication. Your doctor will likely have you in a nose splint for about a week to ensure that your nose retains its shape from the surgery.
5. More questions about rhinoplasty: Are there any risks?
Aside from bruising and swelling, there are other risks involved with the surgery. These include infection, bleeding, complications from anesthesia, and asymmetries. However, a reputable rhinoplasty surgeon will do their best to minimize these risks.
6. When should I see the final results?
Some people believe that once the swelling goes down, their nose is exactly how it’s supposed to look. However, that’s not the case. It takes about a year for the overall healing period to end since the skin and cartilage of your nose will evolve during this period.
7. What if I’m not satisfied with the results?
It does take about a year, usually, to achieve the final results of the surgery, given all the swelling that has to go away. If a patient is unsatisfied with the results and overall appearance after this time, then revision surgeries are possible.
Final rhinoplasty question #8. When can I resume normal activity?
During the healing period, your surgeon will likely recommend that you do not engage in any strenuous activities. They’ll also probably recommend that you don’t touch your nose at all.
Most surgeons suggest that you don’t do any strenuous activities or anything that may put you at risk of impact to the face until six weeks after your surgery. Always consult your doctor before making these decisions and know what to realistically expect.