Rhinoplasty or a “nose job” is a surgical procedure to reshape the nose. Performed for aesthetic or structural results, a nose job can involve reshaping the nose tip, removing bumps on the nose bridge, or making the nose larger or smaller.
Most patients choose rhinoplasty because they are not happy with the current shape or size of their nose. Others undergo rhinoplasty to repair a deviated septum, which can cause sleep apnea, or correct structural damage due to a birth defect or injury.
Non-surgical nose jobs are an increasingly popular option. They usually involve the injection of dermal fillers such as Artefill or Radiesse and are less expensive (initially) and less traumatic than surgery. Click here to learn more about non-surgical nose jobs.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, with approximately 800,000 procedures performed worldwide each year. If you are considering undergoing rhinoplasty, ask your surgeon to see nose job before and after photos. Although no two nose job procedures are the same, these photos can help you gauge the potential results of the surgery. Be sure to consider this decision carefully before agreeing to the surgery; just because you don't like the current shape of your nose does not mean you would be happy with a newly reshaped one; there is always the risk that the result will not be to your liking.
Each nose job is unique
Each nose job surgery is unique. Depending on your specific concerns, the surgeon may trim away bone and cartilage or add additional tissue, either donor tissues or a synthetic implant, in order to increase the size of specific areas of the nose. The success of this precise sculpting depends on your plastic surgeon understanding your specific desires prior to performing the surgery. Some rhinoplasty results are subtle, while others are dramatic, depending on the patient's wishes.
The surgery itself takes one to three hours depending on the amount of sculpting required. At the end of the surgery, the nose is supported by splints which help it to adjust to the new shape. After a nose job, patients usually takes about a week away from work and other activities. During this time, you can expect some amount of pain, discomfort, or tenderness. Your nose will be stuffy and bruised, which can extend outwards to give you the appearance of “black eyes.” It usually takes about ten days for this bruising to disappear. The initial results of a nose job become visible as the swelling subsides. However, some settling can be expected for six months to a year after the surgery, with the final results apparent after this time.
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