Savannah Nose Surgery
Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is one of the most common of all cosmetic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. It may also correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing problems.
If you're considering rhinoplasty, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.
The best candidates for rhinoplastyRhinoplasty can enhance
your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily
change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat
you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully
about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
The
best candidates for a nose job are people who are looking for
improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you're physically
healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations,
you may be a good candidate.
Age may also be a consideration.
Many surgeons prefer not to operate on teenagers until after they've
completed their growth spurt-around 14 or 15 for girls, a bit later for
boys. It's important to consider teenagers' social and emotional
adjustment, too, and to make sure it's what they, and not their
parents, really want.
All surgery carries some uncertainty and riskWhen
rhinoplasty is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications
are infrequent and usually minor. But as with any operation,
there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications
associated with this procedure. Be sure to discuss the risks and any concerns you may have with your surgeon.
Planning your surgeryGood
communication between you and your physician is essential. In your
initial consultation, the surgeon will ask what you'd like your nose to
look like, evaluate the structure of your nose and face, and discuss
the possibilities with you. He or she will also explain the factors
that can influence the procedure and the results. These factors include
the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your
face, the thickness of your skin, your age, and your expectations.
Your
surgeon will also explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will
use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, the
risks and costs involved, and any options you may have. Most insurance
policies don't cover purely cosmetic surgery; however, if the procedure
is performed for reconstructive purposes, to correct a breathing
problem or a marked deformity, the procedure may be covered. Check with
your insurer, and obtain pre-authorization for your surgery.
Be
sure to tell your surgeon if you've had any previous nose surgery or an
injury to your nose, even if it was many years ago. You should also
inform your surgeon if you have any allergies or breathing
difficulties; if you're taking any medications, vitamins, or
recreational drugs; and if you smoke.
Don't hesitate to ask your
doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your
expectations and concerns about the results.
Preparing for your surgeryYour
surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for
surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, taking
or avoiding certain vitamins and medications, and washing your face.
Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more
smoothly.
While you're making preparations, be sure to arrange
for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out
for a few days if needed.
Where your surgery will be performed?Rhinoplasty
may be performed in a surgeon's office-based facility, an outpatient
surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually done on an outpatient
basis, for cost containment and convenience. Complex procedures may
require a short inpatient stay.
Types of anesthesiaRhinoplasty
can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the
extent of the procedure and on what you and your surgeon prefer.
With
local anesthesia, you'll usually be heavily sedated, and your nose and
the surrounding area will be numbed; you'll be relaxed and insensitive
to pain. With general anesthesia, you'll sleep through the operation.
The surgeryReshaping
the nose usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures
may take longer. During surgery the skin of the nose is separated from
its supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted
to the desired shape. The nature of the sculpting will depend on your
problem and your surgeon's preferred technique. Finally, the skin is
re-draped over the new framework.
Many plastic surgeons perform
rhinoplasty from within the nose, making their incision inside the
nostrils, providing access to the cartilage and bone, which can then be
sculpted into shape. Others prefer an "open" procedure, especially in
more complicated cases; in this case, surgeons make a small incision
across the columella, the vertical strip of tissue separating the
nostrils.
When the surgery is complete, a splint will be applied
to help your nose maintain its new shape. Nasal packs or soft plastic
splints also may be placed in your nostrils to stabilize the septum,
the dividing wall between the air passages.
After your surgeryAfter
surgery-particularly during the first twenty-four hours-your face will
feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you may have a dull headache. You
can control any discomfort with the pain medication prescribed by your
surgeon. Plan on staying in bed with your head elevated (except for
going to the bathroom) for the first day.
You'll notice that the
swelling and bruising around your eyes will increase at first, reaching
a peak after two or three days. Applying cold compresses will reduce
this swelling and make you feel a bit better. In any case, you'll feel
a lot better than you look. Most of the swelling and bruising should
disappear within two weeks or so. (Some subtle swelling-unnoticeable to
anyone but you and your surgeon-will remain for several months.)
A
little bleeding is common during the first few days following surgery,
and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. Your
surgeon will probably ask you not to blow your nose for a week or so,
while the tissues heal.
If you have nasal packing, it will be
removed after a few days and you'll feel much more comfortable. By the
end of one or, occasionally, two weeks, all dressings, splints, and
stitches should be removed.
After surgery, the patient has a
smaller nose, a straighter bridge, a well defined nasal tip, and an
improved angle between the nose and upper lip.
Getting back to normalMost
rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days, and able to
return to school or work a week or so following surgery. It will be
several weeks, however, before you're entirely up to speed.
Your
surgeon will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming
your normal activities. They're likely to include these suggestions:
Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, sexual
relations-any activity that increases your blood pressure) for two to
three weeks. Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it
sunburned, for eight weeks. Be gentle when washing your face and hair
or using cosmetics.
You can wear contact lenses as soon as you
feel like it, but glasses are another story. Once the splint is off,
they'll have to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for
another six to seven weeks, until your nose is completely healed.
Your
surgeon will schedule frequent follow-up visits in the months after
surgery, to check on the progress of your healing. If you have any
unusual symptoms between visits, or any questions about what you can
and can't do, don't hesitate to call your doctor.
Your new lookIn
the days following a nose job, when your face is bruised and swollen,
it's easy to forget that you will be looking better. In fact, many
patients feel depressed for a while after cosmetic surgery-it's quite
normal and understandable.
Rest assured that this stage will
pass. Day by day, your nose will begin to look better and your spirits
will improve. Within a week or two, you'll no longer look as if you've
just had surgery.
Still, healing is a slow and gradual process.
Some subtle swelling may be present for months, especially in the tip.
The final results of rhinoplasty may not be apparent for a year or more.
In
the meantime, you might experience some unexpected reactions from
family and friends. They may say they don't see a major difference in
your nose. Or they may act resentful, especially if you've changed
something they view as a family or ethnic trait. If that happens, try
to keep in mind why you decided to have this surgery in the first
place. If you've met your goals, then your surgery is a success.
Costs and financingPlease
contact us for more information about the cost for this procedure. There are several
financing options which may make your surgery affordable.
