Nose surgery

Studies show that nose correction is one of the most popular plastic surgeries performed in the world. A nose that is too large, hooked, crooked or humped can take away from your confidence and enjoyment of life. It also affects how a person is perceived by their interlocutors. It is the nose that determines attractiveness, and whether we present ourselves sympathetically and our face has a gentle expression. People who have complexes about their nose often call it their biggest problem. With help comes rhinoplasty, that is nose correction that can give the nose a completely new shape and appearance. 

Indications for the procedure

Nose correction is most often performed because of dissatisfaction with the size or shape of the nose. It is an aesthetic procedure that allows you to feel better in your own skin and fix mother nature’s faults. Most often, surgery is sought by people who feel that their nose is out of proportion to the rest of their face, making them feel unattractive. Often, rhinoplasty is also combined with another nasal procedure performed due to medical indications, such as difficult breathing or the onset of sleep apnea. It can be successfully combined with septoplasty, which is the straightening of a crooked nasal septum, or conchoplasty – an operation on oversized nasal conchae. Nose reconstruction after an accident or injury, a type of surgery that rebuilds damaged tissue to give this part of the body a new, attractive appearance, is also possible.

How to prepare for rhinoplasty?

The most important thing is a consultation where the patient will have the opportunity to discuss their needs with the doctor, determining the best possible plan for surgery. During your visit, your doctor will also order tests needed before surgery, especially if you are going to be fully anesthetized. Medications that contain blood thinners should be discontinued one week before the scheduled procedure. The patient should also refrain from smoking because tobacco constricts blood vessels and can impede wound healing. If you are scheduled for anesthesia, it is also a good idea to arrange for return transportation home. After the procedure, there is a risk of feeling worse or even fainting, so it is not advisable to drive yourself.

Rhinoplasty

Nose correction can be performed using two methods – open or closed. The open method allows wider access to the nasal structures by making an additional cut at the base of the nasal pillar. This allows the nose to be accurately modeled to the desired shape. In the closed method, the cut is made inside the nose. In both cases, the scars become unnoticeable after a few months. Your doctor will decide which method to use. Depending on the severity of the lesions and the area of the nose being operated on, rhinoplasty can take from less than an hour to as much as 3-4 hours. The procedure ends with suturing the cuts made earlier, placing bandages in the nasal passages and immobilizing the nose with a narrow thermoplastic splint, commonly called a cast.

Does nose surgery hurt?

Rhinoplasty is performed under local or general anesthesia. It depends on the extent of surgery and the area operated on. Topical agents completely anesthetize the nasal area, so the patient remains conscious but does not feel any pain. With general anesthesia, the patient is placed in a drug-induced coma so that he or she remains unconscious throughout the nose correction procedure. Pain may occur after the anesthesia stops, but it can be easily controlled with oral pain medications. A bandage placed inside the nose may also cause discomfort.

Rhinoplasty – how long does recovery last?

With local anesthesia, the patient can go home after just a few hours. Complete sedation requires spending the first 24 hours after surgery in the clinic. The next day the nasal pack is removed. Over the next three days, you may notice an increase in swelling, including around the eyes, after which it begins to subside. The sutures and thermoplastic dressing are removed 7-10 days after the procedure. However, a plaster bandage is placed for the next two weeks.

Depending on how quickly your body recovers, the swelling disappears 4-6 weeks after surgery. The first effects of the treatment can be observed after 3-6 months. However, there is still a gradual process of nose remodeling in the body, so you will have to wait up to a year for the final results.

Indications after surgery

During the first few days after nasal surgery, rest is advisable. You should also not wet your nose during this time, so a bath is recommended instead of a shower. For the duration of recovery, the patient should also avoid playing sports where the nose may be injured. Martial arts, boxing or team ball games are especially inadvisable. Light physical activity is indicated after one month. You should absolutely avoid saunas and the sun throughout the recovery period, and if you go outside, protect your nose with a strong UV filter. The sun rays can contribute to discoloration and lead to an unnatural nose color.

How much does nose surgery cost?

The price of a nose correction depends on many factors, so without first consulting with your doctor, it is impossible to determine what the overall cost of a particular surgery will be. For this reason, we invite you to contact MML Medical Center to schedule a medical appointment.

If you want to learn more make an appointment.

Treatment of nasal septum perforation
Rhinoplasty – correction of the appearance of the external nose
Septoplasty – correction of the nasal septum
Conchoplasty – correction of the nasal conchae