Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure intended to improve the shape of the nose. People consider rhinoplasty for two main reasons: first to improve the appearance of the nose and second to improve breathing, or even both in some cases.

Before we understand rhinoplasty, it is important to understand the structure of the nose. Nose is a pyramidal structure comprising of two portions externally – the upper one-third made up of bone, and the lower two-thirds made up of   cartilage. The pyramid is supported in the middle by the septum that runs from between the nostrils all the way up to the apex.

Rhinoplasty is useful in reshaping some or all parts of the nose bone, cartilage and occasionally the skin covering. If the septum.is deviated that can be corrected with Septoplasty to improve breathing.

When Rhinoplasty is Considered

Rhinoplasty is an effective surgical procedure to alter the shape, size, and/or proportions of your nose. At the same time, it may be considered to repair birth deformities or correct aftermaths of an injury or improve some breathing difficulties.

Things to Consider Before getting a Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a highly skilled procedure that needs to be done by an experienced surgeon.  It is important to find the right surgeon and discuss your desires as well as your concerns.

Some of the things to consider are as follows:

Your age and medical history

Medical history is an important factor that should be discussed with your surgeon both regarding your nasal symptoms as well as general medical history. He may ask you questions like if you have a history of nasal obstruction, snoring, congestion etc.  History of prior surgeries, current medications, allergies and History of smoking are all important factors to be considered. He would also be concerned if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood thinners for any reason. He may ask you stop all blood thinners for several days before the procedure to prevent excessive bleeding.

A Physical Examination

Decision about your rhinoplasty will not be finalized before a thorough physical examination, and sometimes imaging studies like CT scans. Also, in additional to your facial features and outside of the nose and the inside is   examined and sometimes a scope is used to look deeper.  Before the procedure, preoperative testing will involve blood tests, chest X Ray, ECG and a test for Covid.

The physical examination is an important criterion to help doctor determine the changes that need to be made. Also, it is important to assess how your facial features such as the strength of the cartilage at the end of your nose or the thickness of your skin may affect your results. Since, rhinoplasty changes the structure if your nose, it is critical to assure it is not going to adversely affect your breathing.

Photographs

Before the surgery, you doctor will get photographs of your nose from different angles. This may include 3D pictures to better plan the procedure. Computer software may also be used to develop a virtual image of your after-surgery face, which is an approximation and no one can guarantee the exact results. At the time of your consultation, it is important to discuss what you are looking for in terms of desired results to ensure that your surgeon and you are on the same page regarding the expectations from the surgery.

 Post-Surgery Precautions

It is common to experience drainage of secretions and slight bleeding for a few days post-surgery or after dressing is removed. Generally, a "drip pad", comprising a small piece of gauze held by tape, is placed under your nose to contain drainage. As directed the doctor, you need to change the gauze at regular intervals.

Here are some other precautions you will have to follow for several weeks following the surgery.

Not blow your nose.

Avoiding intense activities like jogging aerobics.

With bandages on your nose, avoid getting your face wet during showers.

Consume high-fiber foods, including vegetables and fruits and vegetables to avoid constipation.

Avoid extreme facial expressions, like laughter or crying. Normal facial expressions are fine.

ABOUT DR. AJAYA KASHYAP

Dr. Kashyap is Triple American Board Certified, in Plastic Surgery, Surgery and Anti Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He has trained extensively in USA in UCLA (California), Guthrie Clinics, University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), UMASS (Massachusetts) and Lenox Hill hospital (New York) in Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery. He practiced for nearly sixteen years in the US until moving back to India in 2005. He was on the faculty as an Assistant Professor at UMASS Medical center and Medical school. He has headed many research projects and written over thirty research papers and won several awards for research and teaching. He was the only Plastic Surgeon to feature in Sony TV's internationally telecast series on Extreme makeover "Naya Roop Nayi Zindagi".

“Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed today” ~ Dr.B.K.Garg

Rhinoplasty or commonly known as a nose job is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in India and in the world today. The majority of people undergo rhinoplasty surgery to reshape their nose to suit the face. Some people do rhinoplasty to treat their birth defect, or abnormality caused due to trauma or accident. For plastic surgeons or doctors performing it, the goal is to change the appearance of the nose suitable to the patient’s face while giving it a natural look. According to the latest survey conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) on aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, approximately 9,54,423 rhinoplasty operations were performed throughout the world in the top ten countries performing rhinoplasty. Nose surgeries represented 8.2 percent of the total 1,15,99,336 surgical procedures recorded. Of the total rhinoplasty procedures reported by the ISAPS, 72.1% were performed on females, and 27.9% were performed on males. There are plenty of popular people or celebrities who have got a nose job done. While some celebrities like to tell the truth, others rather not confess having performed a rhinoplasty. A few of the well-known or rumored names are Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Moss, Bipasha Basu, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra, and Katrina Kaif. So, let’s take a look at

A Complete Guide To Rhinoplasty

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:

What is Rhinoplasty?

What can rhinoplasty treat?

How long does it take to recover from rhinoplasty?

What are the precautions after rhinoplasty surgery?

Is Rhinoplasty permanent?

Can I wear makeup after rhinoplasty?

Does Rhinoplasty leave scars?

Risks associated with the procedure.

What Is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty or nose job surgery is a procedure that sculpts the appearance, size or shape of the nose either for cosmetic purposes or to treat other defects. There are various reasons why people go for the nose job or rhinoplasty – either for aesthetic purposes, to treat any abnormality or reshaping of the nose. Here is a list of benefits that people seek out of the treatment.

Personality – The most common reason for rhinoplasty is to boost one’s confidence by improving the appearance.

Breathing issues – People seek rhinoplasty to treat breathing issues caused due to a birth defect or other reasons.

To treat abnormality – It helps treat abnormalities due to accidents or trauma.

Sinus treatment – Sinus troubles such as breathing issues, headaches, and congestion in the nose can be treated using rhinoplasty.

Snoring can also be reduced to a great extent using the procedure.

Revision rhinoplasty can help correct any untreated issues or complications that have come out of previous surgeries.

Face appearance – the surgery helps reshape the nose, fix minor issues or crooked nose and restore the face symmetry.

What All Does The Procedure Treat?

Rhinoplasty is a very individualized procedure that is completely based on your requirements and objective of undergoing the procedure. Therefore, the first step is consultation with a cosmetologist or surgeon. The surgeon from the clinic will hear out your troubles and help you figure out the right kind of treatment to reshape or correct your nose shape and appearance. Here are various conditions that can be treated via rhinoplasty:

Nose size – Whether you have a short or a long nose with respect to your face structure.

Nose shape - Similarly, a nose job can help you correct a small, large, flat or wide shaped nose.

Rhinoplasty can help reshape the nose by working on the structure of the bridge and/or nostrils of your nose.

Whether you have a hump or narrow nose.

Many people also choose to undergo the surgery for their nose-tip correction – whether it is enlarged or unturned.

It can work on the overall nasal asymmetry and give your face a more balanced look.

Commonly, the rhinoplasty also focuses on correcting the deviated nasal septum.

Other conditions that can be treated include unequal nostrils or columella correction.

Whence Long, Does It Take To Recover From Rhinoplasty?

“Most people are able to return to their daily routine in no more than 5 days”~Dr.B.K.Garg We will be honest to let you know that the rhinoplasty can take a long time for complete recovery. This is in part due to the nose itself – it takes a considerable amount of time to heal and for the swelling to completely subside. While the entire process may take anywhere from 6 to 12 months, most people are able to return to their daily routine in no more than 5 days after the surgery. The exact length of recovery depends on individual nose anatomy and response to the treatment. During the first week after the surgery, some bruising and swelling may continue, and you may be asked to wear a splint to protect the nose. Once the bruising and swelling starts to subside after a week, the surgeon will remove the splint, sutures and clean the nose. The surgeon will also perform dressing on the nose to check for the healing and to keep the area clean. While the recovery process may seem long, consulting with your surgeon on a regular basis will help you have the right expectations and make informed decisions to manage the swelling and pain.

What Are The Precautions After The Rhinoplasty Surgery?

Since rhinoplasty is an intensive procedure, it is best to follow the guidelines and take advice from your surgeon for a faster and less painful recovery.

Here are a few precautions one can take after the surgery:

To help minimize swelling, sleep on your back during initial weeks post-surgery and keep your head in an elevated position during sleep.

Keep the surgical site clean and dry.

Follow and take all the medication advised by the doctor for the smooth recovery process.

Avoid blowing the nose.

Either use contact lenses or tape glasses to your forehead. Refrain from resting them on the nose to avoid pressure on the treated area.

Avoid strenuous activities such as running or workout during the recovery process.

Until recovery, wear comfortable clothes that do not come in the way of your nose such as buttoned or zipped clothes.

Use a moisturizer or a good sunscreen to prevent discoloration of the nose skin.

Report any complications such as bleeding or irritation to your surgeon.

Is Rhinoplasty Permanent?

“Rhinoplasty procedure are permanent therefore it’s important to choose the right plastic surgeon so that you get the desired sculpt”~Dr.B.K.Garg Rhinoplasty is either performed by an open or closed kind of surgery. In both types, incisions are made into the nose. The type of procedure performed depends on the requirement for the kind of structural modification required to your nose and the gravity of the situation. In rare cases, one has to go for a revision rhinoplasty in case the previous rhinoplasty was not performed correctly or if there is a requirement for the further reshaping of the nose. But in most cases, one surgery is enough.

And since, it is a long, intensive procedure, it is, therefore, important to choose your surgeon carefully. You can consider a few of the following points while deciding on your surgeon for the nose job.

Ensure that the surgeon and the facility have a valid medical license and certification to perform cosmetic surgeries.

Usually, surgeons have a specialty in a particular field of study or surgery. Check if your surgeon has enough skill and expertise in cosmetic procedures and that too, specifically in rhinoplasty.

Look for endorsements or testimonials for the surgeon either through word-of-mouth or on the internet to check the credibility of the surgeon from the patients’ perspective.

Finally, consult the surgeon in person and understand more about their experience in the field of rhinoplasty, past operations, post-surgery support and technology available at the clinic or hospital.

You can expect a few changes/complications post your surgery such as,

Adverse reaction to anesthesia

Numbness around the nose

Swelling and pain

Scarring

Difficulty in breathing

Uneven looking nose

Nose bleeding

Can I Wear Makeup After Rhinoplasty?

Don’t worry. You don’t have to wait for long to wear makeup after the nose job. Makeup can be worn in a week or two post the surgery as long as it is not applied directly over the incisions. If there’s a nasal splint, avoid putting on the makeup for at least a week since the nasal spilled needs to be kept dry and clean. Once the cast comes off after a week, one can start wearing the light makeup. However, tanning should be avoided prior to the nose job and at least 4 weeks after the surgery. Otherwise, the tanning can cause pigmentation problems and lead to inflammation in the skin. Carefully applied makeup such as sunscreen and beauty creams can help you cover bruising, swelling and incision lines. Concealers can help you reduce signs of the surgery such as scarring or pigmentation. Sunscreen can help prevent discoloration of the skin.

Does Rhinoplasty Leave Scars?

Rhinoplasty, as discussed is performed either by open or closed type. In the case of open rhinoplasty, an external incision is also required that separates the columella (nostrils). This could sometimes lead to a scar. Post the external incision, the surgeon lifts the layers of skin and cartilage to expose the anatomy of the nose. This allows the surgeon to make major changes or reshaping of the nose. It is possible for this type of surgery to leave a tiny cut or a scar on the treated skin. In closed rhinoplasty, only internal incisions are made. The surgeon then reshapes the nose by making minor changes. This doesn’t carry any risks of scars or cuts. Overall, in either type of surgery, incisions made are strategical, are small and placed in a way to avoid any major scars or damage to the skin. Consult and choose an experienced surgeon who has the necessary skills and technology to give you optimum results from the job.

Risks Associated With The Procedure

“Risks associated with the procedure are similar to any surgical procedure If performed under-trained hands the procedure can give great results”~Dr.B.K.Garg

Before undergoing rhinoplasty, ensure that you are the right candidate for the procedure based on the following points.

You are over the age of 18 who have attained the basic physical maturity of the face.

You are physically fit and healthy.

You have a clear objective of performing the surgery and are in the right frame of mind.

On the day of rhinoplasty, the doctor will start with the preparation of surgery. This will include the following, Medical evaluation or a few lab tests to check if you are fit for the surgery.

The clinic staff will take a few photos of your nose to allow for computer images to demonstrate pre and post-surgery comparison.

Local anesthesia will be given before the procedure. In a few cases, general anesthesia is used. Therefore, normally you would not feel any pain while the procedure is performed. Post the surgery, there can be some level of pain or discomfort for a few days. But for most people, this pain is only minor and easily manageable. One can also consult with the clinic to recommend pain-relieving medications that can be taken to post the treatment. Similar to any other surgical procedure, there are also a few risks involved with rhinoplasty. These include bleeding, infection, minor cuts and scars. Minor swelling and stuffiness of the nose are common for at least a few weeks after the surgery. You can check with the surgeon prior to the procedure to manage these risks better. In case you are not satisfied with the results, consult your surgeon as soon as possible. This will help you understand more about your condition or concern and consider any possible remedy for the same. In rare cases, one has to go for an additional procedure (revision rhinoplasty) to treat any major complications.