Rhinoplasty, the medical term for a nose job, is a surgery that alters the way your nose looks and functions. Around a quarter of a million rhinoplasties are performed in America every year, which means it is the most common facial plastic surgery procedure. Some people have rhinoplasty for medical reasons and others for cosmetic reasons. In this month’s blog, we are going to talk about both reasons for rhinoplasty, as well as some important facts about this common procedure.
The most common medical reason for a person to have rhinoplasty is to improve nasal breathing. Some patients who consider rhinoplasty do so because a nasal obstruction causes problems in their breathing while exercising or while sleeping. Many people who struggle with sleep apnea or snoring view rhinoplasty as an option because other medical treatments, like nasal spray or sleep apnea treatment, haven’t worked. One thing to remember about medically necessary rhinoplasty is that it is often covered by health insurance.
Another reason that a patient may have rhinoplasty is for cosmetic reasons. While this might be a simple “While you’re doing my medical rhinoplasty, can you also make other changes to my nose?” or a surgery specific to correcting a cosmetic issue that you would like to see resolved, such as reducing a nasal hump or correcting asymmetries. Again, this can be done in conjunction with a medically functional rhinoplasty or independently to make a cosmetic change you would like to see corrected.
If rhinoplasty is something you are planning on, here are a few things to know about the surgery. First of all, rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. Secondly, a small incision is made, and it is not apparent after healing. During the surgery, the nasal passageways will be improved and reshaped through adjustments to the bone and cartilage in your nose. Finally, it important to answer the common question “Does rhinoplasty mean you need to break my nose?” Typically, the answer is no, unless there is significant prior trauma to your nose that requires the bones to be shifted during surgery. Bones may be smoothed down, especially in a cosmetic procedure like reducing a nasal hump.
After people have rhinoplasty, they are often able to head home the same day once they wake from the general anesthesia. However, patients should expect to take about a week off of school, work, etc. to recover. During their recovery, patients should rest, ice their nose, and perform the nasal cleaning regimen outlined by Dr. Barker and his medical staff.
After a week of recovery, Dr. Barker will remove the splint and casts. Around two weeks after the surgery, patients are back to their normal routines. After a month, a majority of the swelling will be gone. Full recovery may take up to a year, depending on the extent of the surgery.
If you think rhinoplasty may be a good option to correct a medical condition or a cosmetic concern that you have, give Dr. Barker a call to schedule a consultation.