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Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is one of the most common of all plastic 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 be purely for aesthetic reasons or it may correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve breathing problems.
The goal of your surgery should be for a nose which looks natural and is balanced, proportional and in harmony with the rest of the face. Your surgeon will be experienced in evaluating these elements as you discuss your expectations and the changes required to achieve your desired look.
Rhinoplasty is usually performed as a day procedure in a hospital facility under general anaesthetic. The procedure takes about one to two hours, however a complex procedure may take longer. The surgical techniques employed will depend primarily on the goals established by you and your surgeon.
Where possible, all of the incisions will be placed inside your nose, where they will not be visible. This is referred to as “closed rhinoplasty”. If the base of the nose is to be narrowed or the nostrils reduced, small wedges of skin at the base of the nostrils will be removed. Incisions are hidden in the natural crease where the nostril joins the cheek.
In more complex cases the surgeon may prefer to use the “open rhinoplasty” technique. A very short incision is made across the vertical strip of tissue that separates the nostrils, called the columella. The skin of the nose is separated from its supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape. Finally, the skin is re-draped over the new framework.
When the surgery is complete, a splint may 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.
Click on the links below to read more about;
- RISK FACTORS
- PLANNING YOUR SURGERY
- POST OPERATIVE RECOVERY
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