| Dr. Kevin Smith is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Rhinoplasty.
Q. What is Rhinoplasty?
A. Rhino (Latin for nose) and plasty (Greek for to mold or to shape) is a surgical procedure performed to improve the external appearance of the nose. It can be done for reconstructive or aesthetic (cosmetic) reasons and is sometimes performed with internal nasal procedures (septoplasty) to correct obstructions to normal breathing. The object of rhinoplasty surgery is to reshape and refine the nose to conform more to the aesthetic ideal. This surgery involves reshaping the bone and cartilage of the nose and can sometimes change the size of the nostrils or change the angle between the nose and the lip.
Q. What are the benefits of rhinoplasty?
A. A rhinoplasty has the benefit of creating better harmony among the structures of the face to produce a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and profile.
Q. What are the risks associated with rhinoplasty?
A. As with any major surgery, there always exist the risks of bleeding, infection and, with rhinoplasty specifically, unanticipated healing problems such as scarring, curvature (cartilage twist) and lack of symmetry can occur.
Q. Will I be put under general anesthesia?
A. This procedure is generally performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient.
Q. What does a rhinoplasty procedure involve?
A. Rhinoplasty surgery involves making an incision internally and often externally (just above the lip in the columella). With the skin then lifted off the underlying nasal structures, the shape of the nose is improved by using scalpels, scissors and fine chisels. Commonly, the nasal bones are shortened and narrowed and the cartilage is repositioned and refined. Sometimes, cartilage that is harvested from the septum is used as internal structural support to provide a more attractive base for the nasal skin to drape over. After the completion of the rhinoplasty surgery (usually 1½ to 2 hours) the incisions are closed with sutures and a protective splint is applied to the nose. Sometimes internal packing is placed.
Q. How long does it take to recover from rhinoplasty?
A. Generally a patient is able to return to light work one week after rhinoplasty when the splint is removed. The patient should avoid heavy lifting or straining for two to three weeks after surgery to decrease swelling and the chance of bleeding. It takes several months for the entirety of the nasal swelling to resolve and to achieve the final subtle refinements of tip shape.
Q. How long can one expect the results to last?
A. Rhinoplasty results generally last a lifetime. Since the nose changes shape subtly over time, changes, such as lengthening of the nose, will occur over many years following surgery. Rarely does this lead a patient to undergo further nasal surgery.
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