A recent study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that almost 250,000 rhinoplasty procedures, or nose jobs, were done in the US last year. This makes it one of the most popular plastic surgeries, year in and year out. Why?
While every patient has their reasons for wanting a nose job, the enduring popularity of this procedure can be traced to the reasons below.
Cosmetic Benefits
Your nose is one of your most prominent facial features. You may love your other facial features, but if you cannot stand how your nose looks, it can damage your self-esteem and confidence. An unattractive nose can draw unwanted attention and cause you stress and mental suffering. You could develop lousy posture as your bend over to avoid people from seeing your nose.
Rhinoplasty gives you the chance to remake your nose with a more proportional facial balance. With a cosmetic rhinoplasty, you gain control as you meet with your plastic surgeon and have the procedure to help create facial balance. The result will be a nose that fits in harmony with your other facial features.
A nose job can transform the entire face, like eyelid surgery, and make you look like a new person.
Customizable
There are so many things that you can do in a nose job. It can offer a solution for patients with many aesthetic and other concerns. Your surgeon can make many improvements, including:
- Make a wide bridge narrower
- Refine the tip
- Smooth indentations or bumps
- Reshape upturned, wide, or large nostrils
- Decrease nose size
Which of these changes your surgeon makes depends on your anatomy and goals for your new look. Through these small, customized changes, patients can obtain a stylized, unique nose without making more dramatic changes.
Fix Medical Issues
Most nose jobs are for aesthetic regions. But nasal surgery also can help to repair medical issues with your nose.
For example, the septum is the piece of cartilage that separates the nostrils and airways of the nose. If the nasal septum has deviated, you will have severe breathing problems. This could be from a congenital disability or nose injury. Being unable to breathe through your nose can cause you persistent discomfort and difficulty engaging in vigorous physical activity.
Straightening the septum and addressing the nasal bones during a rhinoplasty nose surgery is the only way to fix the airways so you can breathe normally. You could be shocked at how much better you feel when you can breathe properly through your nose!
Repair Injuries
When a nose is broken or disfigured in an accident, a rhinoplasty may be needed to get it back to its standard shape.
Note that some injuries can cause dangerous blood clots that can damage nose cartilage if it isn’t treated. This can lead to snoring, breathing problems, and more for your nose.
If you have any kind of nose injury, it’s vital to have it checked by a doctor who can tell you whether you should have a nose job.
Ease Of The Procedure
Make no mistake: A good nose job is complex and takes a skilled surgeon, but it’s less invasive than other procedures, such as a facelift. The incisions for rhinoplasty surgery are usually small, and the recovery period is only one or two weeks as the swelling subsides.
A liquid rhinoplasty, which involves dermal fillers being injected into the nose, requires no downtime at all and can last for up to a year. You may consider this option for more subtle changes, but they aren’t permanent.
Fix A Bad Nose Job
While it’s rare, you could have had a ‘bad nose job’ where you had a poor outcome. This is less likely to happen if you use a board-certified plastic surgeon, but it can happen because of a surgical error or recovery complications.
In this situation, another nose surgery is the only way to fix any damage done to the nose or its inner parts. You can discuss your goals with your plastic surgeon as you consider revision rhinoplasty.
What To Know About The Procedure
Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure performed at an outpatient surgery center. You will be able to go home the day of your surgery. Rhinoplasty surgery is always done under general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is used on minor non surgical procedures. A rhinoplasty is a serious procedure which requires general anesthesia rather than local anesthesia. A small incision is made at the base of your nose, which you cannot see after the incision heals. The incision is connected to more incisions inside your nose, which are invisible.
The incisions allow the surgeon access to the bones and cartilage of your nose. If needed, nasal passageways can be improved, and nose reshaping can be done with careful adjustments to the cartilage and bones.
Unlike some people think, the surgeon doesn’t usually need to break your nose. If you had trauma in that part of your face, the bones might be moved into a better position during the procedure.
For cosmetic purposes, your surgeon can smooth a hump in the nose. Most patients wake of from anesthesia and go home the same day.
Most people take about a week off work or school after a nose job. This is a time for rest, ice, and a routine of nasal cleaning is recommended.
Swelling is worst on the third day and subsidies from there. About a week after your cosmetic surgery, the cast and splints are removed, and you can work and go back to your exercise routine. Note that full healing can take as long as a year.
Questions and Answers
How long does a rhinoplasty last?
Rhinoplasty delivers enduring results by permanently altering your nose’s structure. While natural aging may induce subtle changes, most enhancements are long-lasting.
How painful is rhinoplasty?
Individual pain tolerance differs, yet many experience only mild discomfort post-surgery. The sensation of congestion can be disorienting as swelling may require mouth breathing, causing temporary dryness in the throat and lips for a few days.
What age is the best age for a rhinoplasty?
Nose surgery becomes safe and effective once growth ceases. While timelines vary, girls are generally considered for rhinoplasty around 15 or 16, with boys being suitable candidates a year or two later.
Is rhinoplasty a serious surgery?
While rhinoplasty is a significant procedure, ensuring 100% safety is impossible. Fortunately, the occurrence of complications is typically minimal.
Request a Rhinoplasty Consultation
Considering New Jersey rhinoplasty? Dr. Smita. R. Ramanadham can help you obtain the results you want with this popular and safe procedure. In your consultation at SR Plastic Surgery New Jersey, Dr. Ramanadham will go over your options, goals, and more to determine if you’re a good candidate for rhinoplasty.
References
Thinking About Rhinoplasty? (2019). Accessed at https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/thinking-about-rhinoplasty-2019030616112
Nose Jobs Are Changing, Thanks To This Millennial Trend. (2019). Accessed at https://www.allure.com/story/can-you-reverse-nose-job-rhinoplasty