7 Things You Should Know About Rhinoplasty

Interest in cosmetic surgery procedures, like Rhinoplasty, has been booming. Men and women alike have been going under the knife to repair their nose after an injury, to correct breathing problems or a birth defect, or to change the appearance of their nose.

Although the number of people having rhinoplasty, aka a nose job, has been surging, the decision to have this cosmetic surgery should never be taken lightly. 

We always advise people to be wary of doctors or nurses that pressure them into having a nose job, or any kind of surgery. If you’re going to have a rhinoplasty, make sure you’re doing it for yourself. 

Give it a lot of thought and make that personal decision on your own, at the end of the day, it should be about how it makes you feel. 

Having said that, now let’s talk about seven things you should know about Rhinoplasty. 

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The rhinoplasty recovery period 

As compared to other plastic surgery procedures, the rhinoplasty recovery is usually mild. Soon after the surgery, patients are monitored for a few hours and then escorted to their hotel by one of our friendly guides. 

It’s common for the patient to feel a bit of discomfort, but this can be easily addressed by the surgeon’s prescribed medication. There may also be some swelling and bruising in the first 10-12 days after the surgery. 

On the first day, it is also recommended that you keep your head elevated. To stabilize the septum, the surgeon may also place nasal packs and you may remove these a few days after surgery. 

Most patients may return to their work after one week, but they should not participate in any strenuous activities. Below is a list of activities you should desist from for about six weeks after the nose job surgery.  

• Swimming
• Pulling clothes over your head
• BLowing your nose 
• Resting your eyeglasses on the nose 
• Brushing your teeth vigorously 

How painful is the Rhinoplasty procedure? 

Yes, it was three decades ago. It's different nowadays (thanks to technology) as surgeons make use of either general or local anesthesia to make sure that the patient is comfortable during the two-hour procedure.

During the process, the patient will be numb and won’t feel any degree of pain whatsoever. Soon after the surgery, there might be some discomfort, but it’s nothing that the surgeon’s prescribed meds can’t handle.

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In most cases, surgeons prescribe painkillers to address the discomfort, and the patients get to use them for about three or four days post surgery.    

Risks associated with Rhinoplasty

Although it has a high number of success rates, people who undergo the surgery for cosmetic purposes might need a revision surgery later in the future. Generally, the rhinoplasty surgery is safe, but as with any other surgery, it also has potential risks. 

During the procedure, a patient may adversely react to the anesthesia and have an infection. In some instances, patients may have excessive bleeding during the procedure, hence there are advised to avoid smoking two weeks prior to the surgery. 

If done by the wrong hands, other risks may include, residual deformity, numbness, visible scars, swelling, poor wound healing and nose collapse. This is why we recommend patients to choose an expert surgeon who has performed this surgery a number of times.   

Preparing for Rhinoplasty

This differs from one person to the other and your surgeon will have to give a list of dos and don’ts at your consultation after having examined your physical health.

Usually, patients are advised to stop smoking two weeks before the surgery as this may lead to excessive bleeding during the surgery and to poor wound healing post-surgery. If one is under medication such as anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin, they are recommended to stop two weeks prior to the surgery. 

Such medications may cause bleeding problems as they inhibit blood clotting . 

Rhinoplasty age limit 

If done for cosmetic purposes, rhinoplasty can be performed on anyone whose nose has developed. This means that 15-year-old girls and 16-year-old boys can undergo surgery. 

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If it’s done for medical purposes such as to correct a birth defect or an injury, rhinoplasty can be done at an early age. But ceteris paribus, the best time to have a nose job for cosmetic purposes is when one is in their adolescence or when they are a young adult. 

Due to a poor healing process, undergoing the cosmetic rhinoplasty at the age of 60 and beyond is less favorable, and the outcome is usually negative results.However, it’s necessary to undergo functional rhinoplasty to improve the nasal functions at an old age. 

Ideal candidate for Rhinoplasty 

This is usually determined on the consultation day after your surgeon has assessed your nose and done some medical examination of your well being. Good candidates are people who are in good health and have no other constraints that may lengthen the recovery purpose.

Having a right state of mind and realistic expectations are also a prerequisites for one to be considered as a suitable candidate for rhinoplasty. It’s also important that one is doing this for themselves and they are not being pressured by anyone else.   

When to expect rhinoplasty results

Most patients expect to see the results as soon as they walk out of the surgical facility. But it’s important to have a long-term approach when considering having a rhinoplasty.

 Soon after the surgery, the external swelling is common in the first 12 days, and it might take a few months for the internal swelling to recede. For your new nasal contour to completely redefine itself, your nose has to be fully healed from the inside out first. 

Patients are also recommended to follow their post-surgery instructions given to them by their doctors as this helps speed up the healing process.  

If you’re still having questions about the rhinoplasty procedure, schedule a consultation with one of our healthcare consultants, and they will assist you free of charge.