What Is Rhinoplasty?
Human beings are born with specific facial characteristics that combine to form what we call our faces. Barring some type of accident or birth defect, from the size and width of the forehead to the shape and color of the eyes, we have to live with these facial traits for the rest of our lives. Or do we?
Thanks to continuing advancements in cosmetic surgery, we can now alter many aspects of our face, including the nose. Known as rhinoplasty (nose job surgery), this aesthetic technique can alter the size, shape, curvature, and general appearance of the nasal structure. Changing this aspect of our faces can harmonize the other aspects of our facial features. In the hands of a skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon, nose job surgery can significantly improve your facial attractiveness, and your self-esteem. The procedure can also improve breathing, making this cosmetic operation immensely beneficial to your quality of life.
Want to learn more? Read until the end to learn more about rhinoplasty, how the procedure is performed, the benefits, risks, costs, and more. You will also be able to determine your candidacy for this life-changing cosmetic surgery. Learn more right now by calling Moein Surgical Arts, your home in Los Angeles for rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, Brazilian butt lift, and other aesthetic surgery techniques.
What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that has been around since the late 1800s. These days, the nose job, as it is colloquially known, has become so advanced that it is difficult to determine who has had one and who has not.
The procedure involves the manipulation of nose bone, skin, and cartilage, or all three. The technique can eradicate bumps and curves on the nose or can be used to alter the size of the nostrils or the size of the nose overall.
When meeting with a cosmetic surgeon during the initial consultation, the specialist will consider your other facial features, including your eyes, forehead, cheekbones, lips, and chin. This detailed assessment lets the surgeon determine how best to create harmony with the rest of your face.
Rhinoplasty is not always about looks. Some people get a nose job to correct the nose following an accident or for correction due to a birth defect, while others merely want to improve how well they breathe.
How Does Rhinoplasty Work?
The decision to have a nose job is a significant one that should never be taken lightly. You may be anxious about what to expect. Knowing how the procedure is performed can alleviate some of your anxiety.
After you are prepped for surgery and wheeled into the operating room, an anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. You and your doctor will determine the best method of anesthesia during the consultation or a follow-up appointment prior to surgery.
The purpose of anesthesia is to ensure your comfort during the procedure. General anesthesia will put you to sleep for the duration, making it so that you do not remember a thing.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the surgeon starts with the initial incisions. The incisions made depend on the method of surgery and what about your nose needs to be repaired. There are essentially two primary methods for performing nose job surgery. There is open surgery and closed surgery.
Open and Close Surgeries
Open surgery indicates that the nose is opened to access the cartilage, bone, and tissues underneath the skin. For this type of procedure, an incision is made across the columella, which is a narrow strip of tissue separating the nostrils.
During closed surgery, incisions are hidden inside the nose, which will also hide the resulting scars.
During either open or closed nose job surgery, the skin covering the cartilage and nasal bones is gently raised. The surgeon now has access to reshape the nose structure.
Reducing the nose size involves the removal of bone and cartilage, which leaves a smaller nose behind. In some cases, cartilage grafts are used to provide the desired shape. Instead of obtaining cartilage from a cadaver or other part of your body, cosmetic surgeons can use cartilage from the septum for grafts. The septum is the partition in the middle of the nose. Cartilage from the ear or ribs can also be used.
A deviated septum can be improved while the incisions are still open. A deviated septum happens when the nasal septum is displaced to one side. This phenomenon can make one nasal passage smaller than the other. The surgeon corrects this problem by sculpting the septum to the desired shape. Nasal skin and tissue are redraped over the septum before the incisions are closed.
You can expect to have splints and gauze applied to the nose for a few days to facilitate healing.
What Can You Expect with Rhinoplasty Recovery?
Rhinoplasty recovery happens in stages. Swelling and bruising will subside within the first two weeks. In two weeks you can expect the most rapid progress in the healing process. You can expect to return to most activities by this time.
By week three, nose swelling should be gone almost entirely, though there may be slight swelling on both cheeks.
After a month, you should start seeing the amazing final results of nose job surgery. Most find that all evidence that rhinoplasty has occurred is entirely gone by this point in your recovery. In two months, the results are even better.
At the three-month stage of rhinoplasty recovery, 90% of the refinement has taken place. The three-month mark is extremely close to the final result. Your results will continue to improve at six months and then again in a year.
Most cosmetic surgeons like to see their patients for a follow-up appointment six months following surgery. At the one-year follow-up appointment, surgeons like to compare your previous images to your newly configured results. This helps you see how far you’ve come, and how much better you look with your new and improved nose.
As you can imagine, nose job recovery is like fine wine. Time makes the results better and better. After a year or more, you may forget that you underwent surgery entirely. That is until you see photographs of your old face, in which your old nose may seem foreign by comparison.
What Do the Results of Rhinoplasty Look Like?
No two nose jobs are ever the same. Some people want smaller nostrils while others want a less pronounced bridge. Some want a more upturned nose while others covet a smaller size and shape.
The biggest question cosmetic surgeons get asked is, “What will I look like with a nose job?” Thanks to advancements in imaging technology, many surgeons can give you that answer using photo manipulation technology. Nose job filters, for example, can let you see the projected results of a nose job in real time. You may be familiar with photo filters that can make you look older, younger, or give you a completely new façade. Cosmetic surgeons with artistic skill can make your nose look exactly like those nose filters, giving you the expected results during a procedure that lasts around 1.5 to 3 hours on average.
Read our article: Facial Cosmetic Surgery – What Results are Possible?
Psychological Benefits of a Nose Job
Nose job surgery can drastically boost your self-esteem by eliminating life-long insecurities about your nose. Some people seek out nose job surgery because of childhood bullying or because they dislike their noses whenever they see themselves in the mirror. With a new and improved nose, people often report improved eye contact with others, and the ability to attract the people they want, not to mention pursue new opportunities and engage socially in ways they never could before.
Breathe Easier
Another aspect of rhinoplasty is the ability to breathe freely once more. During nose job surgery, the nasal structures are manipulated to correct airflow. Before the surgery, these individuals may have been characterized as mouth breathers because of their inability to draw and expel air through their nostrils. There is often a feeling of pressure and congestion in the nasal passageways. Their sleep may even be disturbed because of this problem. After rhinoplasty, the deviated septum can be cleared, allowing for more thorough airflow, improved sleep, and a better quality of life.
What are the Risks of Nose Job Surgery?
Rhinoplasty surgery comes with risks, just like any other major surgery. There may be bleeding, infection, and adverse risks to anesthesia. Your surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for your surgical wounds post-surgery to reduce the chances of infection and other post-surgical complications.
Rare and major risks to nose job surgery can include difficulty breathing through the nose, permanent nose numbness, asymmetry, pain, swelling, and scarring.
In rare cases, problems with nose job surgery may necessitate a follow-up surgery. You can mitigate the chances of unfortunate side effects by choosing a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon. Asking for before and after photographs from previously satisfied patients can be an excellent way to gauge the skill level of a cosmetic surgeon prior to signing up for a rhinoplasty procedure.
How Much Does Rhinoplasty Cost?
The fees involved with rhinoplasty vary depending on the extensiveness of the procedure and the location of the surgical center. The average cost of nose job surgery is $5,483. Keep in mind that the price does not include the costs of facilities, anesthesia, and medication.
Read our article: How Much Do Facial Cosmetic Surgeries Cost?
Does Insurance Cover Nose Job Surgery?
Since rhinoplasty is considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance does not tend to cover any of the costs. Insurance providers want to know if the surgery is medically necessary. Things change when you undergo a nose job because a deviated septum is negatively affecting your life. In that instance, insurance may cover some or all of the fees involved. Check your insurance policy for details or call the number on the back of your insurance card.
The Best Way to Determine if You are a Candidate for Rhinoplasty
When you dislike your nose for any reason, you should know that nose job surgery can drastically improve your self-confidence. Do your research if you are considering a nose job, as your nasal shape, size, and other features will be changed permanently following this popular cosmetic surgery.
By now you know more about rhinoplasty and how it works, and even how much the procedure costs. You know that the results can take up to a year to fully show through and that having a nose job can seriously improve your facial attractiveness and breathing. With a more attractive face, you can open new opportunities personally, professionally, and romantically, and pursue your life goals without your insecurities getting in the way.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Moein
The first step to undergoing rhinoplasty is to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon. During the discreet first meeting, the surgeon will want to make sure that you have realistic expectations for what a nose job can do. There is no such thing as a perfect nose. Photo manipulation technology can show you what a nose job will look like on your face. And again, ask for before and after photographs so that you can determine the track record of the cosmetic surgeon you meet with.
The surgeon will provide a health examination, inform you of the specifics of the procedure, let you know what to expect during recovery, and provide you with a detailed quote for the type of nose job you want.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, you are encouraged to contact Doctor Babak Moein of Moein Surgical Arts. Doctor Moein has extensive experience performing nose job surgery on men and women of all adult ages. Contact our office to book your consultation and start envisioning the possibilities of what you could look like with a new and improved nose. Dial (310)694-4486.