Rhinoplasty Surgery

What to Expect from Rhinoplasty Surgery

After rhinoplasty surgery, you will go through typical bruising and swelling, and you might not like how your nose looks for the first few weeks. Be patient: The results and outcomes will depend on your willingness to follow through with all of the before and after rhinoplasty surgery instructions, in addition to your overall health and immunity. After your surgery and recovery, you will notice the results of the procedure and see the difference on how you look and feel about your new features and facial profile.

Looking For A Rhinoplasty Surgeon

The first thing you need to do if you want rhinoplasty is to search for the right surgeon. Review the credentials of the rhinoplasty surgeon. When you find someone you like, schedule a consultation. RhinoplastyGuide.com has made this process easy; use our search feature to find a surgeon near you!

If someone you know recommends a surgeon, do your homework. Your friend's great experience does not guarantee that your rhinoplasty will go the same way. Look for a surgeon who is board certified in plastic and cosmetic surgery.

Rhinoplasty: The Consultation

Bring to the consultation a picture of how you would like your nose to look, clipped from a magazine or printed from a source. The rhinoplasty surgeon will get an idea of what you're looking for and help you reach your goal.

Most rhinoplasty surgeons offer free consultations. Some insurance companies will help pay for the consultation and cover a portion of the costs of surgery if you are having the procedure for health purposes, such as to help you breathe better and correct respiratory problems.

At the consultation, the surgeon will examine your nose and talk about the different techniques available. Many surgeons use computer imaging to show patients what their noses will look like after the rhinoplasty surgery.

To determine if a surgeon is right for you, ask the doctor some basic questions:

• What is the track record of happy patients who have had rhinoplasty performed by you?
• What are your credentials?
• How long have you been performing the rhinoplasty procedure?
• How many times a week do you perform it?
• How often do the patients ask for revision rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty: The Night Before The Procedure

After finding the right rhinoplasty surgeon and scheduling the procedure, follow the steps the doctor sets up for you. You might be required to take vitamins a few weeks before the procedure. If you smoke, your doctor will require you to stop smoking at least two weeks before the procedure. Before any procedure, you must be fasting, so do not eat or drink after about 10 p.m. the night before.

You will likely be prescribed antibiotics, pain medication and a steroid medication. Fill these prescriptions before your surgery, so they are ready to go upon your arrival home.

Rhinoplasty: The Day Of The Procedure

After arriving at the surgical facility, the staff will prep you for the procedure.

At this time, the anesthesiologist will make his or her way into the room and get ready to give the anesthetics, which you and your doctor will discuss at your initial consultation. The anesthesiologist will use general or local aesthetics with sedation, both of which require intravenous administration.

Rhinoplasty: The Procedure

After the anesthetics have put you to sleep, the doctor will begin the reconstruction of your nose using the technique that was talked about during the consultation.

The doctor might need to adjust the bones of the nose, which is sometimes referred to as "breaking" the bones. It's more of adjusting the nose bones. If the doctor doesn't need to cut the nose bone, he will add or remove cartilage.

The entire procedure will generally take one to three hours.

Rhinoplasty: Right After Surgery

When waking after the procedure, you might feel discomfort. A splint will cover the nose, and small tubes will be placed on the nostrils to drain excess fluid.

If you had the closed procedure there will most likely be tubes in the nostrils to support the internal part of the nose and to help it heal faster. Although this might feel uncomfortable, do not remove anything without permission from your doctor.

The draining tubes will most likely be removed before you leave the surgical facility.

Rhinoplasty: Leaving The Hospital

Because the rhinoplasty procedure is an outpatient procedure, you will be able to go home the day of the surgery. In rare cases, the doctor might recommend a hospital stay. Someone will need to drive you from the hospital and stay with your for at least the first 24 hours. You might have a drip pad taped beneath the nostrils to catch dripping fluid.

Rhinoplasty Surgery Recovery

Take the medications as your surgeon directs. Some surgeons advocate the use of hot and cold compresses, while others discourage it. Some surgeons suggest that patients use Arnica® gel and other homeopathic remedies to help with bruising and swelling. You should always follow your surgeon's directions.

Many patients stay at home to relax and recover for about a week. How long it takes before you are able to return to work will depend on how strenuous your work is. People working desk jobs will be able to return more quickly than people who perform physical labor.

Most patients leave their rhinoplasty surgery with some of "stuff" on or in their noses. The packing is removed within the first weeks after surgery. External sutures, if any, will be removed four or five days after the surgery. The external cast is usually removed a week after the rhinoplasty. If there are internal stents in the nose, they are usually taken out four days to two weeks after.

Rhinoplasty: Bruising and Swelling

Swelling and bruising around the nose and on the face is expected. The patient might feel stuffed up like having a cold. It is not uncommon to have black eyes immediately after surgery. To help decrease swelling, the patient might want to sleep upright for the first few days after the rhinoplasty procedure.

Remember to eat soft items for the first few days after the procedure. Always remember to stay hydrated! The swelling will go down the first week, but the bruising can linger a little longer.

Important Rhinoplasty Tip

Stay clear of the sun! The UV rays will not help heal the nose. Three weeks after the rhinoplasty surgery you can start going out more, but always put sunscreen on the nose. After surgery, the nose is sensitive to sunlight and sunburn, and it's possible that too much sun could increase visible scarring.

Rhinoplasty: Getting Back To Normal

One week after the rhinoplasty procedure, you will be able to go back to your regular routine, but you will not carry anything heavier than 20 pounds. You can return to regular exercise three to six weeks after the rhinoplasty procedure.

Rhinoplasty: The Results

Six months after the rhinoplasty procedure you will be almost fully recovered. There will be no swelling, very light bruising, and you will be back to your full-time schedule.

Rhinoplasty is a long-lasting procedure. Done correctly, patients will love their results and are happy with their new noses.

Get Started!

All the doctors listed on RhinoplastyGuide.com are experienced medical professionals who have been trained in rhinoplasty. They operate in accredited medical facilities and fulfill continuing medical education requirements.

To get started in your search for a rhinoplasty surgeon, use our search feature. By simply entering your ZIP code, you can find rhinoplasty surgeons in your area.

Questions to ask your Rhinoplasty Surgeon

• What are your qualifications?
• How much experience do you have doing this operation? How many times have you performed it?
• What are the alternatives to rhinoplasty surgery?
• Am I a good candidate? What results can I expect?
• What other medical staff will assist with the surgery? Will you be performing the whole procedure?
• Where will my surgery be performed?
• What type of anesthesia will be used?
• What are the risks associated with rhinoplasty surgery? What is the complication rate?
• Can I see before-and-after pictures of patients on whom you have performed rhinoplasty? Can you provide me with references to patients who have had this procedure?
• How much will the surgery cost? What is the breakdown of fees? Will my insurance cover any of these fees?
• How long will it take me to recover after rhinoplasty surgery? To drive or go back to work? To exercise?
• Do you have malpractice insurance?