Noses are like people. They come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are large and some are small. Some are round, while others are thin. One person may see a nose as perfect while another may hate it. The nose is one of the principal features of the face, and as such, a lot of people are unhappy with how their nose looks.
However, there is a solution if you want to change the appearance and shape of your nose. Rhinoplasty, or what is commonly known as a nose job, is the solution, and one that has been performed on hundreds of thousands of people all around the world. You may have looked at various celebrities and wondered how they look the way they do. Well the answer is plastic and cosmetic surgery.
What is it?
Rhinoplasty is a medical procedure that is carried out on a patient to change the appearance of their noise. It can alter the size of the nose, as well as modifying the shape. The procedure can also be undertaken in patients to help with breathing problems that they may suffer from due to a crooked septum or a birth defect.
How does it work?
The type of work that you will have done on your nose will depend on what you want to achieve. Everyone has a specific view of how they want their nose to look after they’ve had plastic surgery. Each Rhinoplasty procedure will involve the reshaping the nasal cartilage or the nasal bone. In some cases, both are reshaped, while in others only one is worked on.
If the plastic surgery is being undertaken to assist with treating breathing difficulties then the nasal passage, which may be blocked due to cartilage or bone, are widened and unblocked in order to better facilitate breathing.
Does the procedure hurt?
One of the most common questions asked about plastic surgery, and Rhinoplasty in particular, is if the patient will feel any pain. Depending on the work that you are having done on your nose, either local or general anesthesia will be used.
If the procedure is a small and simple one, then in most cases a local anesthesia will be applied to the area of the nose. This will usually be an injection that will numb the nasal tissue, as well as a sedative, which will not send you to sleep, but can make you feel a little groggy. If the procedure is a more complex one, then you will most likely be given general anesthesia, which will send you under for a few hours while the operation is performed.
How long does it take to recover?
The recovery period for Rhinoplasty will depend on the type of surgery that you have had. Minor procedures will usually need at least a few days to heal, while more complex procedures could need a week or two. It is very common for the nose and surrounding area to be swollen or slightly bruised, and in some cases, there could be minor bleeding from the nose.
Many patients will feel, for the first few days after the procedure, that they feel blocked up. Their nasal passages feel very congested and their sense of smell may also diminish. These are common effects of the surgery, and they will clear up after a few days, and your nose and skin will be back to normal.
What are the risks?
All types of surgery carry risks with them. There are a number of risks that are associated with plastic surgery procedures. The first risk is a poor outcome from the surgery. What your nose may look like after Rhinoplasty may not be at all what you envisioned. Another risk is that of possible scarring. It is never easy to predict if scarring will occur during an operation, though in most cases, it is something that can be controlled and managed.
Having damage caused to the nerves is another risk of surgery. Nerves are very complex things, and having damage done to a facial nerve can result in another change of appearance such as in terms of being limited in the facial expressions you may make, or your smile being somewhat altered due to a drooping mouth.
You must discuss all potential risks of the procedure with your surgeon. Different procedures will carry different risks, so it is important to know what your specific surgery involves.
How much does it cost?
One of the most important factors in a person deciding if they will undergo a nose job is the cost of the procedure. Minor corrections and small work will probably cost somewhere in the region of $3000 – $5000.
If the patient requires extensive work such as the complete reshaping of the nose, then the procedures can range anywhere between $6000 – $10,000. Your surgeon will give you a price for the procedure that you want, but you must check with them if there are going to be any additional costs, such as the hospital or medical center where the Rhinoplasty will be carried out.