Rhinoplasty
Overview
Rhinoplasty is a surgery that is performed to change the shape of the nose and/or improve its function. Rhinoplasty is performed to correct deformities of the nose, caused by trauma or birth defects, which have difficulty to breathe due to medical reasons. Besides, you may want to change the appearance of your nose due to cosmetic reasons.
The nose is an organ that has a significant place in facial appearance. For this reason, if appearance of the nose will be changed, your plastic surgeon will make a special plan for you, considering the other physical properties of your face.If you want to undergo rhinoplasty, please consult our plastic surgeons for techniques, expectations, and potential risks.
Why is rhinoplasty procedure done?
Only your request to change shape of your nose can be an indication of rhinoplasty. On the other hand, a wide variety of nasal deformities can be found, either alone or together, such as saddle nose, deviation in the nasal septum (deviation), and collapse of the nasal wings. The purpose of all such appearance disorders is to achieve a well balanced facial appearance.
In addition, nasal breathing may be difficulty due to trauma or congenital defects. The aim is to restore air flow by eliminating and correcting abnormalities of osseous and cartilaginous structures that form the nasal cavity. Thus, both structural problems are eliminated and the normal function of breathing is restored. Accordingly, rhinoplasty can be performed for structural, functional and cosmetic reason(s).You should discuss aim of rhinoplasty with our plastic surgeon in order to get most realistic and satisfactory outcomes.
Risks
Potential risks of rhinoplasty are listed below.Although all possible measures that modern medicine allows are taken to prevent occurrence of risks, it is no means possible to warrant that the risks will be completely eliminated.
• Nosebleed
• Infection
• Accumulation of blood (hematoma)
• Fluid accumulation in the incision area (seroma)
• Changes of sensation in and around the nose
• Inability to get desired result
• Injury or perforation of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into two (septum)
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent pain and bruising
• Anesthesia-related complications
Our expert surgery team will employ all practices to minimize the risk of complications and our plastic surgeons will preoperatively inform you about risks listed above and all other potential complications and will address all your concerns.
Preparation
The first phase of preoperative preparation is same in all Medicana Hospitals.After you decide to have rhinoplasty and discuss with our plastic surgeons, following examinations are performed to decide whether you can undergo this surgery:
• Review of health history
• A detailed physical examination
• Necessary laboratory tests and radiology studies
• Assessment by anesthesiologist and other laboratory tests and radiology studies to minimize anesthesia-related complications
When you visit our plastic surgeons to discuss the treatment options for your nose, shape and size of your nose and other facial characteristics are first evaluated. After this assessment, your doctor will talk to you about your treatment plan and your cosmetic expectations.
There are various techniques for reshaping the nose. After you decide to proceed, your surgeon will explain recommendations and treatment options in all aspects.
After it is verified that the surgery does not pose risk, you will be asked to quit smoking, if you are a smoker, and to stop taking certain medications that increase risk of bleeding. All other prescribed and over-the-counter medications, herbal products and supplements will also be questioned and you will be informed to continue or stop taking them.
You will also be instructed to stop eating and drinking at a particular time before the surgery and you should strictly follow this instruction in order to undergo the surgery at the scheduled date.
Moreover, it is reasonable to plan discharge, post-discharge accommodation and travel at this phase in order to manage postoperative period better.
Surgery and early postoperative period
Rhinoplasty can be performed under general anesthesia or combination of local anesthesia and sedation.
As rhinoplasty requires completely personalized planning, all steps of the surgery may vary for each patient.
Since improvement of appearance is one of basic principles for rhinoplasty, the inner surface of nose is preferred to make the incision to visualize the nasal bone and cartilage in rhinoplasty.
Depending on your nasal problems, the bone or the cartilage can be removed, grafts obtained from other body parts or synthetic materials can be used to improve the appearance and the deviated septum can be corrected.
After the desired result is achieved, a splint is placed on the outer surface of the skin in order to prevent new shape and function of the nose. Moreover, wound dressings will be placed in your nostrils.You may feel pain and recognize swelling in your nose after the surgery. Or, you may even notice bruising in skin of the nose. These are expected symptoms that will spontaneously disappear within several weeks. You will need to elevate your head to minimize risk of bleeding and swelling.
The scar tissue that forms along the incision line will fade over time, but its color will never be identical to your skin tone.
Although you will feel minimal pain, your plastic surgeon will prescribe pain killer pills to manage the pain.If your plastic surgeon used non-absorbable stitches, your doctor will instruct you the date they will be removed (usually the first postoperative follow-up visit). Wound dressing materials in your nose and the splint will also be removed in the same visit.After you recover from anesthesia and you are ready to walk, you will be mobilized by or under supervision of our healthcare professionals.
Before you are discharged, your plastic surgeon or another healthcare professional will inform you about the time interval that you should rest and the time that you can start non-strenuous exercises. Although routine daily life activities are allowed, your doctor will instruct you to avoid strenuous works for a particular time.You need to avoid from nasal trauma and facial expressions that stretch the incision; you should not blow your nose and you should be careful while dressing and undressing.
It is substantially important to follow those instructions to facilitate recovery period and get best outcome from the surgery. Therefore, please ask all your questions to your plastic surgeon before you leave the hospital.
You should visit your plastic surgeon for follow-up visits that are scheduled before you are discharged.If you experience warmth and redness in your incision line or nose, or if you have a fever or any symptoms that you think are due to surgery after you are discharged, contact your plastic surgeon immediately.
Results
It takes some time to obtain all final results of the rhinoplasty. It may, sometimes, take up to one year for all tissues that are surgically corrected heal and take the final shape.
Rhinoplasty is an extremely personalized cosmetic surgery and you may request or your doctor may recommend some minor revisions after all final results are obtained. Therefore, it is reasonable to wait for one year before definitive evaluation of results.If you clearly inform your plastic surgeon about your expectations before undergoing a breast augmentation, your satisfaction with outcomes will be maximized and the risk of implant removal or revision surgery will be minimized.
