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NOSE SURGERY
Nose surgery is one of the most common cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed today. Men and women who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their noses are excellent candidates for some kind of correction.
A rhinoplasty will give you a smaller, narrower, more graceful nose and correct problems like a hump. If your nose is crooked, the cosmetic surgeon may or may not be able to straighten it, depending on what caused the crookedness. If your nose is straight, with no bump, but the lower part of your nose looks broad, fat or bulbous at the tip and the nostrils look too wide, you may need "tip plasty".
This surgery can be done on anyone whose nose is fully-grown (after age 16). After age 40 nose surgery can be done but your nose tissues are thicker. If you have been teased about your nose or you're self conscious about it, have this surgery.
Rhinoplasty is usually done on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office operating room or an outpatient surgery center. A local anesthesia with sedation is given to you by an anesthetist. It depends on your preference and the extent of your surgery. Septal deviation surgery for breathing impairment can be performed at the same time.
Cosmetic nose surgery usually lasts 1 hour. In addition, correction of a breathing impairment with septal surgery may require up to 2 hours. Your face will be washed with antibacterial soap and sterile drapes will be placed over your body and around your face. You will not be aware of this and should feel no pain or discomfort. Surgery will be performed and a splint will be contoured over your nose and held in place with tape. This will be in place for one week.
"At last my nose looks natural and fits my face. Thanks for everything."
D.B. - Hugo
Immediately following surgery you can breathe only through your mouth. Your nose is closed from swelling, surgical packing or both. Sometimes a segment of IV tubing is placed within the nasal packs to enhance your nasal breathing. Your nose will be visibly swollen and bruised for 7-10 days. Nasal packs are removed 2-5 days later and the nasal splint is usually removed on the seventh day. Many patients return to work shortly thereafter. After 10 to 14 days your nose is 80% healed and presentable in public. The remaining healing occurs unnoticed over the next 6-12 months.
After you have fully recovered, you will need someone to drive you home and get you settled in bed with your head slightly elevated with pillows and an ice pack covering the middle third of your face. The next two days should be spent resting with your head elevated and ice pack application. Your next visit will be for removal of your nasal packs. The splint will be removed on the seventh day. You will have crusts build up in your nose after surgery. To soften and loosen them, dip a cotton swab in water or Vaseline. Place the swab gently inside your nostril and let it rest next to the crust for a minute. You can do this 3-4 times a day for as long as hard crust forms - a few days or a few weeks, depending on how you are healing. If possible, keep a humidifier going in your room. Place an ice pack over your nose to reduce bruising and swelling. Keeping your eyes cold after surgery is soothing. It also helps to lessen swelling and bruising around your eyes and nose. Before surgery, buy a box of Ziploc plastic freezer bags. Fill them with water and put them in the freezer. After surgery, use them for ice packs.
Dr. Johnson will see you one week following surgery to remove the nasal splint, or sooner if nasal packs require removing. Your next visit will be 3 or 4 weeks post-op and thereafter every three months until one year has elapsed. Post-op photographs are taken 6-9 months following surgery.
"I'm happy with what you did for me."
C.S. - Grand Rapids, Michigan
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