Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure more commonly known as a nose job. During a rhinoplasty, a physician shapes and molds the nose to conform to either the aesthetic or medical wishes of the patient. Let’s explore a guide to rhionplasty procedure.
A rhinoplasty has the potential to greatly increase a patient’s sense of confidence and pleasure regarding the appearance of their nose. This has earned it a place in the pantheon of some of the most highly regarded plastic surgery procedures.
If you’re curious about some of the details regarding a rhinoplasty procedure, take a look at this guide that describes some of the features of this procedure as performed by an oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
What Is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a type of plastic surgery procedure that focuses on improving the appearance of the nose. There are several different types of rhinoplasties, all of which aim to address different medical or aesthetic concerns.
You’ll go over which one of the procedures makes the most sense for your personal medical and aesthetic goals prior to any actual work being done. Once you’re approved for surgery, you and your physician will make a plan to move forward with your procedure.
Guide to Rhinoplasty Procedure
Anesthesia
The first step of a rhinoplasty procedure is to apply anesthesia to the nose and surrounding areas, which provides the patient with a safeguard against some of the pain and discomfort that can be associated with this procedure.
There are different types of anesthesia that can be applied, and your physician will determine which type is most appropriate for your particular procedure. Much of this will have to do with the overall purpose of the surgery and may impact your overall eligibility for surgery and the finer aspects of the course of your recovery.
Incision
There are many different types of rhinoplasty, and the differentiation between the types often has to do with the type of incision that is made on the nose, which can heavily impact the overall results of your procedure. The primary subtypes of incision include the following:
- Closed procedure: During a closed procedure, incisions are hidden on the interior of the nose.
- Open procedure: During an open procedure, the incision is made across a narrow strip of tissue that separates the nostrils known as the columella.
Shaping the Nose
Once the proper type of incision is made, the physician will begin the process of molding and shaping the nose for the purpose of the surgery. This procedure may involve the use of cartilage grafts. These gather cartilage from other areas of the body to reshape the nose. Some of the parts of the body that cartilage is gathered from include the following areas:
- Septum
- Ears
- Ribs
The physician will modify the bone, flesh, and cartilage of the nose to fit the desired outcome of the surgery. This includes straightening a deviated septum, which is an issue that can obstruct the normal breathing process of a patient.
The Incision Is Closed
Once your physician is done shaping and molding the nose, the nasal skin, and various tissues are moved back into their proper formation, and the incisions are closed. This part of the process may take a small amount of extra time if multiple incisions were made during the procedure.
The Surgery Is Complete
Once the incisions from the procedure have been closed, the surgery is essentially complete. At this stage, you should follow the instructions from your physician regarding your recovery period. This may include the application of splints, gauze, and other wound dressings.
It may take some time for your surgical site to reduce inflammation and swelling. Subsequently, you can display the full results of your procedure. Most patients will find that the initial swelling from their procedure goes away within a few weeks.
That being said, it may take some time for your surgery to show its full results. Some patients may have to wait for up to a year to discover their full results. It’s pretty normal for the appearance of one’s nose to change shape as it slowly conforms to its final results.
Your Best Resource for Rhinoplasty
Plastic Surgery Santa Barbara and Dr. Brent are dedicated to giving Southern California the best treatment available for rhinoplasty and plastic surgery procedures. If you’re interested in discussing rhinoplasty in Santa Barbara with a professional, contact our office today.