Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

Reshaping the nose can have a dramatic effect on the face. A rhinoplasty can be referred to as a ‘nose job’ and is performed to make the nose straighter, remove any bumps, reconstruct the tip, shrink nose that is too long or wide, improve the appearance of the ridge and refine the general shape.

A rhinoplasty can be purely cosmetic when creating a complex, but it can also help restructure the nose and improve the patient’s ability to breathe. Sometimes patients are very young, but surgeons must respond appropriately and wait until the end of the patient development at 18 years old. After 50 years old, the surgery can have a rejuvenating effect.

Before the surgery, a thorough consultation is essential with the surgeon to fully understand the patient’s request and reframe unrealistic desires. Photo retouching help to visualize the future transformation but cannot guarantee the final result.

THE SURGERY

The rhinoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia with a night admission at the hospital. A rhinoplasty can take from 1-3 hours of surgery depending on the level of complexity.
There is not a single technique of nose surgery. Each surgeon has their own technique according to each patient’s requirement and feature.

For example, when the surgeon wants to remove a bump or reduce the size of the nose, he removes or cuts off fragments of cartilage or bone:

To reduce the cartilage, the surgeon cuts the cartilages that are too prominent under the skin. Sometimes, he simply needs to weaken the cartilage to reduce their resistance.

The cartilaginous sutures bring cartilages together that are too wide with stitches. This method makes it possible to reshape the tip of the nose very precisely without weakening it.

The bone reduction is a technique of osteotomy that is used to break the bone and remove the excess fragment.

When the surgeon wants to improve the regularity of the nasal bridge, fill a hollow or increase the definition or projection of the tip of the nose, he does a cartilage transplant, or a nasal implant:

The cartilage transplant helps to draw the cartilage preferably on the patient’s nasal septum. In the event of a significant need, the surgeon can take cartilage from the ear or from the ribs.

The cartilage is easy to model. The surgeon can use the transplant either on the top or the tip of the nose.

Implants are mainly used in patient who have a very thick skin and who have a dorsum of the nose which is too hollow. There are various implants shapes made of silicone or porous polyethylene.

ADVANTAGES

  • A more harmonious nose that suits the patient’s aesthetic features.
  • The result is permanent
  • Some changes are visibly faster than others such as the removal of a bump. This outcome can be seen when the surgeon removes the splint, but we truthfully can see the first result after two to three months. As a general rule, the definitive result is visible after six to a year.
  • The aim is to obtain a nasal appendix according to the wishes of the patient, which respects the proportions between the different parts of the nose and the natural feature of the patient’s face.
  • After one year, it is possible to do a touch up in case of disappointment.

DOWNTIME

  • The patient feels very little pain and is well relieved with painkillers tablets.
  • 10 days after the surgery the splint is removed. The nose will appear swollen and the non-resorbable stiches are removed at the same time.
  • Bruises around the eye will last between one to three weeks upon each individual.
  • No glasses can be worn the first few days after the surgery.
  • Social and Professional activities can be considered after ten days. The patient can exercise after a month but must avoid violent activities and swimming pool for three months after the surgery.