Rhino (Latin for nose) and plasty (Greek for molding or forming) is a medical procedure that reshapes the nose for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes.
Rhinoplasty can reduce the size of the nose or alter the shape of the tip for a more pleasing result. It can even change the angle between the nose and upper lip. It can also restore proper functioning of the nose in the case of injury or abnormalities of the nasal cavities.
Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty ensures that a patient will be able to breathe through both nostrils. Both men and women are candidates for Rhinoplasty, but most surgeons will caution against the procedure for girls under 15 or boys under 17, pending full maturity.
External Rhinoplasty is performed as an open technique by making a small inverted V shaped incision at the columella .The skin is separated and adjustments are made to the bone and cartilage. Bones may be broken or chiseled depending on the patient’s desired result. Cartilage may be trimmed. The nasal passages are then packed and an external splint is applied. The packs are removed in 24 hours but the splint is worn for about a week.
The operation normally takes 1-2 hours and can be done under general or local anesthesiaPost-op bruising and swelling around the nose and eyes is normal and peaks about three days after surgery, lasting a total of 2-3 weeks. Other temporary side effects can be a dull headache, an aching nose, or numbness of certain areas on the nose. If bones were broken, healing will take longer.
Most people who undergo Rhinoplasty return to work after two weeks, giving the bruising and swelling time to disappear. It’s usually recommended that sports and activities that could result in injury be avoided for six weeks or longer.
Clear results from Rhinoplasty can be seen a week after surgery but the final results will take 4-6 months to see, or until the nose is fully healed.
