People not happy, for one reason or another, with their nose often pursue nose reshaping surgery, which is known as rhinoplasty. These complaints, both medical and aesthetic, can be improved by rhinoplasty. Aesthetically, patients complain about nasal humps, cartilage bumps, breaks, etc. Medically, patients experiencing breath problems or who need to correct trauma or birth defects, undergo rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty can be an open or closed surgery, and should be performed by a plastic surgeon, maxillofacial surgeon or otolaryngologist.
Rhinoplasty is split into primary and secondary categories. Primary rhinoplasty is the original surgery itself. All rhinoplasties, whether aesthetic, functional or reconstructive, fall into this category. Secondary rhinoplasty, more commonly referred to as revision rhinoplasty is a second surgery performed to correct an unsatisfactory outcome from prior surgeries. 5% to 20% of rhinoplasties have an unsatisfactory outcome. This usually occurs when the patient does not believe that the surgery has corrected enough, like an aesthetic nose reshaping.
Reconstructive rhinoplasty refers to restoring the normal shape and function of a nose following previous damage. This can include a traumatic incident, autoimmune disorder, intra-nasal drug abuse, previous cosmetic surgery, cancer or birth defects. Rhinoplasty can re-establish nasal airflow, recreate the normal contours of the nose and restore skin coverage. Septoplasties can also be performed to correct breathing. Patients that undergo reconstructive rhinoplasty do not do so for cosmetic purposes, though during the surgery aesthetic changes can be made. Aside from correcting defects, rhinoplasty can also provide a sense of confidence and relief for patients who have dealt with traumatic incidents.
Patients who do not wish to undergo invasive surgery should look into non-surgical rhinoplasty or a “non-surgical nose job.” The latter is performed by placing inserts in the nose that fit the length of the nose, thus reshaping it. This procedure is not permanent, and will not be visible should the patient remove the inserts. The inserts can only be worn for about a month. The former involves injecting substances into the nose to reshape it, thus achieving some of the desire affects of a surgical rhinoplasty.
It is important to note that recover following rhinoplasty is not immediate. The patient should stay home for a week after undergoing surgery, although it is safe for the patient to go outside. External sutures will be removed four to five days after surgery, external casts after a week. Internal stents may have to remain in the nose for up to two weeks. The nose may shift or settle in the year following surgery. Doctors will likely prescribe antibiotics, pain medications and steroids. It is important to follow the doctor’s directions on medication use.
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