What is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty or nose reduction-nose surgery is to reduce and refine the nose and make it fit or blend into your face. It usually is done in a hospital outpatient surgery center under either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia administered by a MD anesthesiologist. It usually takes about one hour to change the shape of your nose by altering the cartilages and bone that form the architecture of it. After surgery, a plastic-type cast is placed over your nose for one week to protect it while it is healing. You may also have light packing placed within both nostrils that is removed the next day. After this, tape is placed for several more days. Light activity can be done after several days and heavy activity after about three weeks. You do get black and blue around your eyes for about two weeks and breathing may be limited for a week. Nose surgery can be combined with other procedures like chin implant, facial or neck liposuction or repairing a deviated septum(after nose injury and difficulty breathing). The latter may be reimbursed by your insurance. About 60% of the nose swelling is gone by about two months and the remaining takes about one year. Problems like bleeding, infection, nasal revision, difficulty breathing can unusually occur. For more information, please see our page on Preparing for your Cosmetic Surgery Procedure A rhinoplasty can be combined with other procedures like a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum. Sometimes insurance will help pay for part of this surgery. A chin implant can also be placed through either the mouth or with a small cut under the chin.

Dr. Ed Domanskis, Plastic Surgeon, Newport Beach, Ca (www.surgery-plastic.com)

What are the benefits of Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty balances the face so it is not the thing that stands out, either because it is too large or small. It reshapes the nose by contouring the architecture, i.e. the nasal bones and cartilage.