1. Are there any age restrictions for undergoing rhinoplasty?

It is preferable not to operate on teenagers until after they have completed their growth spurt-around 15 for girls, a bit later for boys. It s important to consider teenagers social and emotional adjustment, too, and to make sure it s what they, and not their parents, really want.


2. Why does it take a full year to see final rhinoplasty results?

In the days following surgery, when your face is bruised and swollen, it s easy to forget that you will be looking better. In fact, many patients feel depressed for a while after plastic surgery-it s quite normal and understandable.

Rest assured that this stage will pass. Day by day, your nose will begin to look better and your spirits will improve. Within a week or two, you ll no longer look as if you have just had surgery. Still, healing is a slow and gradual process. Some subtle swelling may be present for months, especially in the tip. The final results of rhinoplasty may not be apparent for a year or more.


3. Is rhinoplasty very painful?

After surgery-particularly during the first twenty-four hours-your face will feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you may have a dull headache as well as a stuffy nose. You can control any discomfort with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. Plan on staying in bed with your head elevated (except for going to the bathroom) for the first day or two until you feel better.

You ll notice that the swelling and bruising around your eyes will increase at first, reaching a peak after two or three days. Applying cold compresses will reduce this swelling and make you feel a bit better. In any case, you ll feel a lot better than you look. Most of the swelling and bruising should disappear within the first two weeks. (Some subtle swelling-unnoticeable to anyone but you and me will remain for several months.)

A little bleeding is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. You ll be asked not to blow your nose for a week or so, while the tissues heal. If you have nasal packing, it will be removed after a few days and you ll feel much more comfortable. By the end of one or, occasionally, two weeks, all dressings, splints, and stitches should be removed.


4. What is nasal packing?

Nasal packs are soft plastic splints which may be placed in your nostrils to stabilize the septum, the dividing wall between the air passages.


5. What if you re unhappy with the results of your rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you re physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, you may well be a good candidate.


6. Is it true that the nose is more-runny after rhinoplasty?

Not usually, other than in the first several weeks following the surgery.


7. Does rhinoplasty leave scars?

Many plastic surgeons perform rhinoplasty from within the nose, making their incision inside the nostrils. Others prefer an open procedure, especially in more complicated cases; they make a small incision across the columella, the vertical strip of tissue separating the nostrils. The choice of which way to do the surgery is made in discussion with the patient depending on their concerns and the best way to achieve the results both you and I want to see.