What is nasal packing?

Some surgeons use a thin cotton gauze or absorbable gauze to "pack " the nose. It is usually removed the day after surgery and should not cause much pain. It does obstruct your breathing through your nose temporarily.

What if you are unhappy with the results of your rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is art, architecture, science and skill, not necessarily in equal amounts. There has never been and will probably never be a "perfect rhinoplasty."  Your surgeon makes certain, precise alterations to the bone, skin and cartilage but cannot control completely how you will heal. The forces of normal scarring under the skin, in the cartilage and bone or in the skin can all affect the outcome of surgery positively and negatively. You must approach your surgery looking for significant improvement, not perfection. Unoperated and operated noses will always have some imperfections. The best way to assure that you are happy with the result is to make your desires clear to your surgeon and be realistic about what the surgeon can and cannot achieve. This may take more than one visit with the surgeon. If you are unhappy with part of your nose after surgery, a revision may be appropriate. Revision rates amongst surgeons who do a lot of rhinoplasty probably range from 5-15%. The rate relates somewhat to how "picky " the surgeon is and how many revision rhinoplasties are included in the number. Revision rhinoplasty is an art unto itself. The best chance to get a good result is at the first procedure. That said, the most common revision is probably just filing down a bit more bone or removing a bit more cartilage from the profile under local anesthesia. If you are going to be bothered by minor assymmetries after surgery or minor skin irregularities, think twice about having a rhinoplasty. If you are the type of person who tends to be "obsessed " over small details, think three times about getting a rhinoplasty. This is a great operation that has evolved dramatically over the last 40 years. There are millions of happy patients who have had rhinoplasties. You just have to be realistic about what can and cannot be achieved.