Cosmetic Nose Surgery

Cosmetic nose surgery, also called rhinoplasty, is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. The nose is one of the most noticeable facial features, so even minor changes through nose plastic surgery can alter facial appearance.

Reasons for Nose Plastic Surgery

People choose to have nose plastic surgery for both medical and cosmetic reasons.On the medical side, nose surgery can correct a broken nose or can help correct breathing problems. It can also correct birth defects that are causing the nose to function poorly.
 
Cosmetic nose surgery can change the nose in several ways. For one, nose plastic surgery can increase or decrease the size of the nose. Cosmetic surgery can also alter the angle between the nose and the lips, straighten the nose bridge and reshape the nose tip.

Nose Surgery: Are You a Good Candidate?

Not everyone is a good candidate for cosmetic nose surgery. For one thing, people who are pursuing a nose job should have reasonable expectations. People should realize that while nose surgery can often improve the look of the nose, it typically won't create the "perfect" nose or completely transform the look of the face.
 
Age is also a consideration. Cosmetic nose surgery is not recommended for teenagers who are still having growth spurts. Most cosmetic nose surgeons prefer that teens delay nose surgery until they finish growing.

Nose Surgery: Costs and Insurance

Cosmetic nose surgery is not usually covered by medical insurance. However, insurance may cover nose plastic surgery if the procedure is required for medical reasons, such as birth defects or breathing problems.
 
Check with your medical insurance policy before undergoing nose surgery to see if the operation is covered. If possible, get surgery approved in advance.
 
Cosmetic nose surgery costs vary. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, surgeons and physicians charged an average of $3,841 per procedure in 2006. Add anesthetist's fees, materials and hospital fees, and the average cost of cosmetic nose surgery jumps to approximately $5,000.
 
If you are looking for help paying for the cost of a nose job, you might consider pursuing plastic surgery financing, which is available through lending institutes that specialize in loans for cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic Nose Surgery Procedures

Nose plastic surgery is usually an outpatient operation, which is often performed in a hospital, the surgeon's office or an outpatient surgery center. If you require extensive nose surgery, a short hospital stay may be necessary.
 
Cosmetic nose surgery is performed either under general or local anesthetic:
  • General anesthesia lets you sleep through the operation.
  • Under local anesthesia you are awake but experience no pain.
During typical nose surgery, the surgeon folds back the nose skin in order to reshape the nose's bone and cartilage. To avoid noticeable scars, many surgeons make skin incisions within the nostrils. In other cases, the incision is made in the tissue between the nostrils.
 
After reshaping the nose, the surgeon returns the skin to the nose. To help the nose retain its new shape, an external splint is applied. The nostrils are sometimes packed with soft material or plastic splints to help the nose keep its new shape.
 
Nose Surgery Risks
Cosmetic nose surgery is major surgery and, as such, does carry some risks. Possible complications of nose surgery include:
  • breathing problems
  • impaired sense of smell
  • infection
  • nosebleeds
  • numbness around the nose
  • scarring.
Occasionally, nose surgery may produce uneven results and corrective surgery is required.
 
The majority of cosmetic nose surgery procedures have no complications, but people considering nose surgery should discuss possible risks with their surgeons.

Recovering from Nose Plastic Surgery

Here are some tips to help speed up your recovery after a nose surgery:
  • After nose plastic surgery, you should rest as much as possible.
  • For several weeks following a nose job, your head should be raised above your chest when sleeping to minimize possible bleeding and swelling.
  • If nose surgery requires nasal packs or an external splint, do not remove them until your doctor approves. Typically, the packs are removed within one to seven days. After seven days, the external splint is usually removed.
Expect some bleeding and mucus drainage in the week after cosmetic nose surgery. This is quite normal.
 
Don't expect to immediately admire your new nose: Your nose and eyelids will be swollen and bruised after cosmetic nose surgery. Swelling and bruising fade within three weeks of nose plastic surgery. You may also experience numbness that fades in the weeks after nose surgery.
 
There may be some minor residual swelling for months after surgery. You may feel self-conscious about this, but, generally, only you and your surgeon will notice residual swelling.

Nose Surgery: Activities to Avoid After Surgery

In the weeks after nose plastic surgery, you should avoid the following activities until your doctor tells you it is safe to resume normal activities:
  • aerobics
  • bending from the waist
  • jogging
  • lifting anything heavier than 20 pounds
  • swimming
  • wearing glasses or sunglasses.
Not wearing glasses is a problem if you have impaired eyesight. If you don't use contacts, you can tape glasses to your forehead or use cheek rests. Not resting glasses on your nose for a month after cosmetic nose surgery is very important.
 
Resources
 
American Academy of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery (2007). Improving Form and Function of the Nose. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Academy of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery Web site: www.entnet.org/healthinfo/nose/surgery_nose.cfm.
 
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). 2006 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site: www.plasticsurgery.org/media/statistics/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=23761.
 
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty). Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site: www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/
Rhinoplasty.cfm.
 
Mayo Clinic Staff (2007). Rhinoplasty: What to Expect with Nose Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Web site: www.mayoclinic.com/health/rhinoplasty/SN00013.