WHY IS RHINOPLASTY DONE?

Rhinoplasty is opted to achieve any one or more of the below-mentioned goals -

• To straighten a crooked nose
• To correct breathing problems that arise due to blocked nasal passages, by reopening them
• Rhinoplasty is a permanent procedure, so you have to be very sure if you want to go with it. This treatment requires great commitment and considerable expenses. Precisely, the cost of Rhinoplasty surgery depends upon the procedure and the condition of your nose.
• To smoothen a visible bump on the bridge of the nose
• To reduce an odd-looking and over-protruding nasal tip
• To refine the size of the nasal tip
• To narrow up a wide nose according to the patient’s face
• To restore the shape of a nose that has been de-shaped following some trauma or an injury

It is, therefore, quite evident that rhinoplasty is performed for both medical as well cosmetic reasons. The objectives behind performing a nose job surgery on an individual are as varied as the individuals themselves are.

WHO ALL ARE SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR RHINOPLASTY SURGERY?

Individuals who are rather unhappy with the appearance and shape of their nose opt for rhinoplasty surgery and are good candidates for it. However, rhinoplasty surgery for cosmetic purposes is not done until the patient’s nose has been developed fully. The nose develops fully by the age of 14 in females while in the case of males, the complete development of the nose takes around 16 years.

Individuals who suffer from breathing problems, or any other health issue because of the shape and structure of their nose often prefer to opt for nose reshaping or rhinoplasty surgery.

An individual with a deformed nose after an injury or trauma can also become the eligible candidate for Nose Job Surgery.

PRE-RHINOPLASTY SURGERY MEET WITH THE SURGEON

Rhinoplasty surgery requires a consultation session between the patient and the surgeon in which the two talk about whether the condition of the patient is such that a nose job is necessary or not. The main motive behind the meeting is not only this but also the two discuss a lot of other factors which are mentioned as under -

• IMEDICAL HISTORY OF THE PATIENT – The surgeon goes through the detailed medical history of the patient which is in turn very helpful in eliminating the chances of any sort of risk that may arise during or after the course of the nose job surgery. It is to be noted that an individual suffering from Hemophilia is not a candidate for Rhinoplasty. Also, the surgeon goes through all the factors that motivated the patient to opt for Rhinoplasty.
• PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENT BY THE SURGEON – The surgeon, before operating on the patient makes him/her undergo a thorough physical examination. It is very crucial in determining if the patient needs extensive nose reshaping or just a minor nose reshaping. The doctor also advises the patient to undergo laboratory tests, if the need arises. The major purpose of this physical examination before the actual procedure is to check the aftermath of surgery on the patient’s breathing pattern and how will his/her face look like once the nose is reshaped after Rhinoplasty. This also includes photography of the patient’s face especially the area that is to be operated on. It is done in order to assess roughly how will the result of the surgery look like.
• DISCUSSION ON PATIENT’S EXPECTATIONS – The surgeon and the patient must discuss the nose job in terms of the patient’s expectations and the results that rhinoplasty surgery would yield. The patient must inform the doctor about the things that matter to him regarding his/her nose and what all changes he/she wishes out of this surgery. The surgeon, on the other hand, should responsibly tell the patient if his/her desires could be fulfilled or not with the rhinoplasty surgery. If not, then the surgeon should make the patient aware of the other options available.

RHINOPLASTY PROCEDURE – HOW IT IS PERFORMED?

Rhinoplasty is generally done at the doctor’s clinic. The very first step is giving either general or local anesthesia to the patient followed by giving medication through IV that helps in making the patient groggy yet awake and a bit attentive. Once numbness is achieved in the area to be operated, incisions are made either inside or between the nostrils of the patient. Followed by incisions, the skin of the nose is separated from the cartilage and/or the bone to start the nose reshaping process. In case, additional cartilage is required during the surgery, it is extracted from either the back of the ear of the patient or from deep inside his/her nose. In some rare cases, implantation or bone grafting surgery in addition to the rhinoplasty surgery is performed on the patient. The duration of the surgery depends upon its severity and/or degree of reshaping required.

TYPES OF RHINOPLASTY SURGERY

The approach that is followed by a surgeon while performing rhinoplasty on a patient is although highly individualized, but it essentially falls in any of the three following mentioned categories -

• OPEN RHINOPLASTY – In this approach, the surgeon makes a small incision under the nasal tip, and between the nostrils which provides full and better access to the nasal structures that eventually help in reshaping the nose as per the patient’s desires. In this particular approach, the scar is well hidden and is mainly opted when extensive reshaping of the nose is required.
• CLOSED RHINOPLASTY – In this approach, a small incision is made inside the nostril which makes the surgeon capable of making minor adjustments to the nasal structures and thereby achieving the desired objectives as set by the patient. This particular approach is implemented when minor reshaping is required and not extensive reshaping.
• TIP PLASTY – In this approach, only the nasal tip is reshaped and no such incisions are made as in the above-mentioned approaches. In this particular method, only the nasal tip is reshaped without affecting any other nasal structure.

RECOVERY FROM NOSE SURGERY

After the surgery is done, a plastic or metal splint is placed on the patient’s nose to help the nose in retaining its new shape while healing. The patient is monitored for quite a few hours after the surgery and is either discharged the same day or the next day. The patient must take the help of a trusted individual who can drive him/her back home since anesthesia takes time to wear off. The patient is advised by the doctor, certain activities to help ease his/her discomfort due to the surgery. The patient is also recommended to abstain from strenuous activities for a few days post-surgery. Other activities that must be avoided are smoking, excessive chewing, laughing hard, blowing the nose, etc. A follow-up checkup is mandatory.

RESULTS OF RHINOPLASTY SURGERY

Although Rhinoplasty is considered to be a safe surgical practice, yet it might take time for the patient to completely heal from it. The tip of the nose remains sensitive and, in most cases, numb and swollen for a long period after the surgery. Recovery time varies from person to person. Some might recover fully within a few weeks, while some take longer, and in some of the cases, just a few symptoms take longer to go off. However, to fully appreciate the results of the surgery, one might need to sit back for at least 6 months or around a year.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RHINOPLASTY PROCEDURE

Although rhinoplasty surgery is considered to be a safe procedure, there are still some risks associated with it. The various risks that one might have to face, post the nose reshaping surgery are as under -

• Bleeding in the operated area
• Infection in and around the operated area
• Reaction to the anesthesia used during the surgical nose job procedure
• Difficulty in breathing through nose post the surgery
• Permanent numbness in and around the operated area
• Pain in and around the surgical region
• The operative area might get swollen
• Scarring around the operated part

If the rhinoplasty surgery is not performed well, then the following risks may be encountered by the patient which is quite serious -

• Septal Perforation (a hole in the septum i.e., hole in the cartilage that separates the two nostrils)
• Need for additional surgery to cover up for the mistakes in the previous one

AVERAGE COST OF RHINOPLASTY SURGERY IN INDIA

The average cost of rhinoplasty surgery in India ranges from INR 40,000 to INR 1,50,000 depending upon the patient’s needs and desires. A basic rhinoplasty surgery would cost somewhere between 40,000 INR to 50,000 INR. While a surgery involving augmentation, narrowing, etc. can cost a whopping amount of up to 1,50,000 INR.

CONCLUSION

Rhinoplasty is considered a boon for individuals who wish to change their facial appearance that has been in a bad shape due to the crooked or odd shape of their nose. It is also an advantage for those who have a breathing problem due to their deformed nasal structures. But one should investigate thoroughly before opting for it as a possibility.

If you want to get more information about the Rhinoplasty procedure, then you can visit NoseSurgery.in website where you’ll find out the certified surgeons with good experience. There, you can book your consultation session with the best surgeon near you!