Nose Reshaping

Rhinoplasty also known as a nose reshaping, is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. One of the most common procedures that is performed in conjunction with a rhinoplasty is a septoplasty. A septoplasty helps to insure that the nasal passages remain adequately open to allow air to pass freely through.

A rhinoplasty can be performed with a small incision located at the base of the nose. This is called open rhinoplasty.

Increasingly today, modern rhinoplasty is being performed with incisions that are completely internal. This is known as a closed rhinoplasty.

Mr Rezai performs the majority of his rhinoplasties through the closed approach.

Who is suitable for rhinoplasty?

• Men and women who are dissatisfied with the size and shape of their nose

• If there is a bump on the bridge of the nose

• If the nasal tip droops

• If the tip of the nose is thickened and enlarged

• If the nostrils are excessively wide

• If the nose is off-centre or asymmetrical

• The nose continues to grow until the age of about 16 years. Therefore, most surgeons recommend postponing surgery until at least this age

What to think about at this stage

It is important that before you see the surgeon, you consider what you are trying to achieve from your surgery.
In many ways, this is of particular importance with rhinoplasty, where patients may have been self-conscious about their nose for many years. The nose, being the most central prominent feature of the face, can produce all manner of emotions for the patient. The aim of nose reshaping surgery is to make the nose more acceptable in the eyes of the patient. Therefore, before you see the surgeon, you must be absolutely certain regarding what it is about your nose that concerns you. It is only when the surgeon knows exactly what you wish to achieve that he is able to determine whether it is technically possible.

Also remember that other facial features have implications for the overall appearance of your face. In order to keep your face in proportion, your surgeon may advise altering the chin or cheek, etc.

How is rhinoplasty performed?

• The operation may be performed under local anaesthetic with sedation. However, the majority of patients have general anaesthetic.

• Incisions are made inside the nostrils. There are no external incisions. Both bone and cartilage are excised to make the bridge of the nose straighter, and where the bones of the nose join the check is cut so that the nose may be made narrower.

• It takes about sixty minutes.

• Most patients stay in hospital for one night.

• If your work is not physical, expect to return to work within one to two weeks.

• Expect to be back to normal physical exercise within four to six weeks.

Following the operation

As with all surgery, after nose reshaping you must expect to feel bruised and sore, especially around the eyes. Patients are advised to keep their head up as much as possible. You will have to wear a splint over your nose for about seven to ten days. This is to hold the nasal bones in their new position. Most patients report that the operation is surprisingly painless. In most cases, it takes three to six months for the swelling to go down completely and for the appearance of the new nose to appear.

Risks & Complications

Cosmetic surgery is amongst the very safest of medical procedures. However, all patients must understand and accept that no surgical procedure is absolutely free from risk.

For further information concerning the risks and complications associated with Nose Reshaping, please refer to Risks and Complications of Rhinoplasty.

At Consultation, Mr Rezai will discuss these risks with you.

How long will the results of your rhinoplasty last?

The result of rhinoplasty is permanent. However differential skin thicknesses and irregularities in internal scarring can all affect the outcome, and thus rhinoplasty does carry with it a slight higher revision rate than most other procedures. Luckily, however, these revisions are still relatively uncommon, and in the majority of cases minor. If a revision surgery is needed it is more likely to take place after the healing process is complete. Mr Rezai advises waiting at least a year.