Whether for aesthetic or restorative purposes, rhinoplasty or nose job changes the overall balance of the face. What you need to know before you start.
Sometimes a spectacular operation, rhinoplasty or nose reshaping operation changes the appearance of the face. Often performed for purely aesthetic purposes, it can also be “functional” – this is the case when a patient has respiratory discomfort – or restorative, in the event of a broken or deviated nose during an accident, for example.
In all cases, the cosmetic surgeon must take into account the whole of the face in his intervention strategy (the nose must be in accordance with the height of the forehead and cheekbones …). The advice of Dr. İrfan Aydın, a specialist in aesthetic and plastic surgery, for a thoughtful and successful operation.
How to choose your surgeon?
It is true that it is difficult to choose the surgeon and surgical center to whom you will entrust not only your beauty but also your health. To make the best choice, you can follow these four recommendations:
- Seek advice within the medical community: pharmacist, doctor, nurse, etc.
- Consult the official list of specialist surgeons established by the Council of the Order of Physicians.
- Prefer a surgeon near his home for easier follow-up.
- Feel confident and comfortable. It’s important that all throughout the process, through making the appointment to when one is in front of the surgeon, to feel that one can speak openly about their desires and fears to their surgeon.
What about the pain after the operation?
“In general the post-operative pain is not very important, unlike fractures of the nose. Taking analgesics helps to reduce any pain. The main inconvenience is rather due to the obstruction of the nose caused by the endonasal wick or scabs, thus forcing the patient to breathe through the mouth for one or more days.”
Rhinoplasty, at what age?
“It is not desirable to intervene before the complete ossification of the nose, i.e. around 17 years in girls, and 18 years in boys,” says Dr. İrfan Aydın. Not to mention that an anomaly observed in adolescence is likely to be finally accepted thereafter. In fact, a psychological assessment can sometimes be offered before planning an intervention.
Concerning elderly patients, “they have a much less elastic skin and should know that the corrections must then be more discreet”. And the professional reminds: “In all cases, the indication for rhinoplasty must be made by the patient himself and never by those around him.”
What post-operative consequences are to be expected?
“They are often impressive, the eyelids are swollen, bruised, the days following the operation. Fortunately, the improvement is rapid. The edema and the bruises fade in ten days. The wicks are removed the next day. The patient can then breathe through the nose again.
Drops of physiological serum must be applied by the patient so as to “clean” the nose while respecting the mucous membranes and to thin the crusts. More than post-operative care is rapid, the surgeon asks the patient to avoid any use of tobacco (nicotine delays healing) and aspirin (risk of hemorrhage). Violent sports should be avoided for several weeks (risk of shock). The sun and extreme cold are also to be avoided in the weeks following the act. Surveillance is carried out during the year following the intervention. Follow-up consultations are scheduled at 10 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and one year.
In the vast majority of cases, the results are excellent. The danger often lies in overcorrections (too deep nose) which can be unsightly and difficult to correct. For the rest, retouching is possible (asymmetry, small bumps, insufficient correction) but rare if the act has been correctly performed, and the indication has been knowingly asked. If retouching must be performed, it must be scheduled at least between 6 months and a year after the operation, the time for correct tissue stabilization and satisfactory scar maturity.”
What complications can we have to deal with with this type of operation?
“When the operation has been performed in a healthy context, with an authorized and qualified surgeon, postoperative complications are rare. The infection is exceptional in this highly vascularized area of the face (the administration of antibiotics is systematic during the procedure) Nasal bleeding is possible but is also rare.
The postoperative hematomas can occur after surgery and indicate the presence of blood accumulated in the operated areas. They usually resolve within a few days, but if they are accompanied by painful tension or swelling, further surgery may be necessary to evacuate them. There may also be cases of persistent nasal discharge, temporary redness, or numbness.
The sensitivity of the nose is often modified following a rhinoplasty, but everything returns to normal, spontaneously, in several weeks. However, a rhinoplasty does not affect the sense of smell in any way.
How much does it cost?
The price of rhinoplasty varies depending on the difficulty, the surgeon, and the type of clinic chosen. The surgeon must necessarily give the patient a detailed estimate at the end of the consultation.
On the other hand, coverage by insurance is sometimes possible if there is a septal deviation causing respiratory discomfort, or for restorative rhinoplasties (deformation of the nose following a trauma).
