NASAL SURGERY (Rhinoplasty)

WHAT IS RHINOPLASTY?

Rhinoplasty involves surgically changing various parts of your nose to refine and improve its appearance.

WHO ARE THE BEST CANDIDATES?

Basically, candidates for the surgery are individuals who dislike some aspect of their nose, such as the profile (hump) or the tip.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

Rhinoplasty is performed under local or general anesthesia in an operating room, usually as an outpatient. The procedure takes between one and two hours to complete, depending on the extent and complexity. Most of the incisions are made inside the nose, but sometimes an incision is made between the nostrils to improve access to the inside of the nose. Other times, incisions are made around the nostrils to narrow them - a procedure known as alar narrowing or an alar base resection.

WHAT ABOUT DISCOMFORT AND RISKS?

During the procedure, you will have no pain. Afterward, you will be given pain medication to help with discomfort. Most patients describe a stuffy feeling in their nose and a slight headache.

The risks of Rhinoplasty include bleeding and poor results. Other risks are less common, such as visible scars. Scar tissue, which can distort the appearance of the nose, may occur several months to a year after the procedure. If this happens, a second operation may be needed to correct the appearance of the nose.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

After the surgery, you will have a splint placed on your nose to protect it. The splint is removed within a week after the procedure. Occasionally, packing is placed in the nostrils, but this is removed within a few hours after surgery.

Bruising is common after rhinoplasty. It appears below the eyes and generally lasts about a week. Swelling is also common and can last for up to one year following surgery. For this reason, the final result often is not appreciated until a year after the procedure.

WHAT IS THE COST?

Costs vary with the extent of the procedure. Some patients require only tip work while others need more complete treatment of their nose. There are also charges for the hospital and anesthesia. The fees range from about $3,500 to $6,500.