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Cost Of Rhinoplasty
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Question: Has anyone ever gotten one of these done? How tremendous is the pain? What is
the down time before you can go out in public again? Do you regret getting it
done? Are there any common problems related after surgery?
Answer: Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, 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. It
may also correct a birth
defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing problems.
If you're considering rhinoplasty, this information will give you a
basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it's
performed, and what results you can
expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on
the individual patient and the surgeon.
The best candidates for rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it
won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other
people to treat
you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully
about your expectations.
The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are looking for
improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you're physically
healthy, psychologically
stable, and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
Rhinoplasty can be performed to meet aesthetic goals or for
reconstructive purposes-to correct birth defects or breathing problems.
Age may also be a consideration. Many surgeons prefer not to operate on
teenagers until after they've completed their growth spurt-around 14 or
15 for girls, a bit
later for boys. It's important to consider teenagers' social and
emotional adjustment, too, and to make sure it's what they, and not
their parents, really want.
All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
When rhinoplasty is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon,
complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is
always a possibility of
complications, including infection, nosebleed, or a reaction to the
anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following instructions
both before
and after surgery.
After surgery, small burst blood vessels may appear as tiny red spots on
the skin's surface; these are usually minor but may be permanent. As for
scarring, when
rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose, there is no visible
scarring at all; when an "open" technique is used, or when the procedure
calls for the narrowing of
flared nostrils, the small scars on the base of the nose are usually not
visible.
In about one case out of ten, a second procedure may be required-for
example, to correct a minor deformity. Such cases are unpredictable and
happen even to
patients of the most skilled surgeons. The corrective surgery is usually
minor.
Where your surgery will be performed
We have a certified operating room in the office where nasal surgery is
performed on an outpatient basis, for cost containment and convenience.
Types of anesthesia
Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia,
depending on the extent of the procedure and on what you prefer.
With local anesthesia, you'll usually be lightly sedated, and your nose
and the surrounding area will be numbed; you'll be awake during the
surgery, but relaxed and
insensitive to pain. With general anesthesia, you'll sleep through the
operation.
The surgery
Rhinoplasty usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures
may take longer. During surgery the skin of the nose is separated from
its supporting
framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired
shape. The nature of the sculpting will depend on your problem. Finally,
the skin is redraped over the new framework.
If your nostrils are too wide, small wedges of skin form their base can
be removed, bringing them closer together.
Many plastic surgeons perform rhinoplasty from within the nose, making
their incision inside the nostrils. Others prefer an "open" procedure,
especially in more
complicated cases; a small incision is made across the columella, the
vertical strip of tissue separating the nostrils.
When the surgery is complete, a splint will be applied to help your nose
to maintain its new shape. Soft plastic splints also may be placed in
your nostrils
to stabilize the septum, the dividing wall between the air passages.
After your surgery
After surgery-particularly during the first twenty-four hours-your face
will feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you may have a dull headache.
You can control any
discomfort with pain medication. Plan on staying in bed with your head
elevated (except for going to the bathroom) for the first day.
You'll notice that the swelling and bruising around your eyes will
increase at first, reaching a peak after two or three days. Applying
cold compresses will reduce this
swelling and make you feel a bit better. In any case, you'll feel a lot
better than you look. Most of the swelling and bruising should disappear
within two weeks or so.
(Some subtle swelling-unnoticeable to anyone but you and your
surgeon-will remain for several months.)
A little bleeding is common during the first few days following surgery,
and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. You
should not blow your nose for a week or so, while the tissues heal.
By the end of one week, all dressings, splints, and stitches should be
removed.
Getting back to normal
Most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days, and able to
return to school or sedentary work a week or so following surgery. It
will be several weeks,
however, before you're entirely up to speed.
Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, sexual
relations-any activity that increases your blood pressure) for two to
three weeks. Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it
sunburned, for eight weeks. Be gentle when washing your face and hair or
using cosmetics.
You can wear contact lenses as soon as you feel like it, but glasses are
another story. Once the splint is off, they'll have to be taped to your
forehead or propped on
your cheeks for another six to seven weeks, until your nose is
completely healed.
Your new look
In the days following surgery, when your face is bruised and swollen,
it's easy to forget that you will be looking better. In fact, many
patients feel depressed for a
while after plastic surgery-it's quite normal and understandable.
Rest assured that this stage will pass. Day by day, your nose will begin
to look better and your spirits will improve. Within a week or two,
you'll no longer look as if
you've just had surgery.
Still, healing is a slow and gradual process. Some subtle swelling may
be present for months, especially in the tip. The final results of
rhinoplasty may not be apparent
for a year or more.
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