Singelberg Clinic

Background Information

Rhinoplasty is an overall term used to describe a range of surgical procedures, which may be used to re-shape the nose, or correct nasal deformities to relieve blockages in the nose.

In common terms, a “nose job”! Rhinoplasty is an operation to improve the shape and size of the nose so that it is in harmony with the rest of the face. A nosecorrection is essentially a surgical sculpting of the nose and is accomplished by careful contouring of the bone and cartilage giving the nose its shape.

At the same time deformities that cause breathing problems and some sinus disorders can be corrected. Most incisions (seamless rhinoplasty) are placed inside the nose where they are least visible.

Your nose is the second most prominent feature on your face, next to your eyes, and its size and shape may be the most obviously defining characteristic of your face.

However, when considering nasal surgery, doctors and patients must consider both the appearance and function of the nose. This is because the size of the breathing passages is sometimes reduced when the size of the nose is altered. If you are considering a rhinoplasty, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure.

It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask a surgeon about anything you don't understand.

Operation

Rhinoplasty can take between one and two hours to complete.
General anesthesia or a combination of local anesthesia and sedation may be used. The surgeon often cuts the skin inside the rim of the nostrils to avoid any visible scars.

However, for more complicated operations an "open" technique may be used where a small cut is made across the base of the nose on the strip of tissue that separates the nostrils. This "open" procedure may result in a small scar on the underside of the nose, but it can make it easier for the surgeon to operate in more difficult cases and it will be quite difficult to see the scar afterwards.

During surgery, the soft tissue of the nose is separated from the bone and cartilage underneath the skin. Then the bone may be broken and repositioned and the cartilage reshaped to achieve the look you require. A splint is applied and the nostrils are packed lightly with medicated gauze.

If the nose is not being reduced in size, then the nose is only taped while it is healing and stitches are not required. If stitches are used to close internal wounds, they will dissolve automatically and will not require removal by a doctor. If a cut is made across the skin separating the nostrils, then the stitches may need to be removed.

Conclusion

Who is the best candidate for this procedure?

• Your nose appears too large for your face
• There is a bump on the nasal bridge when viewed in profile
• Your nose seems too wide when viewed from the front
• The nasal tip droops or plunges
• The tip is thickened or enlarged
• Your nostrils are excessively flared
• Your nose is off-center or crooked
• Previous injury has made
• Your nose asymmetrical

Patients with sufficient physical and emotional maturity who undergo rhinoplasty because they want to enhance their self-image are usually very satisfied with their decision. Because of individual factors, not everyone will achieve the same results from rhinoplasty. Your surgeon's goal is to obtain the best possible results for you.