Rhinoplasty - MetroDerm & Center For Plastic Surgery

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Home » Plastic Surgery » Face » Rhinoplasty

When the nose knows.

Though our appearance comes from the balance of many features, the nose can do a lot to make everything else look right, or not. If your nose dominates the appearance of your face or is crooked or does not breath well, then rhinoplasty might be a good option for you.

A rhinoplasty procedure, which is more commonly known as a “nose job,” can make many of us in Atlanta more confident and comfortable. The nose is one of our most prominent facial features and has a huge impact on facial balance and the harmony. Because of this, any defects are easily noticed. For those who are dissatisfied with their nose’s appearance, a rhinoplasty procedure is an option.

Rhinoplasty is a versatile and complex procedure that can make significant changes to nasal aesthetics and also improve nasal function in people who have breathing problems. The changes can be made by adding or removing bone or cartilage, grafting tissue from another part of the body, or implanting synthetic material to alter the shape of the nose.

During the procedure, the nasal cartilage and bones are modified or tissue is added. In Atlanta, rhinoplasty is also performed to repair nasal fractures and other structural problems. In these cases, the goal is to restore pre-injury appearance or to create a normal appearance.

Rhinoplasty should not be performed until the pubertal growth spurt is complete, between ages 14 and 15 for girls and slightly older for boys. Teenage rhinoplasty patients are typically between the ages of 15 and 19.

Rhinoplasty Candidates

Good Atlanta rhinoplasty candidates are healthy, non-smoking adults with aesthetic or functional issues of the nose. Candidates should have realistic expectations about the results of rhinoplasty, and be willing to follow all pre- and post-operative instructions. Nasal anatomy and proportions are quite varied and the final look of any rhinoplasty operation is the result of the patient’s anatomy, as well as the surgeon’s skill. The quality of the skin plays a major role in the outcome of the surgery. Patients with extremely thick skin may not see a definite change in the underlying bone structure after surgery. On the other hand, thin skin provides almost no cushion to hide the most minor of bone irregularities or imperfections.

The best Atlanta rhinoplasty candidates have one or more of the following:

Hump on the nasal bridge (dorsal hump)
Crookedness
Deviated septum
Bulbous/undefined nasal tip
Too large/too small nose
Wide nasal bridge
Common nasal deformities

About the Procedure

Because rhinoplasty is a complex and custom surgery, the procedure is never performed in exactly the same way twice. Our Atlanta rhinoplasty surgeons take an artistic approach to cosmetic nasal surgery and use a variety of techniques, as needed, to reach the patient’s goals. Rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia and takes a few hours to complete. Incisions are very small and are made either between the nostrils externally or inside the nostrils. Techniques that may be used during the surgery include:

Cartilage grafting
Straightening of the nasal septum
Bone rasping
Osteotomy (breaking the nose)
Nostril re-positioning

Once the surgery is complete, the incisions are closed and a splint is placed on the nose to protect it for the first few days. Nasal packing is generally unnecessary.

Aftercare & Recovery

The first day after surgery, there will be some swelling of the face. Patients should stay in bed with their heads elevated for at least a day. The nose may hurt and a headache is not uncommon. Medication can be prescribed to control the pain and any swelling, as needed. The dressings and stitches on the nose will remain in place for about a week. The head should be kept elevated and anything that might put a strain on the nose and the incisions, including bending over, wearing glasses, blowing the nose, smiling and laughing, and vigorous tooth brushing should be avoided.

After the first one to two weeks, normal activities can be resumed, including going back to a desk job. Bruising will fade over a few weeks, but swelling from the procedure takes longer to resolve. Initial swelling will mostly subside in the first month or two after surgery, but residual swelling can take up to a year to resolve fully and for the nose to assume its final shape.

Each patient is unique; therefore, results of treatment may vary. A consultation with Drs. Farzad R. Nahai or Foad Nahai, two of Atlanta’s top rhinoplasty surgeons, will help you understand the benefits and risks.