Walterdgraciamd’s Blog

What is a Rhinoplasty?

Also known as a “nose job”, is a plastic surgery procedure for correcting and reconstructing the form, restoring the functions, and aesthetically enhancing the nose, by resolving nasal trauma (blunt, penetrating, blast), congenital defect, respiratory impediment, and a failed primary rhinoplasty.

Am I a good canidate for a Rhinoplasty?

The best candidates for Rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way their nose appears. If you’re physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, than you may be a good Rhinoplasty candidate. A majority of our Rhinoplasty patients in general are not happy with the appearance of their noses and are looking for an alternative through Rhinoplasty surgery. Skin type and ethnic background, are important factors you should consider in discussions with your surgeon prior to nose surgery. Age may also be a consideration. Although the reasons for the having the Rhinoplasty procedure are many, you are probably a good candidate for Rhinoplasty if you have one of the following conditions:

• You have a nose that he or she feels is disproportionate to the size of his or her face
• You have nostrils that are excessively flared
• You have a bump on the bridge of the nose
• You have a nose that appears to wide when viewed from the front
• You have a tip that droops or plunges, or is thickened or enlarged
• You have a nose that is crooked or off-center
• You have a previous injury which has left your nose asymmetrical
• You have problems breathing due to structural defects

These are the most common reasons for considering a Rhinoplasty procedure but are not the only reasons. If you feel unhappy with your nose for any reason, you can still come in and talk to the doctor. Just remember, a good Rhinoplasty candidate should have realistic expectations and specific goals that can be candidly discussed with your Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.

What is the recovery like after a Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is typically performed with general anesthesia. As the anesthesia wears off, you will feel tired, groggy, or nauseous. Most rhinoplasty recovery patients return home the same day as their surgery, but you will need someone to drive you. Once you return home, plan to take several days to recuperate before trying to resume your daily activities.

After rhinoplasty surgery, most patients feel some degree of pain, discomfort, or tenderness, which can be managed with pain medications. You may also be prescribed antibiotics; take these exactly as directed by your doctor. Your nose will also be stuffy, causing you to breathe only from your mouth for the first few days. You may or may not have nasal packing, which is surgical gauze and other materials placed inside the nose to help reduce bruising or swelling. This can create some uncomfortable pressure as you recover from surgery. The sutures used to close the incisions may be dissolvable, or they may need to be removed about a week following your rhinoplasty.

Common side effects experienced during your rhinoplasty recovery include bruising and swelling. The bruises may extend to the eye area, giving you the appearance of “black eyes.” Don’t be too frightened when you look at yourself in the mirror during the first few days. It usually takes about ten days for the bruising to disappear completely, although patients who are smokers may experience an extended recovery period of bruising for up to 3 weeks following surgery. Other side effects can include numbness, peeling skin, or bleeding.

How is the procedure preformed?

• Anesthesia is administered. Rhinoplasty surgery can be performed either under IV sedation or general anesthesia, according to the recommendations of your surgeon.
• Incisions are made, the majority of rhinoplasty procedures are “closed” procedures, which means that the only incisions are made on the inside of the nose, leaving the patient with no visible scars. However, there may be exterior incisions underneath the nose and/or at the side of the nostrils when there is extensive work to be done on the nasal tip, or when the size or shape of the nostrils is to be altered.
• Cartilage and Bone are remodeled. In some cases where the bridge of the nose needs to be narrowed, the nasal bones will need to be broken. This is done using a small hammer and chisel-type instrument. In other cases, the bone may be simply planed down by special instruments in order to remove an objectionable “hump.” In still other cases, the bone is not altered at all, but pieces of cartilage are removed and/or rearranged. It is at this point that any inner structures may be repaired or straightened if needed. For those patients who wish to build up a too-flat nose, the use of bone or cartilage grafts may be required.
• Excess skin is removed.If the nostrils are being narrowed, or if an excessively long nasal tip is to be shortened, there may be an excision of the excess skin at this point.
• Incisions are closed and bandaged. The surgeon closes the incisions with sutures and places gauze packing, exterior dressings, and possibly a splint on the new nose in order to protect it, to promote proper healing, and to control swelling.

 Call the office of Dr. Walter D. Gracia M.D., P.A. at (817) 336-9450 to schedule your first consult to see if a Rhinoplasty is right for you.