Aesthetic Rhinoplasty

Many people are concerned about the shape of their nose and turn to rhinoplasty for cosmetic reasons (that is, to improve the appearance of their nose). In this case, the goal of the operation would be to make the nose look straight and make you less concerned about it. Therefore, it is very important that you have clarified in your mind what your dissatisfaction with your nose is and explain this as well as you can to your surgeon. They will then tell you what is surgically possible and what is not. Most of those who are dissatisfied with their nose have concerns about the bridge or tip.

You will have a meeting with the surgeon to discuss why you want surgery and what exactly you want. The surgeon will take note of any illnesses you suffer from or have suffered from in the past. They will also be informed about any medication you are taking, including herbal remedies and medicines not prescribed by your doctor. The surgeon will examine your nose and may take some photographs for medical records. They will ask you to sign a form regarding consent for the collection, storage, and use of photographs.
The surgeon will measure your height and weight to ensure it is safe for you to have this operation. If you are overweight, pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, the surgeon may suggest postponing the operation.

Maintaining a state of health as good as possible and a weight appropriate to your age and height will help with a quick recovery, without complications. If you smoke, quit smoking six weeks before the operation; this will help with healing and reduce the chances of complications.

You should not remove/shave hair from the vicinity of the areas where the cuts will be placed on the skin. Maintaining strict hygiene will help reduce the risk of infection.

Rhinoplasty for the purpose of changing the shape of the nose is performed either from inside the nostrils (called closed rhinoplasty) or by making a small incision between the nostrils and lifting the skin (this is called open rhinoplasty). The precise nature of the operation will depend on the area of the nose being treated. The scar can be straight, V-shaped, or zigzag.

Modifying the nasal bridge
If the operation is performed on the nasal bridge, the surgeon removes the bone and cartilage that causes the “hump.” The nose may be broken so that the remaining pieces of bone can be moved closer together to narrow the nose.

Changing the nasal tip
If the nasal tip is operated on, the cartilage that forms the support for the tip must be partially removed or reshaped. This can be done through closed or open rhinoplasty surgery.

Changing the length of the nose
Your surgeon will adjust and reduce the septum to help reduce the tip and decrease the overall length of the nose. Adjusting the cartilage at the tip of the nose can also reduce the length of the nose.

Modifying the width of the nose
Your surgeon can reduce the width of the nose by narrowing it, by breaking the nasal bones and repositioning them closer to the central septum.

Increasing the bridge or tip of the nose
Surgeons can use bone or cartilage or an implant to change the contour of a flat bridge or nasal tip. This is called supplementary rhinoplasty or augmentation rhinoplasty. The bone or cartilage used can be taken from the nose (nasal bone or septum) or from other places such as the ribs, hip, or ear.

Modifying the septum
If your nose has been flattened by an accident, the septum could be bent, making breathing difficult. Sometimes this can be modified at the same time as rhinoplasty or as a separate operation.

Usually the operation is performed under general anesthesia and lasts 2-4 hours depending on complexity. Usually patients stay one night in the hospital but this is not mandatory.

There is no surgical alternative to rhinoplasty. Sometimes, only surgery inside the nose is needed to resolve nasal airway problems. Non-surgical options, such as fillers, can be used as temporary treatment for cosmetic purposes.

The first few days

On the first day after rhinoplasty, you may feel a sensation of facial congestion and some pain around the nose, possibly having a slight headache. This discomfort can be controlled with medications prescribed by your plastic surgeon. You will need to keep your head elevated on the first day after surgery.

Patients usually have slight bleeding, as well as swelling and bruising around their eyes in the first days, which is completely normal. It is somewhat common to have an unpleasant appearance in the first days initially, but after about 3 days, the swelling and bruising will stabilize and begin to fade gradually. Carefully applying cold compresses to these swollen and bruised areas can help you feel more comfortable.

1 to 2 weeks

Most swelling and bruising disappears in 2 to 3 weeks. Within a few weeks of rhinoplasty, you will begin to look and feel better. You will most likely return to work as long as your work is not too strenuous. After 1 week, the external splint will be removed. During this period, the septal splints that are inserted into each nostril at the end of the operation and maintained for a few days to a week will also be removed.

Restrictions during recovery

You should avoid exercises and activities that may increase your blood pressure. In general, you will want to pay more attention to protecting your nose when bathing or applying makeup. If you wear glasses, you will need to be very careful not to let them rest on the nasal bridge until it heals properly, usually within a month to a month and a half.

Exposure to direct sunlight or in tanning salons. Exposure to the sun causes skin damage. Exposure of operated areas and suture lines can lead to poor healing and hypo or hyperpigmentation color changes. Patients who want to expose themselves to the sun to tan should inform their doctor and postpone this activity until it is risk-free. The harmful effects of sun exposure also occur when using sunscreens.
Travel. Any surgical procedure involves possible risks and complications that can delay healing and return to normal life. Please notify the surgeon of travel plans, important meetings planned so that the planning of the operation can be done efficiently. However, there are no guarantees that you will be able to return to planned activities on time.
Long-term results. Changes in the results of the surgical procedure may occur over time due to aging. sun exposure, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, menopause or other circumstances unrelated to the procedure itself.
Information for female patients. It is important to inform the surgeon if you are using contraceptives or if you have the slightest suspicion that you may be pregnant. Many antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.
Intimate relations after the surgical procedure. Surgery involves the coagulation of blood vessels to stop bleeding and physical activity of any kind can cause the opening of vessels and bleeding and/or hematoma formation. Activities that increase pulse and heart rate can cause additional bruising and bruising, inflammation and the need to open the operation to control bleeding.