Rhinoplasty: How Does It Work? Article

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Rhinoplasty: How Does it Work?

Do you feel that your nose is too big, too hooked, too upturned, too wide, or too “fill in the blank”? Rhinoplasty, a nose job, can change your whole facial appearance by remodeling your nose.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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Although we usually look at a person’s eyes first, the nose is the most prominent facial feature, especially in profile. If it is somehow out of balance with your other facial features, it will dominate your face rather than being a harmonious part of it.

Modern cosmetic surgeons all offer rhinoplasty as a basic procedure for cosmetic facial enhancement. It can be done as an outpatient procedure, which means no general anesthesia is used and you can go home the same day. You would have a local anesthetic to block pain and a sedative to keep you relaxed and still. It is also done with general anesthesia in a hospital.

Who is a Good Rhinoplasty Candidate?
Virtually anybody with good general health can have rhinoplasty. You should be over about 15 years of age so that the nose has finished developing. There would be little benefit in having great surgical results later canceled out by facial growth.

In some cases, it is done on infants who are born with a genetic nose defect. It is also often done to correct injury sustained in an accident or assault and in that case, age is not a factor.

Nasal Structure Overview
Nose shape is determined by bone and cartilage. The nasal bone extends down from the forehead and stops part way down the nose. Cartilage takes over. There may be a cartilage hump on the ridge of the nose. Separate pieces of cartilage set the shape of the nasal sides and the tip. The septum divides the nostrils internally and the columella is the soft dividing tissue at the tip of the nose.

Open Rhinoplasty Technique
Nose surgery can be either closed or open in method. The open method uses small incisions across the columella and inside each nostril around the upper curve, which means that you will have no visible scar. Of course, there will be scars, because any time the skin is cut, there is always a scar. They are the skin’s way of healing itself by producing extra collagen to mend the cut or tear. But these little scars will be invisible to anyone looking at you.

Your cosmetic surgeon lifts the nasal skin up towards the forehead, away from the bone and cartilage. This gives him or her a clear view and easy access for making changes. The nasal shape is changed by removal of small pieces of cartilage or bone, or by grafting small pieces on. Dissolving stitches are used to close the incisions and nasal splints are inserted to keep the airway open while the nose heals.

Immediately after your rhinoplasty, there will be some bruising beneath the eyes and swelling in the upper face. They will gradually disappear. Your cosmetic surgeon will remove the splints and bandages after about a week and you will have a pain medication for as long as you need one. Depending on what your job is, you could return to it after seven to ten days, perhaps less.

Closed Rhinoplasty Technique
The difference between the closed and open techniques is the absence of any columella incision in the closed method. The surgeon therefore has less of an open view and a bit less freedom to make changes, which is why this technique is used for more minor changes. Incisions are made inside the nostrils only.

Whether you have an open or a closed rhinoplasty, the results will be partially evident as soon as bandages are removed. Sometimes the full results take longer to show, perhaps several months, but you will be very pleased with your new facial harmony and attractiveness..

Rhinoplasty for Better Breathing
Rhinoplasty can also be done for health reasons, if you have trouble with breathing. If you have a deviated septum (the bone dividing the nostrils), then one nostril is more narrow than the other and you probably cannot breathe so well during sleep. Nose surgery can reposition the septum to give you equally clear breathing on each side.

In some cases, the nose is particularly narrow so that both nostrils are narrow and that can cause some difficulty with breathing too. Your plastic surgeon can widen the whole nose to correct that problem.

When your rhinoplasty is done to improve breathing or to reconstruct the nose after an injury, health insurance companies will cover the cost. Many times nose surgery is done for both health and cosmetic reasons, in which case the insurance company will decide what proportion of the cost they will pay. That can be determined ahead of time, so ask your cosmetic surgeon how his office can help you with financing and dealing with the insurance company.

Be sure to choose a fully qualified cosmetic surgeon for your rhinoplasty. You would not want to have to go for a second surgery to correct the first one. Dr. David Broadway in Denver, Colorado is triple board certified and is especially qualified to do nose surgery of any kind. He offers a wide range of facial plastic surgery as well as breast and body enhancement.

About Author

If you are in Colorado, you can learn more about rhinoplasty and how it might enhance your facial appearance by contacting Dr. David Broadway.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-sara-goldstein-4751.html

Rhinoplasty: How Does it Work?