Recently, I have seen some good questions
regarding Rhinoplasty procedure and post-operation
procedure.
Well, it gave us the idea to ask Dr.Tavoussi
these questions to get the best answers
for those who are still doubtful whether
or not rhinoplasty
(nosejob) is the right decision for
them?
Q:
What is Rhinoplasty briefly?
A:
Rhinoplasty is cosmetic or reconstructive
surgery of the nose. It is often called
a nose job. A rhinoplasty can actually
correct many problems of the nose from
genetics, trauma, or disease and can also
fix many aesthetic problems too.
A hump a patient may have could be removed
to give a more pleasant look. The cartilages
of the nose can be molded or remodeled
and trimmed to create a more pleasing
shape. Rhinoplasty can bring balance and
harmony to the face.
Q:
At what age can
rhinoplasty surgery be performed?
A:
Generally speaking, rhinoplasty
is avoided before the face and its components
have completed their growth if it is for
pure cosmetic purposes only. (and it means
for most of the people it should performed
after the late teens. Rhinoplasties performed
on teenagers and young adults have often
benefits to a person's social development
and self-confidence.
In some older people, the aging process
shows itself in many ways in the nose
thus correction of flaws can add freshness
to the appearance and their faces.
Q:
What does a typical
rhinoplasty consultation mean for patients?
A:
A plastic surgery consultation will give
you the chance to meet the right surgeon
and discuss him/her what you really want
out of your rhinoplasty surgery and how
much of this ideal you have in mind is
accessible through your surgery. Your
doctor will discuss your goals with you
and will explain what can be achieved
in reality.
He will take into account your entire
face and bone structure to see what type
of nose would suit you best. He will give
you some computerized picture of your
face of how it would look after the surgery.
The rhinoplasty procedure highly depends
on the individual and result varies person
to person!
Q:
Is it improper to ask
to speak with other patients who have
had revision rhinoplasty done by the surgeon
I am considering?
A:
It is not improper at all, and we would
more than happy if you asked so. Usually
your surgeon has a referral list of previous
patients who could share their stories
with you.
Talking to prior patients is another good
way of ensuring that you are in a good
hand before you really go under the knife!
It usually gives you the idea who you
are doing to deal with as your facial
surgeon and a well-rounded opinion.
Q:
How is a rhinoplasty
performed?
A:
Your Rhinoplasty could be performed under
either local anesthesia or a general one.
It usually lasts about one and half to
two hours (depending on the complexity
of nose and bone structure) The surgeon
may use surgical tools to shave down a
hum, remove or rearrange cartilage, or
break and rearrange bone to reshape the
nose.
After he or she is done, the incisions
are closed. Your nose may be packed with
gauze or other material and a splint or
cast may be applied. You will be awakened
after the procedure and after two hours
of recovery, you can go home.
You must have someone to drive you home
since you will not be able, to drive yourself.
The packing usually comes out in a day
or two and the splint or cast, if you
have one, comes off in about 7 days.
Q:
What should I
expect after the surgery?
A:
For the first one or two days after your
rhinoplasty
you will not feel well. Your surgeon has
placed a dressing over your nose and a
gauze underneath your nose to catch blood.
You will also be told when to remove the
dressing but you will feel sore and headache
for a few days. Because the back of your
nose connects to your throat and stomach,
you may have swallowed some blood during
the surgery.
This can cause nausea and you may vomit
a black-looking mixture within a few hours
of surgery. Usually, nausea subsides after
you throw up. If you continue to vomit
and/or run a high fever, contact your
doctor immediately. The cast on your nose
may give you some discomfort feeling and
removing the cast could be somehow painful
for you.
You will need to sleep with your head
elevated for several days to a week after
your surgery. Bruising and swelling will
be present for several days after surgery
and your nose will be sensitive for about
a month and a half during your rhinoplasty
recovery.
Q:
When will the
cast be taken off and is this going to
be painful?
A:The
cast is usually removed bout 7 or 8 days
after procedure and this is not painful.
You may feel a little bit stiffness since
the swelling is moving downward. You should
be really careful not to bump your nose
for several weeks after the cast has been
removed since your nose is not as strong
as it used to be until almost 2 or 3 months
after the surgery.
Q:
When will I be
able to see the results?
A:
Some temporary swelling, black-and-blue
discoloration of your eyelids and numbness
can occur for two to three weeks after
nasal surgery. Rarely, this may last up
to six months, and subtle swelling may
take a year to resolve entirely.
Ice packs or cold compresses can help
reduce swelling and discoloration around
your eyes. Some people with sedentary
jobs go back to work after 3-5 days. If
your job, however, requires strenuous
activity then it may take as long as 3
weeks to return to work. Most people return
to work in about 1 week.
Q:
What are the risks of
rhinoplasty?
A:
Rhinoplasty is considered as one of the
safest surgeries but like any other surgical
procedures things can go wrong. Risk of
infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia
and bleeding. Even when a skilled surgeon
performs your surgery, sometimes your
body may not heal correctly or have adverse
reactions causing undesired results.
If is possible that you will need additional
surgery (Secondary Rhinoplasy) You may
lose your sense of smell for a period
of time. Visible scarring is usually minimal
if the incisions are made inside of the
nose, but if an open technique is used,
scars may be visible for some time.
You may also simply be unhappy with the
results. Rhinoplasty has the highest rate
of revision of cosmetic surgery.
Q:
How much does a rhinoplasty
cost?
A:
The cost depends on where you live and
how much work you need done on your nose.Prices
can vary even over the course of the year
and with the popularity of your surgeon.
On Average it ranges from $4500 to $7500.
If you need to stay overnight in hospital
or in a recovery center, it will cost
you extra. You can discuss the fee for
your procedure with your surgeon since
they usually have plans for you to pay
the fees. here may be extra fees for the
use of the surgical center or for the
anesthesia.
Find out what extra fees there will be
in advance. Some portions of some rhinoplasties
will be covered by your health insurance
if you have documented "breathing difficulties".
You need to contact your health insurer
to find out what could be covered. Your
surgeon's office can contact your health
insurer, but make sure that you get things
in writing from the insurer.
Q:
Any advice for African-American
persons on picking a plastic surgeon?
A:
Many African-Americans
look for a better looking nose but are
afraid to have rhinoplasty because they
are afraid of loosing some of their ethnic
features. This could happen if they pick
a surgeon who is unfamiliar with these
types of experiences. However, there are
plastic surgeons who understand African-American
rhinoplasty, and how to give you the nose
you want without making you lose your
heritage in the process.
This is true for Asian-American rhinoplasty
as well. The keypoint to rhinoplasty especially
in African-American noses or Asian-American
noses is experience dealing with these
noses. Don't assume that the surgeon must
be African-American to have the sensitivity
and skill you need. That may be true and
it might not be. You are looking for a
surgeon with skill, artistic sensibility,
to your needs, and those qualities are
not tied to any one skin color.
You could see Before/After
photos of previous patients to make
sure that your choice of plastic surgeon
is the right decision.
Q:
Thanks for your time and kind attention
to these questions Dr Tavoussi.
A:
You are welcome, I hope these Questions
and Answers have been useful to those
who keep thinking about rhinoplasty as
their next surgical procedure.
