A symmetrical face is often desired by people worldwide. And since the nose sticks out the most, it’s no wonder rhinoplasty or a nose job is so sought after. A good rhinoplasty can help you achieve the desired shape & alleviate medical conditions like snoring or a deviated septum. Let’s see how nose surgery done at the best plastic surgery clinic in Bangalore help you. With planning & expert cosmetic surgeons, we can achieve good results in nearly all cases.
Fun fact: Rhinoplasty is regarded as one of the more difficult cosmetic surgeries
Q: Please explain the process of a patient getting a rhinoplasty?
A patient comes in for a consultation & we analyse the shape of their nose, for functionality & aesthetics. We also go over the expectations that the patients have with their treatments. Several aspects of the face like various distances are evaluated for facial symmetry. We take extensive measurements to provide a thorough evaluation of the face.
Once all the measurements are done, we customize a plan based on the requirements & what’s surgically possible. These changes are then simulated on a computer over a picture of the patients face. It can give you an idea of how the end results will look like, although it’s important to understand that this is only a simulation, and the actual results can vary.
Q: So, why does one undergo rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty in done for three major reasons:
- Cosmetic: To improve the appearance of the nose
- Functional: To resolve breathing issues
- Secondary: To improve results from past treatments
Cosmetic rhinoplasty is performed to improve the aesthetics of the nose. It is performed to improve the look of the patient and can involve:
- Change height or width of the nose
- Make tip sharper, more prominent
- Raise the tip
- Narrow base of nose
- Reduce nostril size
Functional rhinoplasty is performed in patients with breathing issues. Medical conditions such as:
- Repairing injuries to the nose,
- Deviated nasal septum
can cause difficulties in breathing. Functional rhinoplasty can bring about a big change in patient’s lives.
Secondary rhinoplasty is the most challenging of the three. These are performed on patients who have been operated on by a cosmetic surgeon already & the patient wants to further make changes to the aesthetics of the nose. If not done properly, rhinoplasty can leave the patient with aesthetic or functional problems. These cases are challenging and have to be treated with specialised caution.
Q: How does a typical rhinoplasty go?
Rhinoplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure, i.e. the patient can leave after the surgery, with the application of splint covered by gauze & bandages. The procedure is done under general anaesthesia for larger modifications and under local anaesthesia for minor changes.
- A small incision is made on the inside of the nostril.
- The changes as selected upon in the plan are performed on the bone, cartilage & the softer tissue. Sutures & grafts are used based on the requirement. This also takes care of the functional aspects like deviated septum & septal spur.
- Since changes are made to the cartilage, there might not be a lot left for secondary rhinoplasty. In those cases, cartilage is extracted from other areas of the body.
- The incisions are closed upon achieving the desired shape, and a splint is applied to avoid movement in the area.
Q: Are there any visible scars?
The incisions are made on the inside of the nostril, so the sutures are not seen. In some cases, there may be scars visible on the bottom of the columella. These can be avoided by closed rhinoplasty, where all required incisions are made inside the nose.
Q: Can rhinoplasty happen without surgery?
There’s a new technique that’s becoming popular recently. Also known as non-surgical rhinoplasty. It is a purely cosmetic procedure and cannot provide functional improvements. It can be used to hide a bump, or to make the tip of the nose look sharper. This procedure is performed by injecting fillers as required in appropriate areas. The patient can leave in about an hour. The results of the procedure last for about a year.
A word of caution though, since there’s no surgery involved, does not mean it’s an easy surgery. Improper filler injections can cause serious problems down the line.
What happens after the surgery?
After the nose is sutured close, nasal splint & gauze is applies for a week after the surgery. Slight swelling and bruising can be seen for about two weeks after the surgery. Patients can return to work within 7-10 days. Strenuous exercises swimming or heavy physical activities should be avoided for next 3-6 weeks. We would also advise avoiding situations leading to broken noses.
Significant changes can be seen in ~2-12 weeks after the surgery, minor differences will be visible over the next 6 months. We advise not using Face-ID on your phone during this period.
So, what should patients look out for?
If performed incorrectly, it can lead to breathing problems. So due diligence is necessary when looking for the best rhinoplasty surgeon in Bangalore. Only plastic and ENT surgeons are qualified to do this procedure. In addition to their qualification, check if they have specialized training in rhinoplasty, and also look at their results to see if they have a record of performing these procedures well.