7 Rhinoplasty Facts You Should Know

Rhinoplasty can be divided into two major groups; cosmetic rhinoplasty which changes the nose for aesthetic reasons and reconstructive rhinoplasty which are conducted to restore noses that have been damaged because of accident, cancer or impaired nasal function.

This is a common surgery, with some interesting facts you should know:

1. Rhinoplasty is covered by insurance only if it is performed to rectify functional or reconstructive problems. Your surgeon will determine if any significant functional or reconstructive problems exist with your nose.

2. The surgery takes between 90-120 minutes, and longer in special circumstances. In fact, revision rhinoplasty procedures take more time, based on the exiting problems and techniques used to repair the condition.

3. The surgery is usually performed in an outpatient setting with a certified anaesthesiologist experienced in facial surgery providing anaesthesia.

4. Generally patients spend an hour in the recovery room after the surgery. While patients quickly awaken from anaesthesia, some effects last a day or so. Moreover, you end up with a tape or plastic splint on the outside of the nose. There may also be internal splints in case of a repaired deviated septum.

5. Drainage from the nose is normal and expected in the first few days. So if required, tape a gauze pad under the nose to catch the dripping for the first day or two. Bruising and swelling can be minimized by applying ice compresses to the eyes for the first day.

6. The amount of pain and discomfort to expect from the rhinoplasty varies and depends on the type of procedure performed. Usually pain medication is required only for the first few days.

Splints are removed a week after the surgery wherein you can return to work or school. However the final surgical results can be seen only after 12 months because of the slow resolution of skin swelling and soft nasal tissues.

7. You can return to your normal activities once the initial dressings are removed. Any swelling is resolved over a few months’ time while any residual bruising resolves in a few days’ time. The healing process is a bit slow after this surgery because of the thickness of the skin and the soft tissue of the nasal tip region. It is not possible to quicken the healing process.

However it is better to refrain from doing any strenuous activities for a fortnight so that the nasal bones can set in and gain stability. Just do some light work, moving around and some sedentary desk work. Aerobic exercise can be started after 2 weeks’ time while it’s better to avoid contact sports for at least 6 weeks.

To learn more about rhinoplasty contact Schusterman Plastic Surgery in Houston today!