Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty: Nose Surgery

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty performed in 2013

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty from 2013

Prior to the rhinoplasty procedure, photographs are taken in order to study the nose and face and plan the nose surgery much the same as a builder plans a house. In this way the object is not only to improve the shape of the nose but also the appearance of the entire face. Our goal at Michigan Facial Aesthetic Surgeons is for other people to not even notice the changes in your nose because our goal is accentuate other features during rhinoplasty. Most commonly, rhinoplasties bring out your eyes.

Visit Rhinoplasty Michigan which focuses on Deviated Septum correction and Revision Rhinoplasty.

Nose Surgery Procedure

The nose surgery may be performed either through small incisions completely inside the nose, called an endonasal, or a closed rhinoplasty through an open approach in which a small incision is made along the base of your nose. Depending on your specific deformities we may recommend one approach over another.

The procedure usually takes about 2 to 3 hours and can be done under both local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. All rhinoplasty procedures are performed at one of our accredited hospital or surgical centers near you in southeastern Michigan and Detroit. At the completion of surgery, a small adhesive tape-compound splint is applied to the nose and sometimes a small amount of soft packing is placed just inside the nostril (not the entire nasal passage). The premedication taken during the week prior to surgery plays a tremendous part in the reduction of swelling and discoloration. The dressings and the packing are removed in the office about 5 or 6 days following the nose surgery.

At the end of one week most of the swelling and discoloration about the eyes has disappeared in 90% of patients. Some swelling is present in diminishing amounts for several weeks; the patient is particularly conscious of this in the morning when first arising and notices that it is much reduced as the day progresses. If work needs to be done on the nasal septum, there may be a varying degree of nasal blockage after the dressings are removed. Medicines may be given to relieve this. The average patient may return to work about a week after surgery.

After all dressings have been removed, the patient visits the office several times over the following year in order to check for progress. During this time, the patient must be very careful that the nose is not injured in any way. Protection must be taken from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Eyeglasses must not be worn unless they are suspended from the forehead with adhesive tape for the first 6 weeks. The nose may be gently blown after 3 weeks. The use of nasal saline irrigation and ointments is very important during this period to ensure proper healing. There is no contraindication to gently cleaning the outside of the nose, or to the use of cosmetics. It is not advisable to lift heavy weights or do heavy aerobic exercise for 2 weeks after surgery. It is however very important to move and remain active in the immediate post-operative procedure.

Several facts should be understood about rhinoplasty

• 1
• When the dressings are first removed, the nose appears turned up too much due to the effects of the bandage and the swelling of the tissues. Therefore the patient who expects to see a perfectly shaped nose as soon as the dressings are removed will suffer keen disappointment. It is over the ensuing weeks and months that the final results is achieved, usually by 12 months.

• 2
• It is important that the patient’s motives for surgical aid are realistic. Plastic surgery is not a panacea or cure-all for all the problems one might have. This requires a mature and educated patient.

• 3
• In like manner, the tissues within the nose are somewhat swollen after surgery; therefore, progressively decreasing amounts of nasal blockage should be expected for a time following the average uncomplicated rhinoplasty.
  

• 4
• In about 99% of the cases the operation is absolutely painless. Most people require pain medication only once or twice.

• 5
• Noses that have been severely injured (as from boxing, football, or an automobile accident) or those that are markedly crooked or have been operated on before are technically difficult to correct. Our surgeons try to make the necessary correction in one operation and succeed in the vast majority of cases, but sometimes a short additional procedure is necessary.

• 6
• The thicker the skin, the longer it takes for the nose to return to its final shape.