Rhinoplasty 
is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the United States. It is generally performed to reshape, augment, and reduce a person’s nose. People who want to reconstruct their nose, narrow the width of their nostrils, remove a ridge, or adjust the angle between their nose and the mouth can benefit from the rhinoplasty procedure. The medical causes include the need to correct an injury to the nose, birth defects, and to address and repair breathing issues in certain patients.
The results of the procedure depend on a variety of factors such as the patient’s nasal bone and cartilage structure, their age, and their facial shape.
Rhinoplasty Recovery
- Procedure: Rhinoplasty is conducted as an outpatient procedure where the patient is given local or general anesthesia depending on the complication level of the procedure. It generally lasts for one to two hours at the most, excluding procedures that require considerable work. The two techniques employed for the procedure include (1) An incision made within the nostrils, or (2) an incision along the vertical strip of skin between the nostrils. In both procedures the skin is lifted, the bone and the cartilage are chiseled to give the desired effect and the skin is replaced and sutures are applied.
- Recovery: Post-rhinoplasty, patients may have a dull headache which reduces in a matter of days. Due to the internal swelling of the nose, patients might experience congestion that lasts till the swelling subsides. It helps to use a saline spray and some prescribed ointment in the nose to prevent dryness and crusting and reduce irritation. Casts and stitches that are applied post-surgery need to be removed within 5 to 7 days’ time. During this time, it is advisable to rest and recuperate till you are totally ready to continue with your normal routine. It depends on each patient the time they take to recover completely and when they can start appreciating the changes caused by the procedure. Following the doctors’ instructions to a tee can help in a quick recovery from a rhinoplasty.
Interested in Learning More about Rhinoplasty? Contact Dr. Jennifer Walden
If you would like to know more about rhinoplasty, contact Dr. Jennifer Walden. You can call us at 512.328.4100 or visit us at our Austin office. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
