Everything you need to know about rhinoplasty?

Are you unhappy with the aesthetics of your nose? You’re not alone. Nose reshaping is the second most requested cosmetic procedure in the world. Rhinoplasty has the potential to improve the facial balance that a well-shaped nose provides dramatically.

“An attractive face is all about balance & proportion. The nose, located front and centre, provides the foundation for this sense of aesthetic balance. With the help of a skilled, qualified cosmetic surgeon, the nose can reshape and refined to enhance a patient’s natural beauty.”

Dr Kartik Poonja stated that quote. He is one of the leading dentists in Vashi having years of experience and in-depth knowledge in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Along with dentistry, Dr Kartik Poonja specializes in aesthetic medicine, hair transplantation, and plastic surgery. There are many such experienced and skilled dentists in India’s major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai etc.

Let’s first understand what rhinoplasty is:

  • In general, a rhinoplasty is altering the external appearance of the nose. If we are changing the internal part of the nose, the septum, which controls airflow, then we call that a septoplasty. You can do both, and we call that a septorhinoplasty. What will be the most important thing is someone that has realistic expectations. Getting a rhinoplasty is not going to turn your face into a 20-year-old model, and you’re not going to get a 20-year-old model nose if you’re 80 years old. To a degree, it’s nice to bring those pictures in because it gives us some guidance as to what you want to achieve.
  • However, your anatomy dictates what’s possible. Not everyone can have every single nose out there. Coming in with an open mind and being able to receive our recommendations, and our feedback will determine whether you’re the right candidate for the operation. In terms of the youngest that surgeons would do a purely cosmetic rhinoplasty depends on the patient and on how fully mature they are mentally as well as, skeletally.

Another thing that makes all rhinoplasty a little different is people’s cultural or ethnic views. When people want a powerful Roman nose, and they want a very high bridge and maybe even want to keep a bump. While others are looking for a much more refined bridge, a small button on it which we would consider perhaps even more of a juvenile or feminine look, but that’s the look that they would like.

Now, let’s understand what happens during surgery.

You have to be sure that whatever surgeon you choose has some experience with your ethnicity

or with different nationalities. Patients that have an extensive base their goal is to have a narrower nose, it’s an additional surgical procedure. Surgeons make incisions on the outside of the nose to narrow the base. To a degree, it depends on what part of the country you’re getting your rhinoplasty in. Surgeons generally recommend that you get your procedure done relatively close to where you are, if possible. Depending on the complexity of the operation and time taken for the surgery, the cost can vary. Usually, Rhinoplasty surgery takes about 1.5 to 3 hours. But it may vary based on the complexity of the case.

What is the difference between rhinoplasty and septoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a surgery to change the shape of the nose. It is performed not only to change the way the nose looks but also to improve breathing through the nose.

Septoplasty is a surgery to improve breathing by straightening the wall inside the nose that divides the nasal passages into a right and a left side. When the septum is crooked, it can make it harder to breathe through the nose. Surgeons can do that with rhinoplasty.

Usually, the external appearance of the nose is considered cosmetic, meaning that insurance does not cover that. And the internal build, if you’re having problems breathing or restrictive airflow as it goes past the septum, sometimes insurance will cover those. There can be a combination of two, so a patient can have an external rhinoplasty, doing it for cosmetic reasons like they have a bump or something they want to get remove. And they also have trouble breathing; their insurance company may cover the septoplasty.

What are the risks associated with rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a usually safe surgical procedure, but as with any surgery, things can go wrong. The most common risks during rhinoplasty surgery are:

  • Infection
  • Adverse reaction to the anaesthesia
  • Excessive bleeding.

What is the recovery duration after rhinoplasty?

Recovery after rhinoplasty is relatively short. Even though some of those people look a little rough, they’re usually not requiring much pain medication. So, you’ll feel pretty good within a couple of days. You will look okay once the splint comes off but again, you may still have a little bruising. And you’ll be looking completely concealable within three to four weeks. You need to wait all of one year until you have all the swelling out of the tip and you get to see that final refined result. Rhinoplasty results keep going forever, although the standard maturing procedure may influence the shape and size of the nose gently.