| What is rhinoplasty? |
Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is one of the most common of all cosmetic surgery procedures.
Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge,
narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip.
I approach rhinoplasty as a form of balancing. By thinking of the nose as divided into an upper,
middle, and lower third, I can enhance, narrow and refine each area individually. In many cases, these
procedures can be combined with functional nasal surgery to help enhance breathing when indicated.
In one patient I may reduce the size of the nose, while in another I may actually increase the projection
of the nose, and in yet another I might make only a subtle refinement of the structures that define the nose tip.
Each patient is different and for each patient I formulate an individual plan.
Through computer imaging and patient evaluation we can define a nose that balances and enhances the patient's
face without detracting from the other features.
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| How much recovery time is required? |
Most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days, and able to return to school or sedentary
work a week or so following surgery. It will be several weeks, however, before you're entirely up to speed.
Your surgeon will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They're
likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, sexual relations-any
activity that increases your blood pressure) for two to three weeks. Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or
getting it sunburned, for eight weeks. Be gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.
You can wear contact lenses as soon as you feel like it, but glasses are another story. Once the splint is off,
they'll have to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for another six to seven weeks, until your
nose is completely healed.
Your surgeon will schedule frequent follow-up visits in the months after surgery, to check on the progress of
your healing. If you have any unusual symptoms between visits, or any questions about what you can and can't do,
don't hesitate to call your doctor.
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