Magazine Feature - Rivaaj, June 2007
Rhinoplasty, Nose Jobs, and Nose Reshaping
Whether you call it a “nose job“, or “nose reshaping“, they are both terms commonly used to describe: Rhinoplasty. It is critical to understand, however, that one of the nose's many functions is the passage of air for breathing, and that this function can also be improved during rhinoplasty, e.g. by fixing a deviated septum.
Most Common Reason for Rhinoplasty
The most common reasons for nose reshaping are to remove the “hump“ on the bridge of the nose, to refine the tip of the nose, to lift up the tip of the nose if it is “droopy“, or just to reduce the size of a large but otherwise pleasant appearing nose. Most often, these problems are just a reflection of a person's natural anatomy, but they can also be a result of prior injury or birth defect.
Rhinoplasty is often described as being a “surgery of millimeters“; since even the most minor alterations can result in dramatic changes in appearance and function. Remember that the nose is a very complex structure and it must remain in harmony with the proportions of the face. A nose that looks beautiful on one person's face might very well look terrible on another's.
The key challenges for a plastic surgeons are to be able to determine what the patient's individual goals are, if these goals are reasonable and attainable, what surgical steps are necessary, and then to carry out the operation as planned. Since the external nose is composed of bone, cartilage, and soft tissue, many variables are involved in the overall appearance of the nose, and this is why rhinoplasty is thought to be one of the most challenging operations in cosmetic surgery.
Closed verses Open Rhinoplasty
The overall technique for performing rhinoplasty can be simplified into two major approaches: closed or open. A closed rhinoplasty is where the entire surgery is performed from the inside of the nose, without leaving any visible external scars. An open rhinoplasty is where all the cartilage and structure of the nose is exposed by making an incision across the bottom of the nose, allowing the skin to be lifted completely off. I personally prefer the closed rhinoplasty since it does not leave a visible scar and I believe it provides faster healing time with less swelling. However, in very complex cases, the open rhinoplasty can be necessary.
Rhinoplasty is performed under Light Sedation
The operation is performed either under light sedation with local anesthesia or under general anesthesia, and usually takes 1 - 2 hours. After surgery, you will have a plastic splint on your nose, and there will of course be some discomfort for several days. You should expect bruising around the eyes and nose, as well as swelling. The bruising will usually last 1 - 2 weeks, while the swelling takes about three months to dissipate. After the splint comes off in 1 - 2 weeks, you will notice gradual changes occurring until the skin finally conforms to the new dimensions of your nose over several months.
So should you call a plastic surgeon immediately to schedule your consultation? Only if you have already thought long and hard about what you want and why. The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who have realistic expectations.
Earliest Recorded Rhinoplasty
Note:
The earliest recorded rhinoplasty surgery was actually developed in ancient India about 2,600 years ago, by Sushruta. The nose has been called the “organ of respect“ in many cultures, and, therefor, was often subject to mutilation as penalty for various crimes in ancient India. In his text, Sushruta Samhita, Sushruta details the procedure that was commonly used to reconstruct a nose using skin from the forehead, a principle that is still used to this very day!
Dr. Savalia practices at: 20072 S. Birch St., Suite 210,
Newport Beach, CA 92660, Tel: and 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 890W, Santa Monica, CA 90404, Tel: (310) 829-5977. He can be reached at: drsavalia@finesse-aesthetics.com. For further information please check www.finesse-aesthetics.com
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