Rhinoplasty
Definition
Rhinoplasty is surgery to repair or reshape the nose.
See also: Septoplasty
Alternative Names
Cosmetic nose surgery
Description
Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the exact procedure and the patient's preference. It may be performed in a surgeon's office, a hospital, or an outpatient surgery center. Complex procedures may require a short hospital stay. The procedure usually takes 1 -2 hours, but may take longer.
With local anesthesia, the nose and the area around it is numbed. You will probably be lightly sedated, but awake during the surgery (relaxed and not feeling pain). General anesthesia allows the patient to sleep through the operation, and is typically used in children.
The surgery is usually done through a cut made inside the nostrils. In some cases, the cut may be made from outside, around the base of the nose. This type of cut is used to perform work on the tip of the nose, or if you need a cartilage graft.
A splint (metal or plastic) may be placed on the outside of the nose. This helps maintain the new shape of the bone when the surgery is finished. Soft plastic splints or nasal packs also may be placed in the nostrils to keep the dividing wall between the air passages (septum) stable.
Risks
The risks of any anesthesia are:
- Reactions to medications
- Problems breathing
The risks of any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Bruising
After surgery, small burst blood vessels may occasionally appear as tiny red spots on the skin's surface. They are usually minor, but are permanent. There are no visible scars if the rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose. If the procedure narrows flared nostrils, there may be small scars at the base of the nose that are not usually visible.
Rarely, a second procedure may be needed to fix a minor deformity.
Reviewed By: David A. Lickstein, MD, FACS, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
