Nose (rhinoplasty)

Q. In rhinoplasty, who decides the shape of the nose? The patient or the plastic surgeon?

A. The choice of the shape and the size of the nose is usually made by the plastic surgeon in partnership with the patient, taking into account the appearance of the face and the physical features of the patient as much as possible.

For example, if a woman is very tall, it is not appropriate to make an upturned nose, (i.e. one with a very high tip) because most people, being of short or medium height, would see only her nostrils. With a man it is preferable to make a straight nose - even if it is a bit larger - rather than a small and snub nose.

Sometimes, the surgeon may also propose slight modifications to the chin or the cheekbones, in order to make the face more shapely and well-proportioned.

Q. Can rhinoplasty correct breathing difficulties, too?

A. Yes. If necessary, rhinoplasty can be associated with septoplasty in order to correct the nasal deviation or other breathing difficulties such as snoring.

Q. How long should I wait before resuming my sports activity?

A. After rhinoplasty surgery, it is advisable not to risk traumas to the nose or face for at least one month, which is the time needed for the completion of the ossification process of the nose.

Q. I would like have surgery to alter the shape of my nose but how can I choose a good plastic surgeon?

A. Nose contouring surgery is one of the most difficult and complex operations of cosmetic surgery. When this kind of operation is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, experienced in nose contouring and in suitable facilities, the results are usually very good.

In choosing the plastic surgeon, the essential factors are experience, proven track record, skill and aesthetic sense. To this end, it can be useful to enquire about the number of the operations performed by that surgeon, to agree upon the possible modification of the shape, the profile and the appearance of your nose. Such corrections may be displayed through computer imaging of digital pictures of your face, although no surgeon will ever assure you 100 % as to the final result that will be achieved.

Q. I would like to know if, in rhinoplasty surgery, it is necessary to use swabs and if they are painful.

A. When performing rhinoplasty, we don’t use internal swabs (which can be very painful when being removed), nor do we when performing septoplasty together with rhinoplasty. In rare cases (about 2% of the total) is it necessary to apply swabs in order to stop unexpected bleeding.

Q. Is rhinoplasty painful? What kind of anesthetic is given?

A. Rhinoplasty is not a painful kind of surgery. The operation itself is definitely painless because it is performed under general anesthetic or under local anesthetic with sedation which means that the patient is awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain.

Q. In what facility can rhinoplasty be performed?

A. Rhinoplasty is normally performed under general anesthetic with one or two-day hospitalisation. Sometimes, very simple kinds of rhinoplasty may be performed under local anesthetic with sedation which means that you will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain and in outpatient care i.e. as a day case.

Q. After rhinoplasty, can the nose be operated on again? And how many times?

A. After nose surgery, it is possible to perform some re-touch jobs, even though the next operations are more and more difficult to do and the cosmetic improvement is less and less sure, especially when it comes to reconstructing a nose which, because of the first operation, may have become too small or slightly sunken.

Q. How long will I need to wait to appear in public?

A. The answer is very personal. Some people don’t worry about going out with band-aids and plasters on their noses (these will be removed 7 days after the operation), while others prefer to wait for the complete disappearance of the puffiness and the haematoma that often occur immediately after the operation and that can persist for about 7-10 days. The majority of patients are already presentable after plaster removal.

Q. When will I be able to wear glasses once again?

A. The use of glasses should be avoided for at least one month. If you can’t wear contact lenses, you’ll have to hold the glasses with your hand, making sure that the frame doesn’t rest on your nose.

Q. After plaster removal, will my nose show its definitive shape or will it still have to stabilize?

A. After plaster removal, the nose will look much puffier than it was before the operation, especially on the tip. The final shapely result, already evident after the first two weeks, will be definitively achieved about one year after the operation.