Understand the Healing Process After Your Rhinoplasty

After your rhinoplasty surgery, your board certified plastic surgeon will warn you of the healing process and what you should expect. Directly after surgery, your nose is not going to look like it permanently will. Many factors will play into the final product: thickness of skin, the nature and thickness of your tissues, and your personal healing ability.

It is also a possibility that you may need to do a “retouch” procedure. This is common.

After your procedure, here are a few things to expect:

1.      You will take prescribed medicine for a few days following the surgery because you will be in mild discomfort.

2.      Discoloration will occur, a mild degree of black and blue. It will take approximately two to three weeks to fade. Many patients use make up to cover up the discoloration, however you should consult with your surgeon regarding the ingredients.

3.      Take vitamin C for weeks after surgery, as it will minimize bruising.

4.      There will be a small amount of bleeding – however, if you experience a lot of bleeding you need to call your doctor immediately.

5.      Breathing may not feel normal, as this is expected. You may feel congested.

6.      The scar tissue will not heal completely for three to six months.

7.      Do not expose yourself to direct sun light and continue using sunscreen.

The most important thing is to follow your instinct. If you think that something is wrong, it is at your discretion to contact your surgeon immediately.

To learn more about rhinoplasty or other facial plastic surgery procedures, contact Seattle’s highly rated plastic surgery Dr. Bill Portuese at (206) 624-6200 

Plastic Surgery Statistics 2010 - Who's Getting What?

In a report released from Annual Survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, in 2010, women were responsible for 83 percent of all surgical and non-surgical procedures.

For women under the age of 35, Botox was the most common non-surgical procedure, hyaluronic acid injections were runner up and microdermabrasion and chemical peels came in last.

Of all surgical procedures, facelifts, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and ablative skin resurfacing were the most popular among women.

Between ages of 22 and 34, the most common procedure was rhinoplasty. Eighty-four percent of all rhinoplasty procedures were performed on this age group.

Do not let the men fool ya! Males are most commonly associated with hair transplants. However – in the last year, the amount of men receiving Botox, hyaluronic acid injections and rhinoplasty procedures has gone up.

What is a Rhinoplasty?

What is a Rhinoplasty?

Many people are unaware that the medical terminology for a “nose job” is in fact, a rhinoplasty. Do not worry – you are not the only one.

A rhinoplasty procedure is the cosmetic reshaping of the structure of your nose. While some nasal procedures are for cosmetic reasons, others may need the procedure for breathing problems like a septoplasty. If you are interested in a rhinoplasty, it is important to note that they are only advised if your facial structure has been fully established. Therefore, nose jobs are only intended for those who are finished growing completely. Generally, in females this is about 16-years-old and for males, around 17-years-old.

Procedure Details

The procedure itself greatly depends on what is being done, which will determine the scope of work. This can range from an hour to an hour and a half.  Depending on the facial plastic surgeon, some work from the inside of the nose and makes their incisions within the nostrils. This is closed rhinoplasty.  However, if you have a complicated procedure, you may be the subject to an open surgery, meaning an incision may across the columella, as is known as open rhinoplasty.  Due to the complexity of these surgeries, you may wear a small splint to maintain the new shape of your nose.

Results

After a rhinoplasty, your bone, skin and cartilage of your nose will be reshaped. The cartilage may be grafted from inside the nose in order to achieve a desired shape. This can change the size, angle, width, and narrow the bridge of the nose.

Talk to your Doctor

Most facial plastic surgeons use general anesthesia for the septoplasty and rhinoplasty. Look for a board certified anesthesiologist to perform your anesthesia.

If you are curious about a rhinoplasty, click here to see before and after photos of several surgeries. Seattle facial plastic surgeon Dr. William Portuese is well-known in his field, specializing in rhinoplasty procedures. Call The Seattle Rhinoplasty Center at (206) 624-6200 and set up your appointment today.