Nose Jobs

About Nose Jobs (Rhinoplasty)

Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, is a popular cosmetic procedure usually undertaken to improve the overall appearance and balance of the face by altering the shape and/or size of the nose. Not all nose jobs are done for cosmetic reasons. The operation can also be done to reconstruct noses damaged in accidents, to fix structural imperfections that cause breathing problems, or fix birth defects.

WhetherNose jobs are one of the oldest forms of plastic surgery. Noses may be reduced or increased in size, the shape and contour of the tip and bridge of the nose can be altered, and the nostrils can be narrowed or reshaped.

Patients considering a rhinoplasty should be aged at least in their mid to late teens, when the nose's shape has settled and the nasal bone is fully matured. A nose job may be performed under a general or local anesthetic depending on the scale of the operation. In all nose jobs, however, the skin and the nose's bone and cartilage must be separated and repositioned. It is the amount of reshaping required that largely determines how long the procedure takes. Incisions are usually made inside the nostril, and sometimes in the skin between the two nostrils. The surgery will usually take less than two hours and is generally performed as an outpatient operation.

Pre-surgery consultations with the doctor are essential so that patients are clear and have a realistic understanding of what the operation can achieve. However, sometimes even the most minor of physical changes can cause a marked difference in someone's appearance.

Generally speaking, getting a nose job is one of the less expensive cosmetic surgeries, but costs can still vary considerably and will include extras on top of the actual surgery, including anesthesia and other fees. Hospitals and clinics all over the world now offer the procedure and patients can consider a number of possible locations to have the surgery performed.

As with any surgery, there are some risks involved in having a nose job. Patients may suffer from bleeding or infection or adverse reactions to the anesthetic. Also there is a risk of burst blood vessels in the nose which can result in red spots or minor scarring under the nose. In instances where this happens, patients will usually undertake a second procedure some time later to correct the affected tissue.

All nose job patients should expect swelling and bruising around the eyes and cheeks in the days immediately after the surgery, and the head should be kept elevated for 48 hours.