Rhinoplasty

Overview

Rhinoplasty (RIE-no-plas-tee) is surgery that changes the shape of the nose. The motivation for rhinoplasty may be to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing or both.

The upper portion of the structure of the nose is bone, and the lower portion is cartilage. Rhinoplasty can modify bone, cartilage, skin or all three. Talk with your surgeon about whether rhinoplasty is appropriate for you and what it can achieve.

When planning rhinoplasty, your surgeon will consider your other facial features, the skin on your nose and what you would like to change. If you are a candidate for surgery, your surgeon will develop a customized plan for you.

Sometimes part or all of a rhinoplasty is covered by insurance.

Why it's done

Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape or proportions of your nose. It may be done to repair deformities from an injury, correct a birth defect or improve some breathing difficulties.

Risks

As with any major surgery, rhinoplasty carries risks such as bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. Other possible risks specific to rhinoplasty include:

Recurring nosebleeds
Difficulty breathing through your nose
Permanent numbness in and around your nose
Possibility of an uneven-looking nose
Pain, discoloration or swelling that may persist
Scarring
Hole in the septum (septal perforation)

Talk to your doctor about how these risks apply to you.

How you prepare

Before scheduling rhinoplasty, you must meet with your surgeon to discuss important factors that determine whether the surgery is likely to work well for you. This meeting generally includes:

Your medical history. The most important question your doctor will ask you is about your motivation for surgery and your goals. Your doctor will also ask questions about your medical history — including a history of nasal obstruction, surgeries and any medications you take. If you have a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia, you may not be a candidate for rhinoplasty.
A physical exam. Your doctor will conduct a complete physical examination, including any laboratory tests, such as blood tests. He or she also will inspect your skin and the inside and outside of your nose. The physical exam helps your doctor determine what changes need to be made and how your physical features — for example, the thickness of your skin or the strength of the cartilage at the end of your nose — may affect your results. The physical exam is also critical for determining the impact of rhinoplasty on your breathing.
Photographs. Someone from your doctor's office may take photographs of your nose from different angles. Your surgeon may use computer software to manipulate the photos to show you what kinds of results are possible. Your doctor will use these photos for before-and-after assessments, reference during surgery and long-term reviews. Most importantly, the photos permit a specific discussion about the goals of surgery.
A discussion of your expectations. You and your doctor should talk about your motivations and expectations. He or she will explain what rhinoplasty can and can't do for you and what your results might be. It's normal for people to feel a little self-conscious discussing their appearance, but it's very important that you're open with your surgeon about your desires and goals for surgery. Sometimes your surgeon may speak with you about performing a surgery to augment your chin. This is because a small chin will create the illusion of a larger nose. It's not required to have chin surgery in those circumstances, but it may better balance the facial profile.

Once the surgery is scheduled, you'll need to arrange for someone to drive you home if you're having an outpatient procedure.

For the first few days after anesthesia, you may have lapses of memory, slowed reaction time and impaired judgment. So arrange for a family member or friend to stay with you a night or two to help with personal care tasks as you recover from surgery.

Food and medications

Avoid medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) for two weeks before and after surgery. These medications may increase bleeding. Take only those medications approved or prescribed by your surgeon.

If you smoke, stop smoking. Smoking slows the healing process after surgery and may make you more likely to get an infection.

What you can expect

Rhinoplasty is not a procedure with a set series of steps. Each operation is unique and is customized for the specific anatomy and goals of the person undergoing the procedure.

Rhinoplasty may be done inside your nose or through a small external incision at the base of your nose, between your nostrils. Your surgeon will likely readjust the bone and cartilage underneath your skin.

Your surgeon can augment your nasal bone or cartilage in several ways, depending on how much needs to be added, the structure of your nose and available materials. For small changes, the surgeon may use cartilage harvested from deeper inside your nose or from your ear. For larger requirements, the surgeon can use cartilage from your rib, implants or bone from other parts of your body.

During the surgery

Rhinoplasty requires local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the surgery and your surgeon's preferences. Discuss with your doctor beforehand which kind of anesthesia is best in your case.

Local anesthesia with sedation. This type of anesthesia is usually used in an outpatient setting and is limited to a specific area of your body. Your doctor injects a pain-numbing medication into your nasal tissues and sedates you with medication injected through an intravenous (IV) line. This makes you groggy but not fully asleep.
General anesthesia. You receive the drug (anesthetic) by inhaling it or through an IV line — a small tube placed in a vein in your hand, neck or chest. General anesthesia affects your entire body and induces a temporary state of unconsciousness. General anesthesia requires a breathing tube.

After the surgery, you'll be in a recovery room, where the staff monitors your return to wakefulness. You might leave later that day or, if you have other health issues, you might stay overnight.

After the surgery

After the surgery you need to rest in bed with your head raised higher than your chest, to reduce bleeding and swelling. Your nose may be congested because of swelling or from the splints placed inside your nose during surgery.

In most cases, the internal dressings remain in place for one to seven days after surgery. Your doctor also tapes a splint to your nose for protection and support. It's usually in place for about one week.

Slight bleeding and drainage of mucus and old blood are common for a few days after the surgery or after removing the dressing. Your doctor may place a "drip pad" — a small piece of gauze held in place with tape — under your nose to absorb drainage. Change the gauze as directed by your doctor. Don't place the drip pad tight against your nose.

To further decrease the chances of bleeding and swelling, your doctor may ask that you follow these precautions for several weeks after surgery:

Avoid strenuous activities such as aerobics and jogging.
Take baths instead of showers while you have bandages on your nose.
Don't blow your nose.
Eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to avoid constipation. Constipation can cause you to strain, putting pressure on the surgery site.
Avoid extreme facial expressions, such as smiling or laughing.
Brush your teeth gently to limit movement of your upper lip.
Wear clothes that fasten in the front; don't pull clothing, such as shirts or sweaters, over your head.

In addition, don't rest eyeglasses or sunglasses on your nose for at least four weeks after the surgery, to prevent pressure on your nose. You can use cheek rests, or tape the glasses to your forehead until your nose has healed.

Use SPF 30 sunscreen when you're outside, especially on your nose. Too much sun may cause permanent irregular discoloration in the skin of your nose.

Some temporary swelling or black-and-blue discoloration of your eyelids can occur for two to three weeks after nasal surgery. Swelling of the nose takes longer to resolve. Limiting your dietary sodium will help the swelling go away faster. Don't put anything such as ice or cold packs on your nose after surgery.

Your nose changes throughout your life whether you have surgery or not. For this reason, it's difficult to say when you have obtained your "final result." However, most of the swelling is gone at a year.

Results

Very slight changes to the structure of your nose — often measured in millimeters — can make a large difference in how your nose looks. Most of the time, an experienced surgeon can get results both of you are satisfied with. But in some cases, the slight changes aren't enough, and you and your surgeon might opt for a second surgery for further refinements. If this is the case, you must wait at least a year for the follow-up surgery, because your nose can undergo changes during this time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is rhinoplasty different from septoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a surgery to change the shape of the nose. Because both breathing and the shape of the nose are interrelated, sometimes a rhinoplasty is performed not only to change the way the nose looks but typically it's also performed to improve nasal breathing too.

A septoplasty is a surgery to improve breathing by straightening the wall inside the nose that divides the nasal passages into a right and a left side (nasal septum). When the septum is crooked, it can make it harder to breathe through the nose. A septoplasty is often combined with a rhinoplasty.

Is rhinoplasty a simple operation?

No. Rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging operations there is. This is due to several factors. First, the nose is a complicated three-dimensional shape that is in the middle of the face. Changes made during rhinoplasty are often very small but, when added together, can make a significant difference in the way the nose looks and functions. Because these changes are small, so is the margin for error.

Swelling and the placement of local anesthetic in the skin distort the nose during surgery, camouflaging many of the subtle changes made. Rhinoplasty is also not a procedure. In other words, there is no standard plan or set order of steps. Each operation is tailored to the needs of the patient.

Will I need to stay in the hospital?

Nearly everyone who has rhinoplasty is able to safely leave the hospital after surgery. In very rare cases, you may stay in the hospital for one night if you are having a hard time with nausea or have other health problems that need to be monitored.

How long is the recovery period?

Plan to take a week off from work, school or other obligations. You will feel progressively better each day during the first week. By the one week appointment, people usually feel like they are themselves again.

After surgery, there will be some swelling. The swelling can take many months to resolve although most people stop noticing it after a couple of months. People are typically back to performing most activities after a week and resuming all activities after two to four weeks.

Are there risks?

All surgeries have risks. Fortunately, the risks for rhinoplasty are small and complications are rare. Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits of surgery in detail before the operation.

Does insurance pay for a rhinoplasty?

Sometimes insurance pays for a rhinoplasty but that depends on the insurance policy. Before scheduling surgery, your doctor's office will help you obtain prior written authorization from your insurance company. Although this is not a guarantee of coverage, it is the only way to confirm that rhinoplasty is a covered benefit. Sometimes insurance will pay for a part of a nasal surgery but not other parts. In these cases, you can contact the business office to obtain a quote for the operation.

How much does rhinoplasty cost?

The cost of a rhinoplasty depends on several factors. The complexity of the surgery, the surgeon's training and experience, and geography can all play a part in how much a rhinoplasty costs. At Mayo Clinic, the cost of surgery will be the same regardless of which surgeon you choose.

Can I see what my nose might look like after surgery?

Yes. Before your consultation, your doctor will take standardized photographs of multiple views of your face. These photos can be manipulated to give you an idea of what your nose might look like after surgery.

Is rhinoplasty painful?

Not for most people. At the one day post-operative visit, most people rate their pain between 0-4 out of 10.

Will you pack my nose?

No. Packing can be very uncomfortable. You will likely have some soft splints in your nose, however. These splints have a hole in them to make it possible to breathe through them, at least for a few days. These splints are easily removed at the one week visit.

How long will I be bruised?

Bruising is uncommon. If you do have some minor bruising, it typically lasts a week or so.

What should I look for in a surgeon?

Most rhinoplasties are performed by plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons or otolaryngologists (ENT). Training and board certification in one of these specialties is a good starting point. You want a surgeon who frequently performs rhinoplasty.

You want a surgeon with a good reputation among patients and other doctors. If your surgeon has published numerous papers in the medical literature related to rhinoplasty and is invited to speak at educational conferences, that is one indication that their peers recognize expertise in rhinoplasty.

Make sure that your surgery will be performed in an accredited surgical facility or hospital. You should also feel comfortable with your surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to explain to you in understandable terms what is going to happen during your surgery.