Rhinoplasty – Nose Reshaping

When you meet with us for your rhinoplasty consultation, we will have an honest discussion about your desires, expectations, and concerns, as well as the limits and risks of rhinoplasty and other procedures. The most important consideration is how you want your nose to look.

We will review your medical history and recommend options that can best help you achieve your goals. We will give you thorough written instructions to prepare for your rhinoplasty surgery and will answer any questions you have.

At Summit Health, the patient experience is of primary importance to us. We customize every single procedure we do so that it is tailored to what is best for you and you alone. If you are a rare case with just an indentation in the nose, it might be corrected with dermal fillers alone and no incisions. We will provide you with all options during your rhinoplasty consultation.

In most cases, rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure in our ambulatory surgery center. The type of anesthesia depends on the complexity of your case, but you should be able to go home within a few hours of your procedure. Most rhinoplasty surgeries take 1 to 2 hours to complete.

There are two different types of nose surgery – closed and open rhinoplasty. In closed rhinoplasty, there is no external incision, but the surgeon must operate blindly. At Summit Health, we prefer open rhinoplasty, which involves an incision along the bottom of the nose across the columella – the tissue that separates the nostrils. This allows the surgeon full access. While open rhinoplasty results in a small scar, it is in a discreet location on the underside of the tip of the nose, and it will fade and flatten over time. We have an advanced scar regimen that also helps scars to heal better and faster.

During the rhinoplasty procedure, the skin of the nose is separated from its supporting bone and cartilage, and sculpted to the desired shape. Unlike the past when surgeons almost always removed cartilage, we can sculpt the nose internally or use cartilage grafts without the necessity of reducing bone or cartilage. In rare cases, a second rhinoplasty surgery may be necessary to achieve your desired outcome

Most patients describe mild discomfort during rhinoplasty recovery, which can be managed with oral over-the-counter or prescription medications. With our advanced pain protocols, our patients experience less post-operative rhinoplasty discomfort than in the past.

Bruising typically lasts about a week; however, you may have some swelling for several months. This is usually not noticeable to others, but it means the rhinoplasty final results will take time. External and internal nasal splints may be used to support your nose and maintain its new shape while it heals. The splints are removed after a week.

Most patients do not have to have their noses packed after surgery. If you experience some mild bleeding from your nostrils during the first week after rhinoplasty, you need not worry because some bleeding is normal. Do not blow your nose during the first week, however, to ensure that your nose heals as quickly as possible. You should not rub your nose for a period of time, and be careful not to sniff forcefully. We will give you instructions about wearing eyeglasses after your surgery, and you may need to sleep on your back for a few nights.

You should be able to return to normal activities, including work or school, about 10 days after your rhinoplasty. Please check with us before engaging in strenuous activities, as it is important that your nose does not suffer a blow during the healing process.

You will need a follow-up visit with your surgeon a week after your rhinoplasty and periodic visits for up to a year to ensure that you are healing properly. It may take a year before you see the final result of your rhinoplasty. Those results will be permanent, however.