Ideal candidates for rhinoplasty are those seeking improvement, and not an absolute perfection in appearance. If you have a general state of good health, are psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, it will be a good candidate.

Age should also be considered. Most plastic surgeons prefer not to perform a rhinoplasty until you have not taken the "spurt", ie until 14 or 15 years in girls and more for children. It is also important to consider the emotional and social adjustment of adolescents, and be sure that they, and not their parents, want rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty is always performed in the operating room, within a clinic or hospital. Normally, the patient remains in the clinic overnight after surgery, giving the hospital the next day.

Rhinoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, or what is more frequent, under general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the surgery and the preferences of your surgeon.

A rhinoplasty usually takes between 1 and 2 hours, although complex cases may take longer. During surgery, the skin of the nose is separated from its holder, consisting of bone and cartilage, which is sculpted to the desired shape. Finally the skin is redistributed over this new medium. Many plastic surgeons perform this procedure from within the nose, making small incisions inside the nostrils; others prefer to do an open rhinoplasty, especially for more complex cases, in which a small incision is made in the columella.

When surgery is completed, a plaster cast or other material, which will help maintain the new shape of the nose is placed. Nose plugs are also placed in both holes to prevent bleeding and stabilize the nasal septum.

After surgery, especially during the first 24 hours, you may feel swollen face, upset over the nose and headache, which subside with medication. Must remain lying with the head elevated during the first day (except for bathroom). You will notice that the swelling and bruising around the eyes increases to a maximum at 2 or 3 days. He applied cold compresses decrease swelling and will be better. In any case, you will feel better than it may seem by their appearance. Most bruising and swelling will disappear in about 2 weeks (minimum swelling, almost perceptible only by your surgeon may take a few months). It is normal for the first few days a slight nosebleed occurs. It should not blow your nose hard for a week or so, until the tissues heal. If you have nose plugs, they will be removed within 1 or 2 days, after which it will be much better. After a week, or at most two, we will withdraw the cast, and points of skin, if you must.

Most patients who undergo rhinoplasty are good in two days, being able to return to work or school in a week or so. However, they should not do certain activities until you spend a few weeks. While your plastic surgeon will provide specific instructions, some recommendations are: Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, do pushups, ...) for 2 to 3 weeks, avoid hitting nose and sunbathing for 8 weeks, wash your face and apply makeup carefully. You may replace your contact lenses as soon as you want, but if you wear glasses should take certain precautions. Your plastic surgeon will be watching you during the months following surgery for evolution. Should you have any trouble between visits, or any questions about what should or should not do, do not hesitate to call.

When rhinoplasty is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and minor. However, there are always chances of complications, including infection, nosebleed, or reactions to anesthesia. You can minimize risks carefully follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after surgery. Sometimes after surgery small red spots on the skin, which are small broken vessels may appear; are generally very small, but are permanent. No problems with scars because the incisions are inside of the nose; even in open rhinoplasty scar is imperceptible. In about 1 in 10 cases it is necessary to perform a surgical revision to correct minor defects. Such cases are unpredictable and happen even to patients of plastic surgeons with more experience.

During the first days after surgery, when the face is swollen and bruised, it is easy to forget that our appearance will improve and many patients may feel somewhat depressed; It is a normal feeling. Day by day the appearance improvement and the patient begins to feel happier. In 1 or 2 weeks, it will not seem that you have undergone surgery. The improvement is progressive and gradual, although a minimum swelling can be maintained, especially in the tip for a few months. The final result is obtained in about 1 year.

Rhinoplasty is surgery that is performed to correct deformities of the nose. It consists primarily of modifying the bony and cartilaginous nasal structures to get a new way to improve facial harmony. When, in addition deviated nasal septum is corrected to improve respiratory function is called rhinoseptoplasty.

The operation, which is usually performed under general anesthesia or, in selected cases, with local anesthesia and sedation, began addressing the nose through internal incisions, so there is no visible external scar. The surgeon cuts and shapes nasal cartilage and bone to achieve the desired shape. Is sometimes also incisions made in the base of the nostrils. To help shape and support to the nasal pyramid is often used as grafts different patient's own tissues (cartilage, bone) or, more rarely, synthetic materials.

Postoperatively, which usually lasts about an hour, nasal packing is commonly removed the next day, unless there has been a septoplasty in which case two or three days left standing. Also applied to the nose splint plaster which is maintained for one week.

Usual way postoperative edema and the presence of ecchymosis (bruising) that usually subside after a week. Most patients can resume their normal life in about 8-10 days.

You can not pass judgment on the result of a rhinoplasty until several months have elapsed, even a year. This is the time required to stabilize tissues and scars for their maturation. The intention of rhinoplasty is that the "new" nose does not draw attention, and is fully integrated into the overall context of the face producing a harmonious and pleasing whole, ie not be detected which has been operated.

Occasionally, either initial severe anatomical alterations, by disorders in tissue healing, for post-operative trauma, etc., not perfect results (asymmetry, irregular contour nasal, etc.) is achieved so a surgical retouching in that case will take from six months may be necessary.

The information contained on this website in no case, nor intended, to replace the information provided individually by your plastic surgeon. If in doubt, your plastic surgeon will provide appropriate clarifications.