Nose reshaping also known as rhinoplasty is a very popular plastic surgery procedure which consists in altering one’s nasal features usually for aesthetic reasons.
When the size and shape of the nose is not proportionate with the rest of the face, the plastic surgeon can re-balance the features of the face by reducing or augmenting the size of the nose, the angle between the nose and the upper lip, the span between nostrils as well as by altering the nose structure. Sometimes when nose reshaping is performed the surgeon also corrects a birth defect, an injury to the nose or a breathing problem.
How Cosmetic Surgeons Go About Nose Reshaping
You must be sixteen years old to undergo nose reshaping; when your nose has finished developing, the operation will be effective. However, in case of emergency, when accidents occur, teenagers (and small children) will be operated on in spite of their age. The only inconvenience will be the necessity of a second operation later in their life when the growing process has ended.
There are two types of rhinoplasty: open rhinoplasty (when an incision is made in the columella – the band of soft tissue at the base of the nose which separates the two nostrils) and closed rhinoplasty (when such an incision is not necessary). The latter is mostly performed when alterations to the cartilage are needed. When modifications to the nasal bone structure are envisaged, a surgeon will prefer open rhinoplasty to get a better view of the field.
Prior to the operation, the surgeon will cleanse the treatment area and the patient will be administered either local anaesthetic (plus a sedative) or general anaesthesia. While the former numbs the nose and the surrounding area, the latter puts the patient to sleep.
The surgeon will then make two incisions: one across the columella and the other from the columella into each nostril. Using a retractor and a pair of scissors, the surgeon will cut the skin along the columella incision and lift it away from the underlying nose structure. The cartilage and the nasal bone will thus be fully exposed and the surgeon may begin the reshaping of the cartilage by removing portions of it and using sutures to adjust its position.
Then, in order to remove a dorsal hump, the surgeon will use a chisel-like device (called ’osteotome’) to cut bone and a surgical rasp to smooth the ridges of the nasal bones. After the removal of the dorsal hump an open roof (open space between the nasal bones) may appear. In this case, the surgeon will create some breaks in the nasal bones by tapping the osteotome along the path. The broken nasal bones will be shifted upwards to close the open roof.
The next step will be closing the incisions inside the nose with dissolvable stitches and place airway splints inside the nostrils; they will support and stabilise the nose while it is healing. An external nasal splint may also be applied to provide better support under the bandage and help the tissues conform to the new structure of the cartilage and bone.
After this nose reshaping you will experience some pain (sometimes even bruising) and swelling especially round your eyes but these symptoms will slowly disappear in the following days. Swelling will need more time to go away and you are likely to notice slight swelling even a couple of months after the reshaping procedure. As your nose will keep re-arranging its new structure, the final results will be visible about one year after the surgery.