Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure used to improve the appearance of the nose. This procedure can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. This procedure can also be used to correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve breathing problems.
Are you a candidate for a rhinoplasty?
The best candidates for this procedure are men and women who are looking to improve the appearance of their nose, have breathing difficulties, or need reconstruction from a birth defect.
What are my risks?
With any operation, there are associated risks. These include infection, nosebleed, or a reaction to the anesthesia.
After surgery, you may experience small burst blood vessels that may appear as tiny red spots on the skin’s surface that are minor, but may be permanent. When an open technique is used, there will be a small scar at the base of the nose which is barely visible.
The vast majority of men and women do not experience any of these complications. You need to discuss these issues with Dr. Windle prior to your surgery to be sure you completely understand the basic risks along with any other special risks that may be involved.
What does the consultation consist of?
At your initial consultation, Dr. Windle will evaluate your general health, examine your nose, and explain the procedure to you along with the risks of the procedure. In addition, your doctor will give you different options based on your particular situation. He will ask you what you want your nose to look like and discuss with you what he thinks is realistic. This will be based on the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, the thickness of your skin, and your age.
At this time, your doctor will also discuss with you the types of anesthesia and risks involved, the estimated length of your surgery, and what your healing period will be like. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Dr. Windle wants to be sure you have a complete understanding of the information given to you so you can make a decision which is right for you.
After meeting with the doctor you will be offered a computer imaging session, which will help communicate to the doctor the outcome and result you are looking for as well as what Dr. Windle thinks is a realistic expectation. Photographs will be taken and altered on the computer screen to give you an idea of what changes you can expect to see as a result of rhinoplasty.
From that point, you will meet with our financial counselor who will give you the exact price quote for your rhinoplasty. She will give you the options of the different facilities where you can have your procedure done along with their fees for anesthesia and the use of their facility. We do have a financing company with which we work closely, and if you are interested in this, you will be instructed how apply for a loan. The criteria for this is about the same as being eligible to take out a car loan. We also accept cash, checks, money orders, VISA, Mastercard, or Discover.
You may want to schedule your procedure at this visit or you can contact our surgery scheduling department at any time. At the end of your visit, the financial counselor can answer any additional questions you may have thought of, or you can meet again with your surgeon.
What will I need to do to prepare for surgery?
Once your surgery is scheduled, you will be given specific instructions to prepare for your surgery including guidelines on eating, drinking, smoking, and taking/avoiding certain medications or vitamins. You will also need to arrange for some one to pick you up from the surgery because you will not be able to drive home after having sedation or general anesthesia.
How is the surgery performed?
Rhinoplasty can take from 2-3 hours to perform. During this surgery, the skin of the nose is separated from its supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape. Incisions will be made inside the nostrils or at the base of the nose, providing access to the cartilage and bone, which can then be sculpted. Your surgeon can remove a hump using a chisel or a rasp, then bring the nasal bones together to form a narrower bridge. Cartilage can be trimmed to reshape the tip of the nose or the septum can be sculpted to improve the angle between the nose and upper lip. When your surgery is complete, a splint will be applied to help your nose to maintain its new shape. Nasal packs or soft plastic splints also may be placed in your nostrils to stabilize the septum.
What will the healing period consist of?
Following surgery, your face will feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you may also have a dull headache. You’ll notice that the swelling and bruising around your eyes will increase at first, then reach a peak two or three days after your procedure. Applying cold compresses will help reduce swelling. Most swelling and bruising should be gone within two weeks or so. Your nose will be stuffy for several weeks following your surgery. Your surgeon will ask you not to blow your nose for two weeks until your tissues heal. You may experience a little bleeding and this is common for the first few days.
If your surgeon put packing in your nose, this will be removed 2-3 days following your procedure. Within one to two weeks all of your dressings, splints, and stitches will be removed.
Your should be able to return to work about a week or so following surgery. Your surgeon will then give you specific instructions as to when you can resume all normal activities. You will need to avoid bumping or rubbing your nose or getting it sunburned for at least eight weeks.
*Choosing to have a rhinoplasty is a very personal decision that needs to be thought through carefully to be sure this what you want and you also need to have a complete understanding of what a realistic expectation is. This surgery can boost self-confidence and the result can be very satisfying. For any further information, questions, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at our Seattle, Washington practice at (425) 366-8222.
“Rhinoplasty Seattle Dr Brian Windle” in Seattle, Issaquah, North Bend, Sammamish, Maple Valley, Snohomish, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Tacoma, Woodinville, Edmonds, North Seattle, Kent, Mercer Island, Renton, Bremerton, Burien, Federal Way, Marysville, Munroe, Shoreline, Burien, Lynnwood, Des Moines, West Seattle, Bellevue, Mill Creek, Auburn, West Seattle, Everett, Ellensburg
Rhinoplasty FAQs
Rhinoplasty Reoovery: How long is the down time?
Recovery from a rhinoplasty or nose job should only be about 3 to 5 days. You may have some bruising that can be covered with makeup but you should be able to go out in public without any problem. There is little if any pain from a rhinoplasty.
I do not use packing, which can be very uncomfortable, and the splint, which is placed to keep bleeding and swelling down is usually removed at 3 to 5 days. At that point, you are recovered but you will not be healed! By that I mean that you will have some tenderness and you have to be careful not to bang your nose but with the splint off you will be able to get out and go about your daily routines including getting back to work.
What about a non-surgical rhinoplasty or liquid nose job? Is it effective?
Liquid rhinoplasty or liquid nose job is also known as a non-surgical nose job or non-surgical rhinoplasty. This means that a filler is used to augment the nose. Sometimes a small defect can be disguised by adding filler. Usually rhinoplasty or nose job is thought of as a surgery that removes something like a large hump and or narrows the nose or nasal tip. This is a reduction rhinoplasties.
There are various fillers that can be used to augment the nose. Many surgeons and patients will not consider a filler to correct a nasal defect because most fillers are not permanent. In other words, you have to keep coming back to get more filler. Artefill, the long term filler, is an excellent filler alternative that can produce great results in the right situation and these results will last at least 5 years and likely much longer. Artefill has an excellent safety profile as a filler and although its use in the nose is off label as is the use of any other filler in the nose, patients are very satisfied with their non-surgical result. It is certainly far less costly and less risky than surgery.
