Rhinoplasty

Any change in the shape of our nose is a noticeable change in our expression. At your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will not only evaluate the condition of your nose, but together you will discuss all of your questions and concerns about the surgery. The result of the consultation must be a consensus between both the plastic surgeon and the client. It is good to keep in mind that every cosmetic-aesthetic surgery brings another original in its own way. Therefore, the final result of the procedure can only be determined approximately.

Cosmetic modifications refer to the outer part of the nose - for example, reducing the bump, modifying the profile, narrowing or reducing the tip of the nose. Functional ones refer to improving the functionality of the nose. For example, opening the nasal passages for better breathing (usually performed by ENT specialists). Rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging aesthetic surgeries and requires not only technical mastery of the surgery itself, but also great experience and judgment on the part of the surgeon. The latter takes into account not only the aesthetic but also the functional significance of the correction.

The surgery is performed under either general or local anaesthesia through a nostril approach. During the operation, the soft parts of the nose, cartilage and nasal bones are released and modified. Then it is a complete rhinoplasty. If the soft tissues are corrected, then it is referred to as a soft nose rhinoplasty. The operation takes approximately 45 to 90 minutes. It ends with fixation of the nose with a plaster splint and tamponade of the nostrils. After the procedure it is necessary to breathe through the mouth.

The postoperative pain is actually very mild and can be easily overcome with commonly available analgesics. Ice packs are applied to the site immediately after surgery. The swab is removed 1-2 days after the procedure. From then on, you can breathe freely through your nose. It is not recommended to sniff for the first 10 days after removal of the tamponade. Clean your nose several times a day with damp cotton buds. Swelling and hematomas occur in the case of bone and septal surgery, especially around the root of the nose and eyes.

After 5 to 7 days, you come in for a check of the position of the cast. You will wear the cast for approximately 7-10 days. It depends on the type of surgery. The skin of the nose and the sensitive skin of the face then need a few more days to recover. An absorbable material is used for suturing, which will release on its own within 2 weeks of surgery.

After the cast is removed, the client enters an important postoperative phase of healing that is difficult for the surgeon to control. These are mainly healing and scarring. The process of scarring of the subcutaneous soft structures can adversely alter the shape of the nose and negatively affect the initially good outcome of the surgery. These healing complications are not common, but when they do occur, it is important that the client follows the surgeon's instructions exactly. As a rule, careful performance of pressure massage of the nose will resolve the complications in most cases.

Even if your nose is shapely for the first month after surgery, you may still experience occasional swelling - especially in the morning, after sleeping on your stomach, or after a lot of exertion. There is also occasional redness of the nose, especially with a sudden change in temperature, and sometimes a slight nasal obstruction caused by temporary swelling of the mucous membrane. Recovery is long and very individual. It is best to add sports and more physical exercise gradually. Ideally after 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.

In the sense of scarring and rebuilding of the scar tissue at the site where the surgeon intervened, the healing phase is not definitively completed until approximately one year after surgery. Only then can the real final result be assessed.