Rhinoplasty, or nose job, is a reshaping of the nose to improve either aesthetic appearance, function or both! A thorough evaluation in office is needed to understand your goals and to develop a treatment plan, which may include optimizing your medical treatments. Medical grade photography is performed and a collaborative discussion continues to develop your ideal treatment plan!
Rhinoplasties are generally performed in the Operating Room (OR) under general anesthesia in an outpatient setting. They are performed either closed (no visible incisions) or open (a small, visible incision made in the skin between your nostrils). The approach, closed versus open, depends on 1) surgeon preference and 2) extent of work that needs to be done.
After surgery, you will receive extensive post-op instructions and it is very important you keep the nose clean and generously apply cold compresses to the eyes. In general, there is an external cast and often internal splints that are removed 1 week after surgery.
Once the cast and splints are removed, your nose will be visibly swollen, sometimes for several months, depending on the amount of work that was done. It is very important to follow up with your surgeon on a regular basis to ensure appropriate healing.
Sometimes, after an initial rhinoplasty, you may require a second, or revision rhinoplasty. A revision may be needed for either function (cannot breathe well) or for aesthetics (not happy with the appearance). Revision rhinoplasties are more complicated and often times require additional cartilage grafting sources, such as ear, rib or cadaveric rib.
At Metro ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery, both Dr. Pham and Dr. Goodrich are experts at rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. We are excited to begin this journey with you!