It’s estimated that there are over 220,000 rhinoplasties performed each year in the United States, making it one of the most prevalent plastic surgery treatments. For those who want to alter the way their nose looks or functions, you may be deciding on whether rhinoplasty is right for you. However, there are lots of things to take into account before making your mind up. To help, here is a guide on what you can expect from a rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty Explained
Before deciding on whether a rhinoplasty is the right path to take, you may want to see if you can identify with the thousands of patients who have undergone the procedure before you. There are numerous reasons why patients decide to undergo a rhinoplasty, such as believing their nose is too big for their face. Some patients are not happy with the way the bridge of their nose looks. If you believe your nose is crooked and prominently sticks out on side view, you may be leaning towards going for the procedure. Whatever you do, make sure you have the treatment performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.
Surgery
Depending on the reasoning for your rhinoplasty, the procedure can take between 1.5 and 3 hours. There are two techniques commonly performed in a rhinoplasty, which are closed rhinoplasty (incisions that are made within your nostrils) and an open rhinoplasty (an incision performed within the nostrils and across the tissue between your nostrils). As long as you pick a reputable plastic surgeon, you should experience little to no pain during the procedure.
Recovery Time
After undergoing a rhinoplasty, you must allocate time to recover from the procedure. Immediately after your surgery, you may find your nose becomes stuffy. And over time, you may begin to notice bruising around the nose and lower eyelids. To ease discomfort and speed up the healing process, using a cold compress is advised. Once the surgery is over, you will have a small cast placed on the bridge of your nose that will be taken off a week after treatment. It’s advised to take time off work during recovery and avoid taking any painkillers without approval from your plastic surgeon. Other tips to speed up the recovery from a rhinoplasty include eating healthy and drinking plenty of water.
Cost
Before deciding on whether a rhinoplasty is right for you, it’s important to get a good idea of how much it will cost in advance. Whether you’ve been saving up for the procedure, or money is no issue, the average cost of a rhinoplasty currently stands between $6,000-$,8,000. SpaMedica is one plastic surgery clinic that outlines rhinoplasty costs and procedure overview that can help you make your final decision.
If you’re unhappy with the way your nose looks, this can have a huge impact on your confidence and self-esteem, making a rhinoplasty more enticing. Before making your final decision, make sure to refer to the guide above which will give you a better idea of whether the procedure is right for you and your situation.