Rhinoplasty (Nose Job)

Your nose is one of the most prominent features of your face, and often one of the features that is first noticed by others. Many people are self-conscious about their nose for a number of reasons, including size, shape, and prominence. Rhinoplasty can help to improve your self esteem by modifying your nose to suit your facial proportions.

Nasal surgery can dramatically improve one’s appearance and is a frequently requested surgical procedure at Barr Plastic Surgery. The goal of the rhinoplasty procedure is to improve the appearance of your nose without drawing attention to it. An unattractive nasal size or shape can be hereditary or the result of trauma or injury to the nose. The rhinoplasty procedure shapes your nose in a way that makes it less conspicuous, creating an aesthetically pleasing facial harmony. 

What is Rhinoplasty 

During rhinoplasty nose surgery, the support structures of the nose (the cartilage and bone) are exposed through small incisions that are hidden within the nose and the columella (the small area separating the two nostrils on the underside of your nose). Dr. Barr artistically sculpts the cartilage and bone to create beautiful aesthetic lines, a refined tip and a beautiful dorsal line. The hidden incisions are then closed with tiny stitches that are removed by one week. A nose job operation is painless, and Dr. Barr’s rhinoplasty patients do not have any discomfort or take any analgesics following the procedure.

Am I a Candidate for a Rhinoplasty Procedure?

The ideal candidates for a rhinoplasty procedure are healthy men and women who have realistic expectations of surgical outcomes.

While optimal surgical changes desired will vary based on your individual characteristics, the rhinoplasty procedure is generally pursued by those patients seeking one or more of the following aesthetic surgical improvements:

• Narrow the width of the nose
• Soften the tip of the nose
• Reduce the length and/or height of the nose
• Decrease the size of the nostrils
• Change the angle between the nose and upper lip
• Make the nose appear smaller

What are the Risks of Nose Job Surgery?

Prior to their consultations, patients often find themselves concerned with what can go wrong with nose job surgery. Rhinoplasty surgery is very safe and there are few risks associated with this procedure. The majority of patients do not experience any complications but all aspects of the surgery and recovery will be discussed thoroughly in your consultation with Dr. Barr in order to ensure each patient’s awareness and comfort prior to proceeding with surgery.

How to Prepare for Rhinoplasty Surgery?

During consultation, advanced computer imaging will be used to demonstrate the possible aesthetic outcome of your rhinoplasty operation. Your assessment and imaging will provide the foundation for your consultation with Dr. Barr. Patients often concern themselves with what to ask at a rhinoplasty consultation. During your consultation your individual concerns about your nose and your desired changes will be thoroughly discussed. Dr. Barr will detail the benefits, proposed improvements and the recovery associated with your nose job procedure. The information provided at this initial consultation will be comprehensive and thorough, and enable you to make an informed decision as to whether or not rhinoplasty surgery is the right choice for you.

How is a Rhinoplasty Procedure Performed?

There are 2 techniques used in Rhinoplasty surgery: a closed rhinoplasty, or an open rhinoplasty.

Closed Rhinoplasty

In the closed rhinoplasty procedure, all incisions are hidden inside the nose. All structural changes to the nose can be made through these hidden incisions. Patients whose nose does not require extensive correction of the nasal tip can often be done using the Closed Rhinoplasty technique.

Open Rhinoplasty

In an open rhinoplasty, all but one incision is hidden inside the nose. In addition to the hidden incisions, a single incision is also placed across the columella (the piece of skin between the two nostrils). An open rhinoplasty is performed when Dr. Barr needs to reshape the tip of the nose in order to achieve the optimal aesthetic outcome.

Dr. Barr will suggest the appropriate technique based on each individuals patient’s facial characteristics and surgical goals.

During the rhinoplasty procedure, the skin of the nose is elevated from its supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape from the inside of the nose. The skin is then re-draped over the newly structured framework. Both open and closed rhinoplasty surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Rhinoplasty surgery usually lasts 1 to 2 hours.

Recovery after Nose Job

Dr. Barr’s extensive experience with the rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery procedure will ensure that your post operative recovery is uneventful. You will be discharged the same day as your procedure with a customized, molded, plastic splint on your nose. This is used to protect the nose from injury while it is healing and will need to be worn for 7 days following surgery. Any bruising can be concealed with makeup and decreases steadily throughout the first post-operative week.

Swelling around the eyes and lower forehead occurs in the first 48 hours and resolves by 7 days after surgery. The splint will be removed 7 days and if an open rhinoplasty was done the few sutures in the columella will be removed during that visit. after surgery. The sutures used to close the hidden incisions inside the nose are dissolving and do not require removal.

You may engage in light activity immediately after surgery and your activity levels can then be increased slightly by 2 weeks. You will also be asked to refrain from contact sports for a minimum of 6 weeks after surgery.

Dr. Barr and his highly trained medical staff will be available to answer questions and address any concerns throughout the healing process.