Rhinoplasty – otherwise known as a ‘nose job’ is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures. People undergo nose surgery for a number of reasons, the most common being:
– To reduce or increase the size of the nose itself
– To change the shape of the tip of the nose
– Narrowing the opening of the nostrils
– To change the angle between the hose and the upper lip
– To help relive some breathing problems

Am I suitable for a nose job?
Most surgeons will not operate on people under 16 if it is ‘elective’ surgery because they want to allow the nasal bone growth to complete before intefering with the nose. For those with medical purposes such as breathing problems or injurires, age is not really a factor.

Scars
After the surgery, small burst blood vessels might appear on the skin’s surface. These will be permanent. If the rhinoplasty is done using incisions inside the nostrils, no scarring will be visible. Some rhinoplasty surgery will leave small scars at the base of the nose, particularly for surgery to reduce the opening of the nostrils. Sometimes a second procedure will be necessary to correct minor problems.

The surgery itself
Rhinoplasty can be performed under either general anesthetic or local – it depends on both the patience preference and the severity of the surgery. Some people will be able to go home the same day. More complex procedures will require an overnight stay in hospital. The surgery should only take a maximum of 2-3 hours. Most surgery will be done via an incision inside of the nostrils.

Post-Surgery
You will be able to go back to work after a week of rest. Any activity that increases blood pressure such as exercise should be avoided for a month. Direct sunlight should be avoided to help the skin heal. If you wear glasses, these will have to be taped to your face for about 2 months to allow the nose to heal fully. Full results may not be apparent for up to a year.

What are the risks?
– Reactions to the medications
– Problems breathing
– Bleeding
– Infection of the incision sites
– Bruising