Since the nose is located at the center of the face, the impact it has on your overall self-esteem and confidence is considerable. Many patients, young and old, often turn to their doctors for advice and recommendations on whether or not rhinoplasty is appropriate for them to reduce the overall size or reshape their nose to achieve a more desirable look or to correct a disfigurement or birth defect.
In addition to rhinoplasty’s well-known cosmetic benefits, this procedure has evolved to also be useful in medical treatment for ENT issues, like improving nasal function after a traumatic injury or illness or as a means of treating problems such as blocked breathing passages, known to affect sleep and the ability to exercise and stay healthy.
In the past, this procedure was often painful and unpredictable, causing patients who desperately wanted to improve their appearance to be riddled with anxiety over the outcome. Today's rhinoplasty is now more precise, more predictable, and more effective than at any other time in its history. With technical experience and experience, a skilled cosmetic surgeon, such as those at New Orleans Sinus Center will be able to achieve a naturally beautiful nose that will flatter your face, help with any cumbersome sinus and allergy issues, and last a lifetime.
If you’re considering scheduling an appointment for a Rhinoplasty consultation, here are a few things you should be prepared for:
- Rhinoplasty is among one of the most difficult of all cosmetic surgeries. It’s important to choose your surgeon carefully, based on their experience, and results from previous patients, and to communicate the goals of surgery effectively, so that both of your goals’ are in sync.
- Consider your specific reasoning behind wanting the procedure. Is it to improve health? Breathing issues? To eliminate pain in the face due to a misshapen nose? Or is the desire primarily cosmetic in nature - you’d love a new look! Sometimes this can help in deciding which type of specialist to seek out: an ENT who also specializes in plastic surgery, or one whose primary experience is with cosmetic surgery.
- It is important to be realistic with your expectations. In general, the ideal candidate for rhinoplasty should be done growing. Your surgeon will also consider other factors, such as surrounding facial features, the skin on your nose and what you would like to ultimately achieve to determine if your specific facial architecture, tissue, and healing responses would support major change without complication.
As we mentioned before, goals are important and a patient’s goals are as unique as they are. If the goals of rhinoplasty involve improvement of breathing as well as refined appearance, the procedure might include removal of the nasal hump, reshaping of the nose tip, reshaping or resizing of the nostrils, or increasing or decreasing the nose’s overall size and projection from the center of the face.
See the results for yourself!
What should I expect in terms of cost for my Rhinoplasty?
The average cost of rhinoplasty is $5,350, according to 2018 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.(2) A surgeon's fee for rhinoplasty is typically based on experience, the type of procedure and typical prices in the surrounding region of the office location. Other associated costs can include anesthesia fees, hospital or surgical facility costs, medical tests and prescriptions for medications
Is Rhinoplasty covered by health insurance?
When rhinoplasty is performed to improve breathing function, the cause is most commonly an obstructed airway. This procedure, whether performed alone or in conjunction with cosmetic rhinoplasty, is considered reconstructive and may be covered by insurance. (2) Many offices also offer patient financing plans.
What are the risks and complications of Rhinoplasty? What should I expect after Rhinoplasty?
The nose is a complex structure made of delicate cartilage and bone. A small change to one part of the structure affects the rest of the nose, so rhinoplasty requires expertise to achieve a natural, functional outcome.
Because patients differ in their response to surgery, their system’s reaction to the anesthesia used during surgery, and their healing outcomes, ultimately there can be little to no guarantee made as to the results or potential complications. When preparing for the surgery, your doctor’s office will go over all post-operative care and may outline some of the risks involved. It is important to use this time constructively to be fully prepared and ask your doctor for clarification on what you should expect from the procedure, based on your patient history and goals.
Following the procedure, many patients report experiencing moderate discomfort that can be very simply controlled with medication. The first part of any procedure’s recovery period can be somewhat awkward in social settings, and rhinoplasty is no different, due to the possibility of swelling and bruising of the nose, upper lip, cheeks, or around the eyes for several days after surgery and the use of a splint. Splints are used for about a week after rhinoplasty to protect the nasal bones and cartilage. Additionally, patients should avoid strenuous activity such as jogging or swimming for two to three weeks (1).
All good rhinoplasty outcomes have at least one thing in common: a natural appearance. The most attractive nose is one that is in harmony with your other facial features. It should blend in, not stand out. If your surgeon determines you’re an ideal candidate for rhinoplasty, they will work with you to develop a customized plan based on desires, functional result, and what to expect before, during, and after they’ve completed the procedure.
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