Since the nose occupies such a central and important part of the entire face, it’s only natural that people would want to address any aspect of it that they don’t like. And RHINOPLASTY can just do it.
Rhinoplasty is a surgery that changes the shape, structure, contour, and size of the nose. It is a very safe, effective and simple procedure that changes the way the rest of the face appears, and the minor/major changes in the nose bring together the facial features in perfect harmony.
It is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed worldwide. It’s a powerful tool for enhancing facial harmony and function, but like any surgical procedure, it has both capabilities and limitations. This blog tries to explore exactly what rhinoplasty can and can’t do, while defining key terms used in modern nose jobs.
What Rhinoplasty CAN DO?
Rhinoplasty is a versatile speciality within a speciality with techniques tailored to address a wide range of aesthetic desires and functional needs. A nose can be proportionally too large or too small for the face. Indications can range from birth defects to traumatic injuries to revisions and re-revisions.
- Reshape and Resize the Nose
The primary goal is to alter the size, shape, and proportion of the nose to better suit the facial features. Surgeons can:
- Reduce or Increase Size: Make a large nose smaller or build up a nose that lacks projection.
- Modify the Bridge: Smooth out a prominent dorsal hump or fill in a saddle nose deformity.
- Refine the Tip: Narrow a bulbous tip, lift a drooping tip, or define a poorly projected tip.
- Adjust Nostrils: Narrow large, wide nostrils or change their orientation.
- Improve Breathing Function (Functional rhinoplasty)
Addresses structural abnormalities that obstruct airflow, providing relief from breathing difficulties and significantly improving the quality of life. A key associated procedure is septoplasty.
- Address Diverse Needs
Modern techniques cater to specific patient populations and circumstances as well, like
Ethnic Rhinoplasty: This specialised approach respects and preserves the unique characteristics of different ethnic noses (e.g., African American, Asian, Hispanic noses) while achieving the patient’s desired aesthetic enhancement. The focus is on harmony, not standardisation.
Revision Rhinoplasty: For patients dissatisfied with the results of a previous surgery or those experiencing new functional issues, revision rhinoplasty corrects/ improves outcomes from prior surgery.
What Rhinoplasty CAN’T DO??
Managing expectations is crucial for a satisfying result. So, rhinoplasty can be transformative, but not magical. A nose job won’t change the basic structure of the nose. It can’t alter genetics, which will influence ageing. It cannot help improve the quality of the skin itself.
Additionally, even if the nose shape that we might like on someone else may not be a good fit for our own face. In other words, don’t expect that a rhinoplasty can “recreate” someone else’s nose for us. Ensure that the aesthetic goals are met while still preserving the unique features and natural results.
- Guarantee Perfection
A surgeon can’t exactly replicate a celebrity’s nose on a patient’s face. The final result is unique to the anatomy, skin type, and healing process. The goal is improvement and balance, not imaginary perfection.
- Change the Fundamental Facial Identity
A good surgery enhances facial harmony; it won’t make the person look like a completely different person or dramatically alter their underlying ethnic identity. It should make us look like a better version of ourselves.
- Stop the Ageing Process
The nose will also continue to age naturally alongside the rest of the face and body. While the surgical changes are permanent, tissues and skin will still change over the decades.
- Fix All Self-Confidence Issues
A new nose can certainly boost self-esteem, but it cannot resolve underlying psychological or emotional issues magically. It is important to have realistic motivations for surgery and stable emotional health beforehand.
- Eliminate All Risks and Complications
The procedure carries risks such as infection, bleeding, scarring, swelling, and possible breathing problems that may necessitate revision surgery. Outcomes depend on strict adherence to post-operative instructions, including avoiding strenuous activity, nasal pressure (glasses), and nose blowing.
- Guarantee Specific Long-Term Results
The final shape of the nose is influenced by the healing process, which involves unpredictable factors like scarring and swelling that can take up to 12 months or more to fully resolve.
- Fix All Breathing Problems
While it can improve breathing issues caused by structural deformities, it cannot always resolve problems stemming from other conditions like allergies, severe sleep apnea.
Different types of nose jobs
The type of nose surgery depends on the patient’s facial profile, nasal anatomy, and desired outcome, as well as the technique best suited to the surgeon. Rhinoplasty is classified based on the surgical approach and the specific deformity addressed, and continues to evolve with advancing techniques.
Non-Surgical / Liquid Rhinoplasty (Filler rhinoplasty): In essence, it is a camouflage. Here, injectable dermal fillers are used to temporarily reshape the nose into a more symmetrical, balanced form, like smoothing humps, lifting the tip, or adding volume. The most persuasive thing is speed. These can refine appearance instantly with no downtime; however, they can’t permanently reduce nose size or fix functional issues. The effect can last for 9 months to 1½ years.
Open rhinoplasty: Incisions are made externally, allowing the surgeon full access to reshape the nasal framework. It is preferred for extensive or complex corrections, with incisions that are usually discreet and leave minimal visible scarring.
Closed Rhinoplasty: It can offer subtle changes with fast healing; it may offer limited visibility for complex cases, and is suitable when the structural changes are small.
Reduction of Rhinoplasty: The target is to reduce the overall size of the nose or work on the areas that are bothering, such as the tip, a hump nose, a dip, and more.
Augmentation rhinoplasty: It improves the shape of the nose and adjusts the features, such as building up the nasal tip and/or the nasal bridge. For augmentation rhinoplasty, the surgeons use grafts from the rib or ear.
Revision rhinoplasty or corrective rhinoplasty: It is done to correct the problems with the previous surgery. The common issues that corrective rhinoplasty can address are nasal obstruction, an overdone previous nose job, and worsened asymmetry.
Post-traumatic rhinoplasty: Here, the surgery is done to bring the nose back to its original appearance and function (Preinjury).
Preservation Rhinoplasty: Focuses on maintaining the natural bridge structure and ligaments of the nose while reshaping from underneath.
Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty: Utilises a piezo ultrasonic device to precisely and gently sculpt the nasal bones without traditional forceful breaking. It can provide greater precision, less trauma, and faster recovery for bony work. But it requires specialised equipment as well as training.
BOTTOM LINE: Realistic Expectations with Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is a journey of careful consideration, consultation, and collaboration between the patient and a specialist. By understanding the true potential and boundaries of options, the procedure can be approached with realistic expectations and achieve results that enhance both the appearance and confidence. If a good idea prevails of what can be expected, more likely that one can be happy with the results from the procedure.
Author: Dr P Umar Farooq Baba, SKIMS, Srinagar
Phone: +91 9419081397
IAAPS No: 2023/JK/05
Email: drumar397@gmail.com
Disclaimer : The opinions here are personal views of the authors. IAAPS is not responsible. All members may not have the same scientific view point
