Rhinoplasty (Nose Job Surgery)

The appearance of the nose can be improved for those people who are dissatisfied with the shape and size of their nose. Nasal reconstruction was one of the first cosmetic procedures ever developed and is among those most frequently performed today. Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure in which deformities of the nose are corrected by removing, rearranging or reshaping bone or cartilage.

Common reasons for choosing Rhinoplasty include dissatisfied with nose size or shape, removing dorsal humps, and correcting the nasal angle. A person may wish to improve their nose for aesthetic reasons or to repair damage caused by facial trauma resulting in a broken nose. This procedure also helps patients suffering from breathing difficulties. The surgery can be performed on patients of all age groups, including teenagers and the elderly.

Before surgery, a medical history along with a careful examination is conducted in order to evaluate your general health. We will discuss with you the way your nose can look in relation to your other facial features. Digital photographs and computer imaging is done to evaluate the appropriate procedure to achieve the desired results. Pre-operative instructions may include the elimination of certain drugs that contain aspirin in order to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding.

How is the procedure performed?

Rhinoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia. First, the skin of the nose is separated from the underlying skeleton of bone and cartilage. The bone and cartilage are then reshaped and the skin is re-draped over the surface. Patients who have a deviated septum may benefit by correction of this problem at the same time. The incisions are placed inside the nose and often a small incision is made on the undersurface of the nose on skin between the nostrils. In cases where the nostrils flare, Dr. Copty may also need to make an incision at the junction between the nose and the skin of the upper lip to narrow the flared appearance. It is not unusual to combine rhinoplasty with chin augmentation to improve the profile of the patient.

Recovery and Results:

The recovery takes one to two weeks. Most people resume their normal activities within a week or two. Following surgery, a lightweight splint is applied to maintain the new shape of the nose. The splint is removed within a week. Nasal splints may be inserted at the time of surgery to protect the septum. These are removed within a week. There is always some stuffiness of the nose, especially when work has been done on the nasal septum and this pain remains for about two weeks.

Pain is minimal and is controlled with medications. Bruising occurs around the eyes, but begins to fade within a few days. Discoloration usually disappears in two weeks.

Post-Op Advice

The final stage of the procedure is recovery from it. The Doctor will provide you with several tips to help alleviate pain and speed up recovery, reduce swelling around the eyes, and prevent complications. Some of the most important advice Dr. Tarek Copty offers to his patients includes:

1. Taking the prescribed painkillers, medications, and antibiotics as instructed by Dr. Tarek Copty without skipping any doses.
2. Avoiding sports activities during the initial period until the wound has fully healed.
3. Applying cold compresses to both eyes and the nose to reduce swelling.
4. Consistently using the nasal spray in both nostrils to maintain moisture in the nose and eliminate clotted blood resulting from the surgery.

The pain resulting from the surgery is minimal and can be controlled with the medications prescribed by Dr. Tarek Copty. Bruising around the eyes, as mentioned earlier, will occur but begins to fade within a few days. The pale color typically disappears within two weeks.