(757) 496-5556 The purpose of nose surgery (rhinoplasty) is to improve the appearance of the nose, to help it fit the face in a way that is harmonious with other facial features. A nose that is out of balance on the face can become a focal point that draws attention away from other attractive facial features.
Nose surgery brings a more harmonious appearance to the face by altering characteristics that include:
- Size of the nose
- Width of the nose
- A bump on the bridge of the nose
- Excessively flared nostrils
- A crooked or off-center appearance
- Asymmetry due to a previous injury
- The tip of the nose to correct a large or bulbous, upturned, or drooping appearance
In our plastic surgery center in Virginia Beach, our nasal plastic surgeons use artistic imaging to help you communicate and visualize the results you would like to attain through nose surgery. During your exam, they will evaluate your skin quality and the internal and external structure of your nose to determine how to best create balance between your nose and other facial features. Nose surgery may typically be performed on female patients who are as young as age 14 or males who are as young as age 16, but it will be necessary for one of our plastic surgeons to determine any possible limitations.
Rhinoplasty may be performed using either a closed procedure where the incisions are hidden inside the nose or an open procedure where an incision is made across the narrow strip of tissue that is between the nostrils. Through these incisions, we reshape the bone and cartilage in order to resculpt the appearance of the nose.
Our plastic surgeons may alter the position of bones to make it look narrower or straighter, or build up some areas by using cartilage or bone from the nose or another area of the body. The skin and tissues are then reshaped over this new nasal structure. The closed procedure leaves no scars, while the open procedure leaves a scar that is virtually undetectable.
A rhinoplasty procedure typically can be completed in about 1-3 hours on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. To help stabilize and protect the new structures of your nose during the healing process our plastic surgeons may place splints on the outside and inside of your nose; these are typically removed in 5-7 days.
Help for Difficult Breathing or Snoring & Deviated Septum Correction
If you have difficulty breathing or you snore while sleeping, you may be a candidate for a procedure known as a septoplasty. When the dividing wall between the nasal passages is crooked, it can obstruct the airways and make it more difficult for you to breathe. In a one-hour septoplasty procedure, your plastic surgeon will correct this structural disorder, which is known as a deviated septum.
To help control, bruising, swelling, and minor bleeding, you will spend the first day after surgery at home in bed with your head elevated. The majority of bruising will be gone in one to two weeks. For the first few days, you should continue to sleep with your head elevated and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.
You will need to refrain from taking aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase bleeding. In addition, for 8 weeks following surgery, you should avoid hitting or rubbing the nose. Some bruising or discoloration may be evident for 7-10 days. Most patients can return to work in 5-7 days, and resume exercise and other activities in 4-6weeks.
Contact our plastic surgery office in Virginia Beach to learn more about rhinoplasty (nasal surgery) and to schedule a cosmetic consultation with one of our doctors. Please note that if you are going through your insurance Galardi | Bowen Plastic Surgery must defer to your provider’s guidelines regarding copay and deductibles.
