What is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that changes the shape and size of the nose. Also known as a nose job, rhinoplasty can be used to improve breathing or enhance the appearance and symmetry of the nose and face.

Sacramento Rhinoplasty Before and After

If you are considering nose surgery in Sacramento, the Plastic Surgery Center is here to help. Our talented cosmetic surgeons have over 100 combined years of experience providing plastic and reconstructive surgery to patients in need. Our doctors and staff are highly trained and have provided countless rhinoplasty patients with outstanding results and renewed confidence. Visit our rhinoplasty before and after photo gallery to view results from our previous patients.

How Nose Surgery Is Performed

Rhinoplasty is performed under local anesthesia with either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Facial rejuvenation is achieved through incisions that are made to allow your surgeon access to the bone and cartilage that will be sculpted. Depending upon the extent of the procedure, nasal surgery can take from 1 to 2 hours. Prior to any cosmetic surgery procedure, be sure to follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions on taking medications and vitamins, eating, drinking and stopping smoking.

What To Expect After Your Rhinoplasty

Tape, a splint and gauze will be applied immediately following your plastic surgery to stabilize your nose. During the first 24 hours, it is natural for your face to feel puffy. Your nose might be painful and you might have a dull headache; medication can minimize any discomfort. Black eyes are to be expected, so plan to stay in bed with your head elevated the first day. Any swelling or bruising can be reduced with a cold compress. Most patients return to their normal routines within about a week, although your nose may remain somewhat swollen and sensitive for the first few weeks. During this time, it is recommended that you avoid strenuous activities that can either risk injuring your nose or raising your blood pressure. Desired results might not be seen until 6 to 12 months.

Call 916-929-1833 now to learn more about medical spa services, facial rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery procedures for both men and women, such as rhinoplasty. Sacramento plastic surgeons at The Skin Care Center and at The Plastic Surgery Center make enhancing the body, mind and spirit easy. With offices on Scripps Drive in Sacramento and in Granite Bay, looking and feeling your best is convenient as well.

Rhinoplasty FAQs

What are some of the reasons patients choose rhinoplasty?

Although injuries and medical conditions are often reasons why patients undergo rhinoplasty, aesthetic concerns are what have made the procedure one of the most requested plastic surgeries, here and around the world. Popular modifications include straightening the nose, changing its angle, reshaping the tip, narrowing the bridge, and altering the width of the nostrils.

Often the reason for a rhinoplasty is purely subjective: the size and shape of the nose may seem fine in isolation, but a patient may believe that it clashes with the lines, curves and angles of other facial features. Unwanted characteristics include a bulbous tip, a bump and a nose that is too wide. There are surgical solutions for each of these examples, and others. The board-certified surgeons of The Plastic Surgery Center are skilled in reducing the size or thinning a nose, adding volume, correcting imperfections, and changing the projection and angle of the nose.

Our experienced surgeons have also performed hundreds of procedures that address medical conditions, such as fixing a broken nose, widening nasal passages or removing obstructions for patients with breathing problems, and repairing a deviated septum, the wall that separates the breathing passages.

Are there differences between male and female rhinoplasty?

In general, men seek a more prominent nose, and women a smaller and more refined version. Some of this has to do with basic anatomy. Women’s features and bone structure provide the skeletal context for a petite nose. The prominent chins and more expansive facial dimensions of men make a longer, larger nose feel at home. Male noses tend to feature higher bridges, larger nostrils and thicker skin. Female noses typically have a delicate slope from the bridge and a slightly greater upward angle at the end.

These are characteristics that patients usually want to enhance, rather than reverse. For example, men may want to highlight straight, sleek lines, while female patients routinely prefer to accentuate naturally graceful arcs and inclines, along with a subtle upturn of the tip.

When it comes to the actual surgical procedure, these gender differences are mostly irrelevant. The thicker skin of the male nose slightly affects healing, but surgical techniques are the same for men and women.

How long will swelling last?

Depending on the complexity of your procedure, swelling can persist for a year, and sometimes longer. This is especially true of the tip of the nose. Fortunately, most swelling will subside within two months, and you should be ready to present your new facial profile to the world in about two weeks.

If you’ve had an open rhinoplasty, there will be more swelling and it will take longer to subside. Rhinoplasty that involves breaking nasal bones will also put more stress on the nose, resulting in greater swelling and an extended recovery.

If swelling continues to bother you after several months, your surgeon can administer a steroid injection at the site of maximum swelling. The persistence of swelling means that waiting for the ultimate result takes time, and requires patience. If your nose appears slightly asymmetrical during the first week of healing, it will almost certainly be well-proportioned and balanced at the end of the recovery process.

As your nose heals, it can be helpful to refer to computer imaging models your surgeon created for you during your initial consultations. These will be a more accurate predictor of your final result than the swollen nose you see in the mirror during the first weeks after surgery.

Learn More about Rhinoplasty in Sacramento

For top nose surgery results in Northern California, visit the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Center. Our doctors will walk you through your surgery options and discuss the preparation and recovery for the procedure. Schedule a consultation today by calling 916-929-1833 or by emailing us today.