Rhinoplasty, also referred to as a nose job, is a popular cosmetic procedure that people who are not pleased with the shape and proportions of their nose, undergo. For many people rhinoplasty gives them a level of confidence they’ve never experienced before.
Though many people have nose jobs for aesthetic reasons, there are those who do so for medical purposes. Structural problems of the nose, such as those that make it difficult to breath, may be a cause to undergo a Rhinoplasty procedure. Whether a person has a nose job for beautification or medical reasons, the procedural aspects of the surgeries are largely the same.
Some people love the nose they are born with. Others do not. The latter may choose to have a nose job in order to achieve the proportions that they desire. An individual may want to shorten their nose, thin it out,or shave down a bump. Rhinoplasty can do all of the above, in addition to changing the size of a person’s nostrils and the shape of the tip of the nose.
It is important to note that a rhinoplasty is a very serious procedure. It is permanent and irreversible. Therefore, individuals must be sure about their desire to have the procedure done, and what they want to get out of it. It is also very important to find the right surgeon. The right surgeon will be experienced, knowledgeable and well trained.
Plastic surgery is becoming more commonplace, even among children. It is important to note that rhinoplasty is not appropriate for anyone younger than 13 years old. A person shouldn’t even consider having the surgery until after their facial growth is completed.
Rhinoplasty surgery is performed on both men and women. People of all ages can undergo this procedure. Unlike other types of cosmetic surgery which are often performed to make someone look more youthful, most people get nose jobs because they are unhappy with the way their nose looks. Therefore, they are open to getting a nose job at any age.
Rhinoplasty is not a new procedure. In fact, there is evidence that it dates back to the Renaissance period. In the 1800s doctors in both America and Europe were using this type of surgery to enhance the appearance of the nose, changing its shape, functionality and look.
Cosmetic surgery became more advanced after the 1950s. The technological advancements made during this time were significant. Over time, rhinoplasty became available to the masses. It was no longer something that only the wealthy had the privilege of undergoing. Today, the surgery is one of the most popular of all cosmetic surgeries.
Complications
Like all surgeries, cosmetic or otherwise, there are risks associated with rhinoplasty surgery. Complications that may arise during or after procedure include infection, poor healing, small vessel ruptures of the nose, hematoma, disfigurement, poor results, loss of sensation, alterations in the nasal airways, perforation in the nasal septum, pain and scarring.
In order to lessen the likelihood of complications occurring, it is important to hire a plastic surgeon that is American Board of Plastic Surgery certified, experienced and well reputed. It is also important that the patient follow all of their doctor’s orders pre and post-op instructions. Not doing so can put an individual at a greater risk for all of the complications listed above.
Procedure
Step 1: An anesthesiologist will administer either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The doctor may give the patient a choice or they may make the decision for them.
Step 2: The surgeon will make the appropriate incisions. There are two types of procedures, closed and open. In a closed procedure the doctor makes the incision in a way that the incision is hidden. They are made inside the nose. In an open procedure, the incision is made in the tissue between the nostrils and the columella. After the incision is made, the surgeon will raise the soft tissue in the nose, giving him or her access the part of the nose they want to manipulate and/or re-shape.
Step 3: The surgeon will then begin to reshape the nose or correct any deformities, for instance straightening out a deviated septum.
Step 4: After the surgeon has re-shaped the nose to his or her liking they will close the incisions.
Recovery
The surgeon will place internal tubes and splints in the nose during recovery. These are used to provide the nose with an adequate amount of support. These will need to remain in the nose for a period of one week.
Patients will experience some pain following their surgery. Their doctor will prescribe pain medication to help manage it.
A person will have some swelling post–op. Most should notice a significant decrease in swelling after a few weeks. However, it might take up to 12 months before the nose settles into its new, permanent look.
The results from a Rhinoplasty are considered to be permanent. The nose won’t ever revert to its original state, or appearance, prior to having had the surgery, though there may be some natural changes that take place as the person ages.
Cost
The cost of a rhinoplasty will vary based on the surgeon, what part of the country the surgery takes place, and what type of procedure a person undergoes. For instance, a primary rhinoplasty is less expensive than a revision rhinoplasty. The average rhinoplasty costs around $4,500. However, it can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000. A revision rhinoplasty is much more expensive. It may costs between $10,000 and $15,000.
Generally, included in the cost of rhinoplasty is the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fee, operating room fee, and implant or grafting fee (if applicable). According to the most recent statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the average surgeon’s fee for a rhinoplasty is $4,493.
Questions to Ask
- Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
- Are you American Board of Plastic Surgery certified?
- Are you apart of any relevant professional organizations?
- How much will the procedure cost?
- Where will the surgery take place?
- How long have you been a plastic surgeon?
- Is the surgical facility licensed and/or accredited?
- What technique are you planning to use?
- What happens if I’m not pleased with the results?
- May I please take a look at some before and after photographs of patients who undergone this procedure?
PRP Treatment for Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular and oft requested cosmetic surgeries. Individuals unhappy with the shape, length, appearance, etc., of their nose may opt to undergo this type of surgical procedure. Rhinoplasty surgery carries a ton of risk and there are generally a significant number of side effects and a considerable amount of recovery time involved. For these reasons, some people are looking for alternative solutions. One that is growing in popularity is PRP therapy. PRP stands for platelet rich plasma. It is a procedure which uses the platelets found in a patient’s own blood.
PRP therapy has been used in a variety of medical disciplines, though it is fairly new to the fields of dermatology and cosmetic surgery. However, it is quickly growing in popularity and is increasingly being used. More recently, it has been used to improve the shape and appearance of the nose and/or to expedite healing after a person has undergone a rhinoplasty.
Cosmetic surgeons are performing an increasing number of “liquid rhinoplasty” procedures. These utilize fillers to fill out spaces and change the shape of a person’s nose. This type of procedure is preferred to surgical rhinoplasty because there is no need to cut open the nose or remove any part of it.
The use of fillers makes the procedure temporary. If a person is not pleased with the results, they can simply wait until the filler has reabsorbed into the body or are no longer effective. This isn’t the case when a person undergoes surgery. The results a person gets from a surgical rhinoplasty, are simply what they have to live with. Sure, an individual can have another nose job performed but they can never go back to their original appearance and it can be impossible to improve the nose so that its appearance is attractive.
There are a number of fillers on the market that can be used for a liquid rhinoplasty. However, PRP therapy is beginning to be used in lieu of some of them. The platelets, specifically the growth factors, act as fillers when injected into the skin. For this reason, it is being used with increased frequency to treat wrinkles. The growth factors help to rejuvenate the faces’ underlying tissue, which helps to plump them up. In this way they also act as a filler, an all-natural one.
A person who wants a liquid rhinoplasty, the use of PRP therapy may be a good option. In many cases, it will allow them to achieve the same results they would if artificial fillers were used but without many of the problems and side effects associated with their use.
PRP utilizes the platelets, growth factors and other proteins to help repair and regenerate tissues in the body. Growth factors are used by the body to do the aforementioned. PRP therapy helps to increase the normal concentrations of platelets and growth factors by 5 to 10 times the normal amount. This allows them to do their job much more effectively, efficiently and faster. This is why people who receive platelet injections will find that the healing process is much faster than normal.
When a person undergoes PRP therapy, their doctor will first draw a fairly small amount of blood, typically between 20 cc and 50 cc. A person who has ever had their blood drawn for a blood test at their doctor’s office will find that the amount drawn during PRP therapy is similar. After the blood has been drawn, it will be placed in a centrifuge machine. This machine will spin the blood. This process will be complete once all of the blood components have been separated. Once the platelets have been separated, they will be removed by the doctor. He or she will then inject the platelets into the part of the body that is being treated. In the case of a “liquid rhinoplasty,” this would be the nose.
Prior to the doctor injecting the platelets, he or she will first clean the skin and then apply a topical anesthetic. A nerve block may be used in some cases. The patient may feel a little pain, aside from the prick of the needle and perhaps a mild burning sensation that some people report feeling.
After the procedure, an individual may experience some pain and inflammation. Both are typically very mild. An over-the-counter pain reliever will be more than sufficient for some people. The mild swelling and pain should be relieved within 24 hours. Some people will heal up sooner, some later.
There are very few side effects associated with PRP therapy. Most are very mild and include the ones listed above, i.e., slight swelling, pain and some bruising. This isn’t true for a surgical rhinoplasty. There a significant amount of side effects associated with a surgical rhinoplasty, some very serious. They include, but are not limited to, disfigurement, pain, swelling, bruising and infection.
Another alternative to PRP therapy, in addition to surgical rhinoplasty, is the use of fillers. As natural fillers such as PRP therapy become available, an increasing number of people are opting for them instead of artificial ones. This may be because people are not comfortable placing foreign substances in their body and are leery of the long term side effects.
The cost of PRP therapy will vary depending on a number of factors. Amongst those factors include the particular doctor, how many injections a person needs and the location of the office. Practices on the coasts tend to be more expensive than in the mid-west and the south. A person, however, can expect to pay at least $1000 for the procedure and perhaps more. It will also be necessary to having injections on a regular basis, oftentimes annually. This can admittedly become costly but the ability to use a natural method to contour the nose and to get a natural looking result is worth the cost for some patients.
A person can expect to see the results of a PRP treatment after a few weeks. It is not an instant fix because it harnesses the power of the body’s natural healing mechanisms and this takes time. However, when PRP therapy works well, it is often well worth the wait. The result is natural looking because the body fills in the spaces that it was designed to. When artificial fillers or surgery is used, the results are dependent upon the skill of the surgeon and how a person’s body responds to the fillers. Sometimes it will reject such fillers.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
1.Can PRP really change the shape of my nose?
2.Should I undergo PRP or have a rhinoplasty?
3.What type of PRP side effects might I experience?
4. When I will begin to see the effects of PRP therapy?
5. How much does PRP costs?
6. How often will I need to undergo PRP?
7. Is PRP painful?
8. If I want to significantly change the look of my nose, will PRP therapy be sufficient?
9. Am I a good candidate for PRP therapy?
10. Does your office offer a financing option?
