Rhinoplasty

Introduction:

Rhinoplasty remains one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed. A rhinoplasty is an operation to change the appearance of the nose. Changing the shape of your nose may include; reducing or increasing the size of your nose, changing the shape of specific areas of the nose such as the tip or bride, and changing the shape or size of the nostrils.

Who is a good candidate for rhinoplasty?

The best candidates for rhinoplasty are individuals who have some aspect of their nose that they would like to have changed. Your consultation with Dr. Gonyon is the most important deciding factor to determine if you are a good candidate. You must have realistic expectations about what can safely be changed about your nose and if Dr. Gonyon can meet those expectations.

A rhinoplasty is a highly specialized surgery that is tailored to each individual patient and a rhinoplasty can be performed that merely slightly refines the appearance of the nose or may dramatically change your appearance, depending on what your goals are. During your consultation, Dr. Gonyon will take digital photographs of your nose. He will then morph those photographs to show you the types of changes that can be made to your nose. Although there is not a perfect correlation between performing surgery and morphing photographs, this is an important part of your consultation to determine if the types of changes you want will produce the type of changes in the appearance of your nose. For example, if you decide you want your nasal tip smaller, Dr. Gonyon can morph different degrees of “smaller.” This ensures that you and Dr. Gonyon are communicating more effectively on what types of changes you want and to what degree you want those changes.

What to Expect After Surgery:

You're likely to feel tired and sore for 3 to 7 days following your surgery. Most patients have bruising below the eyes for one week. You will have a splint and dressings on your nose for one week. Dr. Gonyon will remove your splint and sutures one week after surgery.

The initial phase of swelling lasts for 4 to 6 weeks. During this time you will notice significant changes in the shape of the nose as the swelling resolves. The amount of change decreases after this period. The nose will continue to change shape for up to a year after surgery. During this time the nose typically becomes smaller and more refined.

Resuming normal activities:

You should be able to return to light work within a few days. You should not lift or bend over for the first week after surgery. You may resume normal activities at 2 weeks. You should not perform any activity that can cause blunt trauma to the nose for at least 12 weeks after surgery to avoid injuring your nose and affecting the aesthetic outcome.

Your Results!

Rhinoplasty patients are very satisfied with their result. A frank and honest conversation with Dr. Gonyon during your initial consultation about what your goals are will be an important component in meeting your goals. You will have regular scheduled visits with Dr. Gonyon to ensure that you have achieved a good result and your goals have been met.