Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, or surgical nose reshaping or commonly referred to as a "nose job", is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures performed in the world. Every year, over half a million people seek rhinoplasty consultations from Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeons. Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. Rhinoplasty may also correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing problems.

Rhinoplasty is a common and safe performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation in Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon, Alan Bienstock, MD's outpatient state licensed surgery centers in either Lawrenceville (Princeton), New Jersey or Manhattan, New York. No overnight stay is required. Most incisions are made inside the nose. In some cases, a small external excision is required. Cartilage and bone are removed or rearranged to alter the appearance of the nose.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rhinoplasty:

When can rhinoplasty be performed?
Extensive nasal surgery is generally avoided in children. There are major growth centers in the nose that affect the growth of the face. In cases of severe disfigurement due to accidents, surgery is performed in an attempt to restore the alignment of those centers. For lesser deformities surgery is deferred until after the child stops growing. Rhinoplasty performed on teenagers and young adults, it seems, are often beneficial to the social development and self confidence of the individual. The aging process is reflected in many ways in the nose and its correction can add youthfulness and freshness to the appearance.

How is rhinoplasty performed?
Usually, rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. After you are "asleep" and your vital signs are determined as safe and stable, local anesthesia is then applied to the nose. Surgery generally lasts about one and a half hours. The patient experiences no pain during the surgery. A splint or cast is applied and will be worn for approximately 7 days. Many patients remember very little about the surgery. After the procedure is completed, the patient then recovers in a relaxed environment and monitored for a couple of hours before being driven home by a companion.

How long will I need to take off for work?
Not long. Depending on the type of anesthesia, you will need approximately 2 to 4 days off. If your nasal tips are modified, you may have bruising for 10 to 14 days and will wear a protective splint for about a week. Heavy exercising should be avoided for at least 2 weeks.

Does the rhinoplasty surgery hurt?
No. The surgical procedure is done either with general or twilight anesthesia, meaning you won't feel anything. Afterwards, you can expect your nose to be sore for about a week or so, but you should not experience any pain.

What should I expect post-operatively?
After your rhinoplasty surgery Plastic Cosmetic Surgeon, Alan Bienstock, MD will have placed a pressure dressing over your eyes and a gauze pad underneath your nose to catch blood and mucous. You will remove the pressure dressing after a few hours or as specified by the plastic surgeon.

You nose will be sensitive for approximately a month and a half although patients report no serious pain or discomfort. Only when the cast is removed do you feel pain again, unless you bump it accidentally.

When will I be able to see the results of my rhinoplasty surgery?
The nose will be very sensitive for approximately a month and a half. You will start to see a difference immediately but it will still be swollen. The swelling starts to generally disappear about a week after the cast is removed. Approximately 80% of the swelling and 100% of the discoloration are usually gone by 2-3 weeks after surgery. 90% of the swelling is gone by three months after surgery and the rest slowly disappears over the next year or more. Although the nose is still swollen after the first few months, most people would not recognize this fact. The patient will not notice this swelling. Instead the patient will notice that the nose becomes more refined with better definition over the first year. The inside of the nose may be swollen for approximately three weeks after the surgery. If surgery is performed to straighten the nasal septum, an improvement in breathing will be appreciated at about 3 weeks.

If you are interested in speaking with the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon regarding rhinoplasty please contact the plastic surgeon, Alan Bienstock, MD at either his Manhattan, New York City Plastic Surgery / Reconstructive Surgery Office via phone (917) 257-7560 or his Lawrenceville (Princeton), New Jersey Office via phone at (609) 977-9286.  You may also email the plastic surgeon at info@drbienstock.com  for more information or to make an appointment.