Overview

Rhinoplasty is the medical name for surgical procedures that some people call a “nose job,” “nose reshaping” or “nasal surgery.” It involves the surgical reconstruction and shaping of the bone and cartilage to enhance the appearance or function of the nose. The nose is the most defining characteristic of the face, and even a slight alteration in its size or shape can greatly change a person’s appearance. Many surgeons prefer to perform cosmetic nose surgery after the nasal bone has finished growing. This is around age 14 or 15 for girls and a bit later for boys. Post surgery swelling of the nose may persist for several weeks. It takes a year or more for all the swelling in the nose to resolve, but most patients see improvement in their appearance within a few weeks. however in few cases there is revision surgery required in fail rhinoplasty.

Causes for Rhinoplasty

Patients born with a defect that affects the development of the nose often benefit from rhinoplasty. These defects include:

• cleft lip
• craniosynostosis
• frontonasal dysplasia
• Tessier clefts
• Treacher Collins syndrome
• Apert syndrome
• Hemangiomas
• vascular malformations

What rhinoplasty can treat

• Nose size in relation to facial balance
• Nose width at the bridge or in the size and position of the nostrils
• Nose profile with visible humps or depressions on the bridge
• Nasal tip that is enlarged or bulbous, drooping, upturned or hooked
• Nostrils that are large, wide or upturned
• Nasal asymmetry