After
Before
Often considered the focal point of the face, our nose affects how we feel about our appearance. Too big, too small, too much bump, too wide, too crooked… all of these worries can really affect your self-esteem. You might feel like that is what people see when they look at you. Perhaps you are seeking a nose that is more proportional to your face, or you are just tired of people saying you have Aunt Ethel’s nose. No matter your reason, rhinoplasty may be a great surgery for you. After an in-depth consultation with Dr. Mason, you will walk out feeling reassured about your cosmetic goals. She will prescribe a surgery plan designed with your health, physical, and mental well-being in mind. There are no one-size-fits-all plans at PPS. Each plan is customized, so rest assured that what is designed for you, designed to deliver you your best results.
A Rhinoplasty is commonly called a nose job. It is a procedure that changes your nose’s shape, so it fits better with your face and looks like it belongs there. And of course, it looks prettier!
A rhinoplasty can be either a non-surgical or a surgical procedure.
Non-surgical. Some nasal deformities can be treated in the office without surgery. This is done by using soft tissue fillers to improve the contour of the nose and help camouflage any deformities. It is usually best for more minor corrections and will last up to 2 years.
Surgical. For bigger corrections or a permanent fix, surgical rhinoplasty is the way to go. This involves incisions in your nostrils and on the skin on the bottom of your nose between your nostrils. The skin is lifted to allow Dr. Mason to make changes to the bone and cartilage framework underneath. Depending on your particular procedure, cartilage may be taken from your septum or elsewhere to help support the new shape of your nose.
Women of all ages are great candidates for a Rhinoplasty. A rhinoplasty is a great surgery if you do not like the shape of your nose. Some common nose problems that can be fixed with rhinoplasty are:
• Dorsal hump is the bump that some people have on the bridge of their nose that can sometimes feel too large or masculine.
• Bulbous or boxy tip are problems with the shape of your nose’s tip where it can appear too big and wide or like it does not have enough definition.
• Wide base is when your nose can be too wide in the upper part of your face where the bones are or down in the area of your nostrils.
• Flat dorsum is when the bridge of your nose is too flat. It can even be hard to keep glasses up!
• Deviated septum where the middle of your nose is shifted or bent. It can sometimes cause breathing problems.
• Asymmetry can have a crooked appearance, either naturally or after you have had some trauma to your nose.These are some common issues, but there are lots of others! If you have anything you don’t like about your nose’s shape, talk to Dr. Mason about your options.
Most importantly, make sure you are healthy. If you have issues with allergies, try to have these under control at the time of surgery to minimize swelling. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet, get enough protein and plenty of rest. This helps with healing. Do not smoke and avoid being around people who are smoking.
During the initial consultation, you will be asked about your medical history to ensure you are in good health and a candidate for Rhinoplasty surgery. You will then discuss rhinoplasties specifically and your cosmetic goals. Dr. Mason will examine you so you can decide together on the right surgery for your body. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all. Dr. Mason will customize a plan just for you.
Expect a mixture of anxiety and excitement, both are normal. Remember, you’re doing something for yourself, and you should feel excited! You will have a scheduled arrival time on the day of surgery. The Surgery Center team will be expecting you and check you in upon arrival. Please do not eat the morning of surgery. Dr. Mason will come to talk to you before surgery and make marks on your skin where your incisions will be; these will be discussed in your treatment plan. You will be able to talk about this, ask questions, and agree on it together. She will make sure there have been no changes to the original plan you agreed to. You will also meet your anesthesiologist. From there, you will go back to the operating room and the anesthesiologist will put you to sleep. This is where you say goodbye to your old nose and await your incredible results! The surgery can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on your surgery plan. You will be brought to the recovery area, and once you are released, you will be ready and able to go home the same day. While you are taking narcotics pain medication, you will not drive, so you will need to arrange for someone to pick you up from the surgery center. This is a good time to switch your mindset to “let them look after me for a while,” as you will need your rest.
You will have a splint over your nose to protect it for one week, so you won’t be able to see your results until it is taken off. Once it is removed, you will see an immediate difference, but rhinoplasties take months to see the full result. This is because there is a lot of swelling in the soft tissue of the nose. The majority of the swelling is gone after the first 6 weeks, but it will continue to improve for the next year, or even two! During this time your skin adapts to its new shape on the new framework.
Although the pain of the procedure generally does not get in the way of going back to work, you will have significant swelling and bruising and may want to take about 2 weeks off of work for this to resolve. This is the time for you to relax, heal, and take care of yourself.
Do celebrate your decision. Do enjoy your new nose. Do allow your confidence to skyrocket! Do take time to properly heal and take care of yourself. Don’t push yourself too hard. Don’t skip scar care.
Yes, you can often have a Rhinoplasty with another procedure. Talk to Dr. Mason to help make the surgical plan that is best for you. Some women may wish to have liposuction or breast augmentation. And of course, if you want any sort of fillers or Botox, this can be done while you are sleeping. At Perspectives Plastic Surgery, our goal is for you to have the body you’ve always wanted and the confidence to match. There are many options to achieve this, talk to Dr. Mason about your goals!
$8,500 to $11,000