Nasal surgery is best postponed until after the teenage growth spurt is complete, at about age sixteen for boys and, for girls, two to three years after puberty. Until then, the nose may continue to grow, compromising the results of any correction. Any breathing problems should be discussed in the initial consultation with the surgeon, in order to determine whether work on the nasal septum or other internal structures should be performed at the same time as the refinement procedure. Rhinoplasty can now be done in the doctor's office, on an outpatient basis. New developments in anesthesia, including "twilight sedation," mean that the patient will feel and hear nothing during the procedure and remember nothing of it later on.
PRE-SURGERY
Before an aesthetic correction of the nose is contemplated, all breathing problems should be evaluated. Ideally, an ENT specialist will do a complete exam of the deep septum. The evaluation may include CAT scans of the nasal septum and nasal sinuses to assess chronic allergies, sinusitis, nosebleeds, and other conditions. If surgery will be covered by health insurance, these studies will be mandatory.
Computer imaging is a very useful tool in the initial consultation. The patient will be much better informed about what is possible, and much more realistic about her goals and expectations for the surgery. Always ask to see pictures of post-operative results.
POST-SURGERY
After the operation, the nose usually will be splinted with a plaster cast for five days and may be packed for several days, if internal work is done. Black eyes, a result of bruising, usually last about the same amount of time. The patient can return to an active lifestyle in about a week, but the nose must be protected from the sun for about eight weeks post-operatively. After that, full participation in athletic activities is permitted. Final results of the rhinoplasty should be evident in six months to a year.
Treatments That May Help
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