Rhinoplasty - Beautifying the Nose

Aesthetic surgeries have become a trend today spelling social status and fashion consciousness. But nose reshaping or nose job formally known as rhinoplasty, is not just an aesthetic surgery but also a corrective medical surgery.

Etymologically, the word rhinoplasty has a Greek root ‘rhis’ meaning nose and ‘plassein’ meaning to shape. This plastic surgery is undertaken for reconstructing the form and functions of the nose by correcting nasal trauma, congenital defect, and respiratory impediment. It of course has the basic reason of enhancing the nose aesthetically or corrects the failed primary rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplastycan be a closed or open rhinoplasty wherein a functional, facially proportionate nose is created by separating the nasal skin and the soft tissues from their underlying support structures, suturing the incisions, reshaping nasal cartilage and bone and applying a stent to immobilize the reconstructed nose.

Rhinoplasty can be a help in changing the nose size according to the facial structure, nose width at the bridge, nose profile with visible humps and depressions, nasal tip if upturned, large, drooping or bulbous; upturned, wide or large nostrils and nasal symmetry and deviation.

The procedure of rhinoplasty includes administering anesthesia, either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. The two kinds of surgeries- closed and open rhinoplasty have the difference of making an incision hidden in the nose in the former and a cut made across the narrow strip separating the nostrils in the latter.

After the incision, cartilage is grafted from other areas like pieces of cartilage from the septum-the partition in the middle of the nose, cartilage from the ear and rarely a section of rib cartilage. The deviated septum is then corrected and skin and tissue is redraped on the desired shape with additional incisions to alter the size. There would be initial swelling which may subside gradually.

Any potential risks or complications which may be involved are rupture of small surface vessels of the nose, infection, bleeding, nose asymmetry, poor wound healing, unfavorable scarring, and skin contour irregularities, skin discoloration and post rhinoplasty swelling, persistent pain, numbness in skin, shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats.

There may be other problems like cardiac and pulmonary complications can occur in longer surgical procedures and may be associated with the formation of, or increase in, blood clots in the venous system, nasal airway alterations may occur after a rhinoplasty or septoplasty that may interfere with normal passage of air through the nose, nasal septal perforation (a hole in the nasal septum) may develop but is rare; additional surgical treatment may be necessary to repair the nasal septum but in some cases, it may be impossible to correct this complication and sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require

removal. It should be taken care that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the recovery period.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. There is no guarantee though good results are expected. There may be cases where a minor surgery has to be done following the first one for optimal results to reach the intended aesthetic goal. Following the physician’s instructions is the key to success of the surgery.

Author By : Scheer med