What Is Rhinoplasty Surgery?
Rhinoplasty is nasal surgery performed to either improve the appearance of the nose, correct breathing obstruction or do both at the same time.
Rhinoplasty can be done to change the size, length or width of the nose; straighten a crooked nose; eliminate a bump or hump of the nasal bridge; or improve the overall symmetry of the nose.
Your surgeon might remove cartilage or bone, or they may use cartilage grafts to reshape your nasal contours. This is usually performed under general anesthesia and doesn't require an overnight stay in the hospital.
Types of Rhinoplasty Surgery
The four main types of rhinoplasty surgery are as follows:
- Functional rhinoplasty: This procedure corrects issues that make it hard for you to breathe through your nose — if your nasal passages are too narrow, for example, or if your nose was broken and healed crookedly. In many cases, correcting these problems is also an opportunity to reshape the way your nose looks.
- Cosmetic rhinoplasty: This procedure changes the appearance of your nose by making it more symmetrical, fixing its proportions to better fit your face, straightening it, removing bumps, or changing the size or shape of your nostrils or the tip of your nose.
Cosmetic rhinoplasty is usually recommended only after the nose has finished growing, which typically happens at around age 14 to 15 for girls and 16 for boys. - Revision rhinoplasty: This fixes previous nose surgery if you aren't happy with the results.
- Ethnically sensitive rhinoplasty: This type of rhinoplasty refines the shape of your nose while preserving features that characterize your ethnic identity. You'll enjoy an enhanced but still natural-looking result.
Most functional rhinoplasty is covered by insurance, while cosmetic rhinoplasty is not. But performing both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty at the same time can reduce recovery time and be more cost-effective in many cases.
If you have an issue with your nasal septum — the thin wall of bone and cartilage that separates the nostrils — a procedure called septoplasty can fix it without changing the appearance of your nose. But if you need — or want — both procedures, it may be possible to have rhinoplasty and septoplasty at the same time.
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How Rhinoplasty Surgery Works
Rhinoplasty is typically performed under general anesthesia.
Depending on your goals and the anatomy of your nose, your surgeon may perform a closed procedure with incisions hidden inside the nose, or an open procedure using a small incision through the skin between the nostrils.
The shape and structure of the nose is changed by removing cartilage or bone to create a smaller nose or using cartilage grafts to reshape the nasal contour. The skin is then re-draped over the new structure, and the incisions are closed with sutures.
A splint or soft cast is often placed over the nose to protect it during the healing period.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Rhinoplasty Surgery?
Recovery time can vary depending on whether a patient has closed or open rhinoplasty. And as with every surgery, rhinoplasty recovery is highly individual. During your consultation, your surgeon will talk with you about what to expect.
Most rhinoplasty patients go home the same day as their procedure and sleep in their own beds.
Patients who have closed rhinoplasty with no visible incisions usually take about a week off of work or school because they have splints in their noses.
But these patients generally feel fine and may work from home if they have that option. After about a week, their splints are removed, and they may return to in-person work.
Patients who have open rhinoplasty, which is how most cosmetic rhinoplasty is performed, will have visible swelling for about three weeks. They may return to work after about a week if they are comfortable, or they may wish to wait the full three weeks for swelling to go down.
Second Opinions and Revision Services for Rhinoplasty Surgery
There are several advantages to seeking a second opinion for rhinoplasty surgery, and many patients do so. Having a second opinion can give you confidence in your treatment plan, whether it is for cosmetic or functional purposes, or both. Another surgeon may also provide you with more options for approaches to meet your goals that you haven’t considered.
A second opinion can give you perspective, helping you decide which surgeon and which procedures will be right for you.
To get a second opinion on your rhinoplasty treatment, call Rush at (888) 352-7874. A care coordinator will help you make an appointment for evaluation.
Choosing Rush for Rhinoplasty Surgery
- Surgeons who can meet all your goals: At Rush, we have experienced rhinoplasty surgeons in both otorhinolaryngology/ENT and plastic surgery. All our providers have extensive training and experience in these complex surgeries and are leaders in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. In fact, our surgeons have performed over 3,000 combined rhinoplasties and continue to perform over 500 of these surgeries each year.
- National leaders in care: U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center's otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery program among the best in the nation, and our plastic and reconstructive surgeons are pioneers in new techniques that improve your comfort and results.
- A personalized approach: Your unique anatomy and your personal goals for your rhinoplasty drive your surgeon's approach. Our surgeons are as skilled at listening as they are at surgery — so there's no such thing as a cookie-cutter nose job.
- Convenient care close to home: Our facial surgeons see patients in Chicago and many other locations, including Hinsdale, Oak Park and Oak Brook, Illinois, with hours that accommodate your busy schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhinoplasty Surgery
Facial growth and development should be complete and the nose fully formed before rhinoplasty can be safely performed. This is typically around age 16 for girls and 17 for boys.
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, also called liquid rhinoplasty, involves using injectable fillers to make subtle changes to the nose. Our surgeons generally recommend avoiding this approach and typically do not offer it. If major changes to the nasal structure are required, surgical rhinoplasty is the best option.
A deviated septum is when the cartilage that divides the nose into the left and right nasal passages is crooked. This can cause nasal congestion, breathing obstruction and blockage of airflow. A deviated septum can be corrected with a procedure called a septoplasty, which unlike rhinoplasty does not change the appearance of the nose. Sometimes these procedures are performed simultaneously to improve both breathing and appearance.
If you are unhappy with the result of your previous rhinoplasty or still have breathing issues, a revision rhinoplasty is possible. Every case is different; your surgeon will discuss limitations related to prior surgery — such as scar tissue or the need for cartilage grafting during revision procedures — at your consultation.
There are two main reasons people choose to have rhinoplasty. The first is to improve nasal breathing, or the ability to breathe easily through the nose. The second is for cosmetic purposes — to change the shape and appearance of the nose.
Functional rhinoplasty, which addresses problems you may have breathing through your nose, is often covered by insurance. Cosmetic rhinoplasty to change the appearance of your nose is generally not covered by insurance.
But you must always consult your insurance provider to see which types of procedures, physicians and locations are covered by your plan. You may also find general answers to some of your insurance questions on our Insurance page.
An open rhinoplasty involves making a small incision through the skin between the nostrils to perform surgery. With a closed rhinoplasty, the surgeon hides incisions inside the nose instead. Your surgeon will talk about whether open or closed rhinoplasty is best for you depending on your goals and the anatomy of your nose.
When looking for a rhinoplasty surgeon, you should learn about their background and experience. A reliable surgeon should have high volume, meaning they see a lot of patients, for cosmetic, functional and reconstructive rhinoplasty. No matter what the reasons is for your rhinoplasty, a surgeon who is an expert in all three will tend to know how to improve or preserve your breathing while giving you the best results for the appearance of your nose. Their experience will also give them a wider variety of tools and techniques to meet your individual goals.
Many of the risks of rhinoplasty are the same as with most other major surgeries and include bleeding, infection or poor reactions to anesthesia. There are other risks, including changes in your sense of smell, difficulty breathing through the nose or general dissatisfaction with the appearance or results of your surgery. But these risks can be reduced by relying on an experienced rhinoplasty specialist, having clear goals for your procedure and taking steps to make sure you’re recovering properly. You should discuss these risks with your surgeon.
After recovery, the results of a rhinoplasty are permanent, meaning they will last for the rest of your life. That said, your nose can be affected later on by normal aging, trauma or other surgeries that aren’t related to the initial rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can give you a better understanding of what to expect.
After rhinoplasty, it’s best to avoid alcohol and tobacco use, and it’s usually advised that you avoid strenuous exercise for at least two weeks. It’s also important to avoid activities that may cause trauma to the nose for about six weeks after surgery.
A rhinoplasty can be performed at the same time as a septoplasty in some cases. Septoplasty corrects issues with the nasal septum — the wall of bone and cartilage between nostrils. Rhinoplasty can also be performed alongside other cosmetic procedures.
