Nasal reshaping

(rhinoplasty)

Nasal reshaping, or rhinoplasty, is surgery that changes the shape of the nose.

It can be done for cosmetic reasons (to change the appearance of the nose and enhance facial harmony).

During rhinoplasty, the shape and size of your nose can be modified or corrected by removing tissue, adding cartilage grafts or rearranging existing cartilage and skin.

There are a number of different techniques depending on each individual case, and Dr. Draper will carefully review your options and the best choice for you depending on your specific needs and goals for surgery.

Who should consider nasal re-shaping/rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is an excellent option for those looking to improve their appearance as well as those looking to address medical issues (including correcting damage from an accident or helping to relieve breathing issues caused by a deviated septum.) Overall, rhinoplasty is ideal for patients looking to:

Enhance the shape of their nose (patients who feel that their noses are too thin/too wide/too long/too short/too pointed)
Correct a hanging tip
Smooth a bump on the bridge of their nose
Correct a deviated septum
Repair damage to the nose

Rhinoplasty is often performed as a separate procedure but may be performed with other facial surgery. Many patients who have nose surgery have been contemplating it for some time, often since adolescence. It is important to define what you dislike about your nose before your consultation. Then, together with Dr. Draper, you can evaluate your anatomy and the potential changes that give you the look you want.

What a consultation entails

During your initial consultation, Dr Draper will review your desired outcomes and goals for your nasal reshaping surgery, and discuss specific anatomical issues involved in your individual case. Since the goal of rhinoplasty surgery is to have results that look natural, Dr. Draper will review a plan and the techniques used in order to both meet your aesthetic goals as well as match the proportions of your face, and will discuss the various types of rhinoplasty surgery that she feels will offer the best results.

What to expect during surgery

Many years ago, it was common to create a small upturned nose for most everyone desiring rhinoplasty. Now we tend to individualize much more to give a balanced look to the face. The surgery involves incisions inside the nose that do not show, and in some instances a small external incision at the base of the nose. The bones and cartilage are reshaped through these incisions, and an external splint is placed and remains for 4-7 days.

Recovery information

Every patient is different. An exact progression timeline will be based on healing and determined by Dr. Draper. Total recovery time (resume normal activity with no restrictions) should be estimated between 6-8 weeks.

*THIS SHOULD BE PRETTY STANDARD FOR ALL SURGICAL PROCEDURES.