Nose surgery

Alternative names:

rhinoplasty

Definition:

Surgery to repair or reshape the nose. See also septoplasty (nasal septum repair).

Description:

One of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures, rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of the nose, change the shape of the tip or the nasal bridge, narrow the opening of the nostrils, or change the angle between the nose and the upper lip. Rhinoplasty can also correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing problems.

Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and the patient's attitude. It may be performed in a surgeon's office-based facility, a hospital, or an outpatient surgery center. Complex procedures may require a short inpatient stay. The procedure usually takes an hour or two but may take longer.

With local anesthesia, the nose and the surrounding area is numbed. The patient will usually be lightly sedated but awake during the surgery, and relaxed and insensitive to pain. General anesthesia allows the patient to sleep through the operation, and is typically used in children.

The surgery is usually done through the incision inside the nostrils.

Indications:

Nose surgery offers improvement, and many times near perfection, in the appearance.

Age may also be a consideration. Many surgeons prefer not to perform cosmetic (elective) rhinoplasties until the growth of the nasal bone is completed (around 14 or 15 for girls, a bit later for boys).