Q & A

FAQs

What is Rhinoplasty and why is it performed?

Rhinoplasty is the correction of the shape of the nose or function. There are two kinds of rhinoplasty—Cosmetic Rhinoplasty (to improve the appearance) and Functional Rhinoplasty (to improve the function of the nose).

What can I expect in a Rhinoplasty procedure?

The nose is made of bone, cartilage, mucosa and skin. It serves the important function of regulating the water content and temperature of the air that we breathe. Rhinoplasty involves altering the structures (bone, cartilage, mucosa and skin) that make up the nose. After a Rhinoplasty, you would most definitely breathe better or your nose would have a changed shape that you and your surgeon would have agreed on pre-operatively.

Is Rhinoplasty an outpatient or inpatient procedure?

A majority of my patients have it done as an inpatient (under general anaesthesia). However, some minor corrections can be performed as an outpatient (under local anaesthesia).

How long is the recovery time for a Rhinoplasty procedure?

There are different levels of recovery following a Rhinoplasty. You will be under the effect of the anaesthesia for around 4 hours. During the first 48 hrs, you may find that your nose is blocked with discharge or blood clots coming from the front or back of the nose into the throat. Once the nasal pack is removed, you do feel liberated as you are able to breathe better.

The swelling on your nose stays for 2 weeks and then begins to slowly fade. It takes 6 weeks for around 80% of the swelling to go down. However, the best and final results are seen only after 6 months.

What are the potential side effects of Rhinoplasty?

The potential complications are bleeding, infections, and undesirable cosmetic and functional results. However, these are very rare in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Septal hematoma (when blood collects in the septum) and perforation (holes) may also occur.

What is the legal age to get a nose job?

There is no legal age for a nose surgery. However, functional surgery is performed when the symptoms are debilitating and interfering with normal function. Cosmetic surgery however is avoided until the age of 14–16 yrs for boys and 13–15yrs for girls.

What is the difference between open and closed Rhinoplasty?

Open Rhinoplasty involves making a cut in the skin between the 2 nostrils. This area is called the columella and the cut is never exposed to direct vision. However, the scar is imperceptible even to an enquiring eye. In Closed Rhinoplasty, the cuts are all made within the nostril and none of it is potentially visible.

Is Rhinoplasty a permanent procedure?

Rhinoplasty involves making structural changes to the nose. This procedure is primarily performed to obtain a permanent result. There may be slight changes that may occur as the swelling decreases and with the healing of tissues.

A form of Rhinoplasty that is becoming quite popular recently is Liquid Rhinoplasty or Non-surgical Rhinoplasty. The body’s own material is injected into the tissues of the nose to alter the shape. This procedure is not permanent.

Is Rhinoplasty painful?

Any form of surgery does produce an amount of pain. Recent advances in medicine should not leave anybody in pain following surgery. Analgesics or pain killers are prescribed in the post-operative period.

How can Rhinoplasty improve the function of my nose?

The structures of the nose (for example, the septum) can be deviated either through trauma or overgrowth. Such deviations can cause narrowing of the air passage which could lead to difficulty in breathing. The correction of the position of the internal structures will lead to an improvement in the function.