The ins and outs of nose surgery

Surgery of the nose is used to straighten the bridge of the nose, reduce or enlarge the nose, change the angle between the upper lip and nose and to reshape the tip of the nose. It is also used for nose abnormalities that cause difficulty breathing through the nose or after an injury.

You usually will see a plastic surgeon to have this rhinoplasty surgery done. He will discuss with you what you desire to have changed about your nose and will explain the realistic outcome. Some surgeons will photograph you and use a computer program to make the changes. This will let you see what your nose may look like before you have the surgery done. This helps both you as a patient to be sure of what you want, and helps to surgeon to have a better understanding of the outcome that you desire from surgery.

On your visit to the surgeon he will discuss with you the way that he will perform the surgery. Most of the time the incisions are inside the nose. So the scars will not be visible. Sometimes there will be a small incision between the nostrils between the nose and the upper lip, but this is done in the crease so this will not be noticable once its healed.

After Surgery
You can expect some bruising and swelling after nose surgery, slight bleeding and some drainage from the nostrils which is very common for the first few days after the procedure. Sometimes the surgeon will advise you to wear a gauze pad taped under your nose for a few days to catch the drainage. For several weeks after surgery you will need to refrain from strenuous activities, which includes exercise, dont blow your nose, avoid smiling and laughing as much as possible. Limit the movement of your upper lip, no swimming at all, and dont pull clothes over your head.