What happens during a rhinoplasty surgical procedure?

Whether you feel self-conscious about the shape and size of your nose or whether you have a medical condition like a deviated septum, rhinoplasty has the potential to be the solution. A septal perforation (perforated nasal septum) can be repaired during a rhinoplasty procedure being performed for cosmesis or shape also. Rhinoplasty is the most common cosmetic procedure used in the industry and it belongs to the list of top 5 most common cosmetic surgeries performed all over the world. Over time the number of rhinoplasty operations is likely to keep on increasing.

Rhinoplasty has a good success rate and since it can allow people to feel more confident about their face and allows them to get rid of sleep conditions such as snoring due to a deviated septum, its popularity is only increasing with time. Also, with the fast-paced development of technologies, instruments, and procedures in the medical field, the effectiveness of rhinoplasty has also improved.

You just need to find a good, experienced, rhinoplasty surgeon and get the nose job done smoothly and safely. One thing that you should always try to understand is what happens during rhinoplasty. This will help you in setting clear expectations during the process.

Let’s see what happens during a rhinoplasty surgical process.

What happens during a rhinoplasty procedure?

Since the objective of every rhinoplasty procedure is different, what happens during the process will also vary. For example, if you have plans to augment your nose through rhinoplasty surgery, the surgeon may remove the cartilage from the nasal septum and then implant it strategically to improve the overall look and appearance of your nose.

But if you are trying to rectify a botched nose job, the surgeon may have no other option other than taking cartilage from another part of your body like your rib or ear. This might sound risky but the benefits usually do outweigh the risks. Your surgeon will be able to discuss this with you fully.

As mentioned earlier you should be aware that rhinoplasty is even performed alongside repair of a nasal septum perforation (septal perforation) and it is the only surgical process that deals with the correction of the nasal septum when basic medication fails to address the nasal septum hole symptoms.

During the initial consultation, the surgeon will sit with you and discuss what you want to achieve through the rhinoplasty surgery (if the rhinoplasty surgery is not being performed for any medical condition like a deviated nasal septum). Also, the surgeon will give you details about the type of rhinoplasty surgery he is going to use and give you details regarding it.

How long does the rhinoplasty process take?

This also depends on the ultimate goal of the rhinoplasty surgery. If you are just planning to get a nose job done to rectify its shape or size, the entire process can take anywhere between  2 to 4 hours. But if the doctor is trying to fix a broken nose or correct a botched nose job, the process can even take 3 to 5 hours. It is important not to worry too much about the time taken for the rhinoplasty or nose job. It is vital that your surgeon takes as long as they need to get to the desired outcome.

Will the nose be broken during the process?

Another thing that many people wonder about rhinoplasty is whether the nose will be broken during the surgery or not. Well, whether you are performing rhinoplasty for nasal septum perforation (hole in the nasal septum) or nose shape correction, you may require some breaking of the nasal bones to achieve an optimal result. The bones will only be broken if needed for the nose job outcome to be successful and achieve an optimal result in terms of shape.

Even if you are going for an extensive reconstruction process, an expert surgeon will usually try to shift the position of your nose without breaking it. This can be achieved with a piezoelectric scalpel or ultrasonic scalpel which allows reshaping of the nasal bones gently.

During the initial consultation, your surgeon will be examining the physical makeup of your nose and give details on the procedure they will be using. They will provide you with details regarding what will happen during the procedure.

Will the rhinoplasty process be painful?

You are not going to feel any kind of pain or discomfort during the rhinoplasty procedure. You will be given general or local anesthesia on the basis of the correction required in your nose job and this will prevent any kind of pain.

General anaesthesia is used to numb your entire body and it puts you in a deep sleep. Local anesthesia is injected into the area of the body being operated upon and it results in localized numbness of a specific part of the body. A rhinoplasty can be performed with local anaesthesia but a full general anaesthetic is usually preferred.