Is Rhinoplasty for Me?
Intro to Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, otherwise known as nose reshaping, is one of the most common cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose for aesthetic or corrective purposes. The nose can be made smaller or larger, or the shape of the bridge or of the nose tip can be modified through this surgical procedure.
The development of rhinoplasty occurred primarily as a technique to restore the nose shape, and to correct for breathing issues associated with airway constriction. Surgical technology now allows the correction of these issues, but also provides very subtle cosmetic changes to nose size and shape.
Am I a Candidate for Nose Surgery?
The nose is the most prominent characteristic of the face. Due to this, the nose shape plays a big role in a one's self confidence. The nose a patient was born with makes him or her self conscious and unhappy, causing he or she to consider rhinoplasty. Others may be unhappy with how their nose has aged. Even slight changes to the shape of the nose can have a dramatic effect on someone's appearance and how people interact with that person.
The best candidates for rhinoplasty are those who want to improve the nose appearance, not those seeking perfection. The ideal candidate should be happy with their lives and should not expect rhinoplasty to transform them into someone else. Furthermore, if the rhinoplasty candidate would like the new nose to fully integrate with the shape of the face, then other facial procedures should be considered at the same time. Chin augmentation is a typical procedure that can be performed at the same time as rhinoplasty.
Many younger people consider rhinoplasty. The procedure should wait until after the teenage growth period that occurs in the mid-teens. This growth period normally occurs in the fourteen- to fifteen-year-old range for girls and somewhat later for boys.
Talk to a Qualified Rhinoplasty
It is best to fully discuss the options with a qualified rhinoplasty surgeon before deciding on rhinoplasty. Surgeons will display photos of other rhinoplasty patients with similar nose shapes. You should look at these pictures to determine the type of surgery you would like in order to obtain a realistic idea of the surgical outcome. A full discussion with the rhinoplasty surgeon can provide answers to your questions and help make the proper decision for surgery.
During discussions with the surgeon, you should find out the type of anesthesia that would be used, where the surgery would be performed, and the extent of the nose reshaping during surgery. Based on the shape of your face and nose, the surgeon should be able to provide an idea of the expected result. The recovery period and your activities after surgery need to be explained to you as well.
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