Nose jobs, or rhinoplasty, are one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery on earth. A recent survey performed by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery showed 954,423 nose jobs had been performed in one year throughout the ten countries surveyed. Needless to say, nose jobs are quite common.
People may get a nose job to modify or alter some genetic aspect of their nose that they don’t enjoy, such as a hump or asymmetry. Sometimes, issues like a deviated septum, which can lead to breathing issues, can also be fixed while a nose job is being performed. This would be considered a combination of septoplasty and rhinoplasty.
Before having rhinoplasty performed, you will be expected to go through a consultation with your surgeon to discuss your expectations and wishes and for your surgeon to decide if you’re a proper candidate for nose surgery. Before your consultation, it’s important to have an idea of what you want your nose to look like after surgery and to understand the elements of your nose you would like changed. This makes your surgeon’s life much easier, since he will be able to accurately explain what he can offer you and what your results may look like. Many surgeons will use a computer modeling system to tweak an image of your nose so that you can see what the final outcome will be like. This is especially beneficial to make sure that candidates don’t expect to look like some of the photos they bring in.
Before having rhinoplasty, it’s important to know what to expect and to do your research. To that end, here are three things you should keep in mind before getting a nose job.
- There is no perfect nose
While it may seem like everyone in Hollywood is sporting the same ski-slope with button-tip nose, the simple fact that is that noses are unique and any good surgeon will be sure to make that clear to you before moving forward. Even if you come into the consultation with a very specific idea of what you’re looking for, this idealized nose may end up looking different when it’s on your face. This is simply because of the structure of your current nose and how much it can be modified. It should also be taken into account that a nose that looks lovely on one person can look very strange on another, so try not to get too caught up on the idea of what a perfect nose is.
- The pain isn’t terrible
While we will be the first to admit that rhinoplasty recovery looks quite messy. Black eyes and dried blood are par for the course after nose surgery has been performed, but many people who have had the surgery performed will be the first to tell you that the pain during recovery wasn’t overwhelming. You will have to sleep with your head elevated so as to encourage drainage and to prevent further swelling, but most pain should be kept under control with Tylenol.
- Recovery may be shorter than you think
While everyone is different, recovery from rhinoplasty can actually be quite short. You’ll be able to return to your normal activities within two to three weeks, and your bruises should start to fade within the first week. While the final shape of your nose may not be revealed in its final entirety for up to a year, the initial stages of recovery that will let you leave the house without looking like you’ve been in a hockey fight should be relatively short.
