Dr. Reynolds offers insights on nose surgeries
Concerns about the appearance of an individual's nose is one of the most common reasons to visit a plastic surgeon's office for both men and women.
More than 230,000 rhinoplasties were performed in the United States in 2016. The most common complaint is a hump on profile view, but many people also are concerned with the appearance of their tip. Regardless of the reason, this can affect the individual's confidence and influence their interaction with others.
Unlike many other parts of the body, the nose can't be hidden under clothing. Many times, an adjustment of only a few millimeters can make a significant difference.
Sometimes there is a complaint of difficulty breathing as well. This is usually from a deviated septum (the cartilage between the two sides) and is sometimes a result of trauma. Straightening the septum often helps improves breathing issues significantly.
A turbinectomy also can be performed to help with breathing if the turbinates are enlarged. The breathing portion can sometimes be covered by insurance.
Turbinates are structures on the side wall of the inside of the nose, as the American Rhinologic Society's website explains. They project into the nasal passages as ridges of tissue and help help warm and moisturize air as it flows through the nose. Inferior turbinates can block nasal airflow when enlarged.
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Rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty, which is a combination of rhinoplasty and septoplasty surgeries, take about 60 to 90 minutes and are outpatient procedures. There is often a hard splint on the outside of the nose for a week. Septoplasty surgeries correct a deviated septum to restore or create normal breathing.
There may be packing inside the nose overnight, which is removed the day after surgery. There are some sutures that are removed six or seven days after surgery. There is usually some bruising under the eyes for one to two weeks. There is minimal discomfort after surgery.
Most of the swelling resolves in four to six weeks, but it can take a full year for the last 10-15 percent of the swelling to resolve. This is the reason we wait until 12 months after surgery to critically assess the results.
Most patients are very happy with the improvement after surgery and say they regret not doing it years earlier when they first considered surgery.
Whether it's a hump on the nose, a plunging tip or you feel like your nose doesn't match your face, we can help. Make sure your plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (plasticsurgery.org) and a member of the American Board of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (surgery.org).
Dr. Dale Reynolds is an El Paso plastic surgeon. Email him at drdalereynolds@yahoo.com or contact him through his website, reynoldsplasticsurgery.com.