The nose is the most visible part of the face, and it is its general shape and appearance that determine a person's perception of others. Many of us are unhappy with the nose: some do not like its size or shape, others suffer from a hump or very wide wings, and still others want to fix the tip of the nose that is slightly protruding or, conversely, drooping. All of these problems are solved in a very simple way, to the delight of patients, with the help of one of the oldest plastic surgeries - rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty- surgery to correct (change) the shape or size of the nose, which aims to improve its appearance, in addition to eliminating problems with nasal breathing and creating a psychologically comfortable state for the patient.
Types of rhinoplasty
Distinguish between aesthetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty.
The main objective of aesthetic rhinoplasty is to correct the "error" of nature, changing the shape or size of the nose, and thus give the face a more harmonious and attractive appearance. Aesthetic rhinoplasty can be complete or superficial (partial).
Complete rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery in which the surgeon touches all the structural parts of the so-called external nose: bone tissue, cartilage tissue, in addition to soft tissues. This operation is indicated for patients who want to reduce the length or width of the nose, change the shape of the saddle and remove the bulge.
Partial (or superficial) rhinoplasty is an operation to correct (change) the shape of the nose, when the surgeon is limited to processing only some of the external parts of the nose, without affecting bone tissue. Partial rhinoplasty is performed if it is necessary to correct the tip of the nose or reduce the wings, although a complete rhinoplasty may also be necessary to eliminate these problems - the decision is made by the doctor after examination and conversation with the patient.
Reconstructive rhinoplasty has as its main objective the resolution of problems such as the elimination of breathing difficulties due to the curvature of the nasal septum or hypertrophy of the turbinates. Reconstructive rhinoplasty involves restoring the appearance of the nose, which has been damaged (for example, "slid sideways" due to a fracture), as well as partially or totally lost due to an injury. This type of operation is used if it is necessary to correct the congenital deformity of the osteochondral skeleton in the nasal region. Sometimes, a plastic surgeon literally has to "sculpt" a new nose, using auricular cartilage or costal cartilage (in especially severe cases), as well as artificial materials.
Often, the patient undergoes surgery not so much for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes, but to restore normal breathing, which was impaired by the deformation of the nasal septum received during the trauma. Usually, post-traumatic surgery includes nasal plastic surgery and septoplasty (surgery that aims to correct the nasal septum, its main objective is to restore normal nasal breathing).
Preparing for rhinoplasty surgery
Before deciding on the operation, the patient, together with the plastic surgeon, discusses future parameters and the appearance of the nose, finds out exactly what the patient wants to achieve and the final result is simulated on a computer. This approach helps to "try" the new nose on the patient's face before the operation and to ensure that his new appearance does not violate the overall proportions of the face and that the shape of the nose blends harmoniously with all facial features.
It should be borne in mind that rhinoplasty is not performed if the patient is not between 17 and 18 years old. This is due to the growth of the body and the formation of cartilage and bone skeleton, the consequences of rhinoplasty at an early age can be unpredictable. But it is preferable to resort to rhinoplasty not before the age of 21 - doctors say that it is at that age that the bone skeleton finally forms.
Characteristics of nose correction surgery
Rhinoplasty is recognized as one of the most difficult plastic surgeries: after all, it is important not only to change the nose and give it the desired size or shape, but also not to hinder nasal breathing. Therefore, such an operation should be performed only by an experienced specialist who has already been proven and has good patient evaluations.
Rhinoplasty can be performed with both open and closed access. Open access involves an incision in the skin from the outside, which in the end will be almost invisible. With closed access, surgical intervention is performed on the lateral part of the nasal mucosa (through the nostrils), without external incisions and without leaving any traces. Closed rhinoplasty is considered more difficult and requires special skill from the plastic surgeon.
The type of access is determined directly in the consultation and depends on many factors: the shape of the nose, characteristics of its structure and the desired end result. The operation to correct the size or shape of the nose is done under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia: the choice of anesthesia is influenced by the complexity of the surgical intervention and the duration of the proposed operation. . . . In any case, the patient gets rid of the pain completely and does not feel any discomfort.
Postoperative
Rhinoplasty is a serious surgical intervention that requires not only the doctor's professional approach, but also the patient's own responsibility during the rehabilitation period. The postoperative period is painless. Only in the first days, the tampons, which make nasal breathing difficult, bring some disorders to the patient.
A fixation dressing is applied to the nose, which is removed periodically for skin care, in general, the use of this dressing is mandatory for 7 to 10 days. During this time, the primary edema usually disappears and the bruises and swelling under the eyes disappear. Residual subcutaneous hardening, almost invisible to others, disappears completely within 6-8 months. It is from that moment that the final result of the rhinoplasty will be visible.
As a rule, the patient is discharged the day after the operation, but still remains under the supervision of a doctor, arriving at the clinic for exams and dressings. The general recovery process after rhinoplasty surgery lasts about a month, during which the patient is prescribed to make a special dressing on the nose area, in addition to limiting physical activity and eliminating bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol).
The patient undergoing rhinoplasty must undergo mandatory examinations with a plastic surgeon 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation.
Contraindications for rhinoplasty
An experienced plastic surgeon will refuse to perform the operation if the patient has a history of the following diseases:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- blood clotting disorders;
- chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys in the acute phase;
- oncological diseases;
- infectious diseases;
- mental disease.
Of course, rhinoplasty is a serious step in the life of those who dream of changing their nose and, at the same time, life. But many of us understand perfectly well: if any figure flaw - even a significant one - can be "disguised" or even turned into an advantage with the help of clothes, then an ugly nose is the first thing others pay attention to when they look insideof a person Face. And if that same nose is too big or curved, then such a "show" cannot be hidden in any way, it will always spoil the appearance and the mood. Therefore, sometimes you need to decide on a surgical intervention and correct the shape or size of your nose, which suffers your whole life, sighing every time you look in the mirror.