Rhinoplasty can do a lot for a person. Maybe you have always been bothered by the way your nose looks: its size, shape, or placement on your face. Maybe you’ve recently suffered an accident that has changed the way your nose looks. Or, maybe you’re suffering from troubling sinus problems or other medical concerns that could be fixed with some adjustments to your nose. At Eric P. Bachelor M.D. F.A.C.S. in Pleasanton, CA and Danville, CA, Dr. Eric Bachelor is a premier California cosmetic surgeon and a specialist in the artistry of the face.
How Does Rhinoplasty Work?
The first thing to know is that this surgery is unique to each person. Your surgical plan will take into account your individual goals and concerns and will be suited to the aesthetics of your face. If only a small amount of reshaping is needed, Dr. Bachelor will likely use a “closed” technique. In this technique, very small incisions are made only inside the nose. In some cases, if you need or desire a more extensive change, the surgery can also reshape bone and cartilage in the nose through a small incision just below the tip.
These types of nose surgeries are generally done as outpatient treatment and last only about an hour or a bit longer. In a few cases, something called an osteotomy might be needed. This is a controlled breaking of the nose, which is done by a tool that allows for perfect precision. This step is used only if bones need to be straightened or realigned or sometimes if you are having a bump removed from your upper nose. Rest assured that this is an entirely painless process, as you will be under anesthesia the entire time. Even if an osteotomy is needed, it doesn’t increase your recovery time.
How Can Rhinoplasty Help Me?
Change the Look of Your Nose
The number one reason that people seek out this treatment is that they are not pleased with the shape or size of their noses. It’s very common for a person to have been embarrassed about a nose for years, but nose surgery can change all that and give back confidence in the appearance.
Balance Your Face
Because of where our nose sits on our face, it’s very easy to see if it looks unbalanced. This surgery can approve symmetry and proportion so that your entire face looks more proportional.
Breathe Better
If the structure of your nose is presenting obstacles to smooth breathing, you will find that you breathe more deeply and sleep more soundly after removing them through rhinoplasty. Some people seek this surgery solely for cosmetic reasons, but others particularly need to address breathing issues. If you have chronic sinus issues, like headaches and congestion, it’s possible that this surgery could help the problem, depending on precisely what is causing it.
Correct Defects
Some people seek out this surgery to correct defects in the structure of their nose that have been caused by injuries or that have been present since birth.
About Recovery
Most people can go back to their regular schedules and work responsibilities a week after their rhinoplasty. Most people can resume exercising again after two weeks. As soon as the surgery is over, your nose will be bandaged and may have a small cast or splint to protect it.
During the first few days, we recommend using button-up shirts rather than those that have to be pulled over the head to minimize the possibility that you will jostle your nose as your dress. Depending on the surgery and your needs, you may also need to avoid wearing glasses for a few days.
When Will I See Results?
In some cases, patients see a fairly immediate improvement, but for most people, it takes a couple of months to see the final and full results of your surgery. The good news is that, unlike other types of cosmetic treatments, this is a one-and-done situation. No follow-up treatments are necessary, and your results are permitted.
Good Candidates
Good candidates for this procedure are in relatively good health with no serious underlying medical conditions and are not pregnant. You must also be at least 15 years old because you cannot receive a rhinoplasty until your face has finished growing. Good candidates are unhappy with the look of their nose or need a structural improvement to improve breathing or address a defect after trauma or accident.
Good candidates also want a treatment that is specifically designed for them and personalized but also have realistic expectations about the outcome, understanding that rhinoplasty can make significant a noticeable changes to the nose but cannot address other areas of the face. Finally, good candidates need to be able to refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after surgery.
FAQ
What If My Nose Is Pierced?
The surgeon will still be able to reshape your nose even if it has been pierced, although the surgery may remove the area of tissue where your piercing is. You will need to refrain from wearing any piercings during the surgery or the recovery period, but having a piercing does not stop you from being a candidate.
How Is This Different From Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a procedure that straightens the cartilage wall that divides your two nostrils. This wall is referred to as the septum. This procedure is usually done to improve breathing, and it can be incorporated into a rhinoplasty if needed. However, it is something separate and doesn’t need to be a part of your nose surgery unless you have a medical reason for septoplasty.
Will I Have Scarring?
Your surgeon is very experienced in hiding incisions so that there are no visible scars. If your nose surgery used the closed technique, all the incisions will be made inside the nose, and there will be nothing to worry about. If it is necessary to make an incision between the nostrils at the tip of the nose, this is a tiny scar that is hidden by the tip of your nose and should not be noticeable to anyone.
Does My Sex Matter?
No: this surgery is appropriate for both men and women. There are some differences in the structure of male and female noses, but your surgeon is well aware of this and can easily take this into account in developing your personalized surgical plan.
Does Insurance Cover This Treatment?
Insurance coverage typically depends on the reason for your surgery. If you are seeking surgery only for cosmetic reasons, most insurance companies will not cover it. If you need the surgery to address sinus or breathing problems, even if you would also like to have it for cosmetic reasons, there is a chance your insurance may cover it. Talk to us about this issue when you come for a consultation.
What If I’m Sick on the Day of My Treatment?
If you have a cold or other illness that inflames the nasal passages and sinuses, we will recommend that you postpone your surgery until you feel better. This is just to ensure you get the best possible results.
Will I Look Weird?
Absolutely not! Dr. Bachelor is one of the leading cosmetic surgeons in the nation and has both the skill and the artistry to deliver outcomes that do not look overdone or artificial. The goal is always to correct your concerns while also delivering perfectly natural results.
What Other Treatments Do You Offer?
There are many other options we can offer. We can perform surgery on the eyelids to remove extra skin that makes a person look irritated, tired, or simply older. We can also do chin lifts, facelifts, brow lifts, and more. We also have many non-surgical treatments that can help rejuvenate your appearance, as well as treatments, both surgical and non-surgical, for the rest of the body.
If you want to rejuvenate your appearance comprehensively, we can develop a treatment plan that will work for you. We can address specific areas of the body or even the whole body so that you feel confident in the look you are presenting to the world.
Consider Nose Surgery With Dr. Bachelor
If you are not pleased with the way your nose looks, you don’t have to live with the situation. Whether this has been ongoing since your childhood or is a new issue after an accident, rhinoplasty can help. Come consider your options together with Dr. Bachelor at the offices of Eric P. Bachelor M.D. F.A.C.S. in Pleasanton, CA and Danville, CA.