Because of the prominence of the nose on the face,it has tremendous emotional significance to each person and deviations from a normal range can make a person feel self-conscious. For this reason, rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic procedures done.

The procedure itself involves several tissue types (bone, cartilage, and skin) as well as a complex structure and involves the important function of breathing. For these reasons,rhinoplasty is best approached conservatively and by a surgeon with experience.

Most rhinoplasty is cosmetic in nature and therefore not insurance covered, however, some breathing problems may qualify for insurance coverage. Commonly, a rhinoplasty will involve components covered by insurance and components that are not. The covered portions are subject to the provisions of your individual policy.

The surgery itself is most commonly done with general anesthetic for patient safety and airway protection. Some minor procedures can safely be done with local anesthesia or local.
The best way to determine what your best options are to address your areas of concern is to come in for a consultation with one of our surgeons. At that visit we will review your areas of concern to do an exam & discuss treatment options to best help you achieve your goals.

Rhinoplasty can be done "closed" (with only incisions inside the nose), or "open" with the same incisions as closed, along with a small incision in the skin between the nostrils. The incision choice depends a great deal on the complexity of the procedure planned. The rhinoplasty can address the nasal tip, the hump of the nose, a crooked appearance, breathing problems, or even all of these. If the nasal bones are narrowed it will be necessary to wear a nasal splint for about a week. Swelling after rhinoplasty will last to some extent for up to a month. Most swelling will start to subside after a couple weeks, however your return to work will depend on the nature of your job. Return to full sports activity may be 6 to 8 weeks.

Because of the complexity of this procedure and healing variability it is not uncommon to need minor revision work. This can commonly be done with a local anesthetic but should not be done before swelling is no longer present.