Patients usually seek consultation to reduce the size of the nose and enhance its shape. Dr. Newman makes a thorough can complete checklist of the patient’s wishes for desired nasal shape. He then loves to draw the patient’s nose from different angles to illustrate what is happening with the nasal shape and as well as discuss the plan for treatment. Drawing and discussing provide a deep understanding of what issues are affecting the shape and give a realistic understanding as to how the patient’s nose can be changed to get them to their goals. Dr. Newman will discuss the alternatives for improvement and recommend the best option.
The rhinoplasty experience includes not only the procedure itself but rather encompasses all of the thought processes, the consultation and planning, the preoperative appointment, the surgery day itself and your postoperative appointments. One might even say that all of the thoughts and ideas a patient has prior to their consultation are also part of the rhinoplasty process because most patients have been thinking about issues with their nasal shape for quite a while.
At your consultation, Dr. Newman will get your thoughts on what you don’t like about your nose and how you want it to look. He loves to draw the nose from different angles and this serves as a spring- board to discuss how the nose can be changed and helps patients to share in the creative process. Dr. Newman will offer his opinion on not only how goals can be met but how to elicit beauty from the patient’s current nasal shape. He will also strive to bring the nose into harmony with the rest of the face and share his thoughts on this issue. Dr. Newman feels that simply taking a photograph and morphing it on a computer is not that enjoyable or predictive and drawing the patient’s nose lends a much richer experience.
The nose has its own mini-architecture and so drawing the nose gives patients a deeper and more gratifying sense of understanding as well as provides a realistic appraisal as to what can be accomplished for each patient based on their nasal anatomy. The entire experience is and should be fun and Dr. Newman is dedicated to help each patient get the most from this adventure.
At the end of your procedure and before you awake, a small plaster of paris splint will be sculpted onto the nose to maintain its position. Also, a tiny pack will be placed only within the nostril (and not up the nose!) Patients can sometimes breathe through their nose around the small pack. The next morning, the small packs are removed but the splint is kept in place for six days. Patients often can immediately see changes in the shape of the nose the morning after their procedure and can see that the tip is smaller, softer and less projecting and they can get a sense that the bump is gone.
While the splint is still on, patients can clean the edge of the nostril with soapy Q-tips and use Vaseline to keep the area moist. Most patients don’t schedule important functions while the splint is on as it brings attention but they can walk outside and perform most of their usual activities. It’s very important to keep pets from jumping up towards the face and workouts at the gym are not commenced for at least three weeks.
At six days after your rhinoplasty, the splint is removed and the sticky substance from the splint that coats the skin can be gently removed with alcohol wipes. With the splint unveiled, patients now see that the bump is gone and the nose already looks smaller. For the next three or so weeks, swelling of the skin in the bump area and on the sides of the nose comes down and patients can begin to see their new nasal line which is that beautiful straight line that moves from the inner edge of the eyebrow to the nasal tip. After this three week period the tip is still swollen and it takes longer for tip swelling to go down than in the upper nose. It depends on the initial size of the tip but many patients see that the tip is smaller than it was prior to surgery even at three weeks. It takes at least a full six months to see the final shape of the tip because of this lag in the decrease in swelling of the tip as compared to the upper nose swelling. But after the three week period, and as the tip is already smaller than it was preoperatively, swelling of the tip is mostly only noticed by the patient.
After rhinoplasty, patients are back to jogging and other aerobics at about three weeks. Heavy lifting is discouraged for about six weeks when full work outs can be done. During rhinoplasty (nose job), the thin nasal bones are moved to create a more beautiful and elegant form. These bones have the power to heal very quickly and are mostly “set” at two weeks but it is very important for patients to avoid the possibility of contact with the nose for six weeks. By that time, the bones are fully healed.
Since it probably takes a few months until patients will be happy with their photographic image, it may be most wise to schedule rhinoplasty for that amount of time prior to any major event such as a wedding. Another common scheduling idea is to have the procedure prior to a transition to a new environment. For example, some patients have their rhinoplasty at the end of high school or during the summer prior to going to college or beginning work.
Rhinoplasty surgery is a small surgery but can lend significant improvement to nasal shape and the rest of the face. And enjoying the process can help great results
Rhinoplasty is performed and splint is placed. Patients go home and can walk in their home. Though there is swelling, some can already see that the tip has a better shape and can imagine that the bump is gone.
Small packing in the nostril is removed. Patients are walking outside. Swelling tends to peak at about three days.
Splint is removed. Patients can see that the bump is gone. The skin is still swollen and some swelling can be seen on the sides but patients can wear makeup. Patients are back to their usual activities.
Splint is removed. Patients can see that the bump is gone. The skin is still swollen and some swelling can be seen on the sides but patients can wear makeup. Patients are back to their usual activities.
Patients can resume heavy lifting. Most of the swelling in the upper nose and the sides is gone. The tip is still swollen but probably smaller than it was prior to the surgery.
Patients can resume heavy lifting. Most of the swelling in the upper nose and the sides is gone. The tip is still swollen but probably smaller than it was prior to the surgery.
Almost all of the tip swelling is gone, though it takes a year to see the final tip shape.
As an example, after rhinoplasty, the entire face changes in a way that cannot be predicted but is nevertheless, beneficial.
Other Face Procedures:
Brow Lift
Correction of Protruding Ears
Eyelid Surgery
Face Lift
Forehead Reduction
Neck Lift
Crooked Nose