Department of Surgery
Strong Health's Specialists in Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic Surgery
Nose Surgery: What To Expect
Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure
lasting between two to three hours, though more complicated cases
can take
longer and/or require a short hospital stay. Depending on the
surgical plan you and your doctor have developed, you’ll
be given local or general anesthesia.
Some surgeons do a rhinoplasty from within the nose, making
an incision inside the nostrils. Others use an "open" procedure,
making an incision across the vertical strip of tissue that separates
the nostrils (called the columella).
During surgery, the skin of the nose is separated from the bone
and cartilage, which are then surgically changed to the desired
shape. After this “sculpting” procedure, the skin
is draped over the "new" nose.
A small splint will
be put on your nose to help it retain its new shape and protect
it as it heals. You may also be given nasal packs or soft
plastic splints in your nostrils to help stabilize the wall separating
the nostrils (called the septum).
Risks
All surgery includes some risk and uncertainty. Serious complications
or side effects of this surgery are rare, but they include:
