Before your rhinoplasty surgery with Dr. Azizzadeh

What to expect

Rhinoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your hopes of stardom, nor will it cause other people treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are looking for improvement, not perfection in the way they look. If you're physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.

Rhinoplasty can be performed to meet aesthetic goals or for reconstructive purposes to correct birth defects or breathing problems.

Age is also be a consideration. Many surgeons prefer not to operate on teenagers until after they have completed their growth spurt around 14 or 15 for girls and a bit later for boys. It's important to consider teenagers social and emotional adjustment as well. Children need to make sure it's what they want and not what their parents really want.

Planning your surgery

Good communication between you and your physician is essential. At your initial consultation, the surgeon will ask what you'd like your nose to look like, evaluate the structure of your nose and face, and discuss the possibilities with you. He or she will also explain many factors that can influence the procedure and the results. These factors include the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, the thickness of your skin, your age, and your expectations.

Your surgeon will also explain the techniques. The Clinic will arrange for the type of facility where the surgery will be performed. You will be told about the risks and cost involved, and any options you may have. Most insurance policies don't cover purely cosmetic surgery; however, if the procedure is performed for reconstructive purposes, or to correct a breathing problem or a marked deformity, the procedure may be covered. Check with your insurer and obtain preauthorization for your surgery.

Be sure to tell your surgeon if you've had any previous nose surgery or an injury to your nose, even if it was many years ago. He should also inform your surgeon if you have any allergies or breathing difficulties; if you're taking any medications, vitamins or recreational drugs; and if you smoke.

Do not hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.

Preparing for your surgery

The surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines and eating and drinking, smoking, taking over avoiding certain vitamins and medications, and washing your face, carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.

While you're making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and a help you out for a few days if needed.

Where your surgery will be performed

Rhinoplasty may be performed at a surgeon's clinic, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually done on the outpatient basis, for cost-containment convenience. Complex procedures may require a short inpatient stay.

Types of anesthesia

Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and on what you and your surgeon prefer.

With local anesthesia, you will usually be lightly sedated, and your nose and the surrounding area will be numb. You will be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and have no pain. Otherwise, with general anesthesia, you will sleep through the operation.

The surgery

Rhinoplasty usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures may take longer. During surgery, the skin of the nose is separated from its supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape. The nature of the sculpting will depend on your problem and your surgeon's preferred technique. Finally the skin is retrieved over the new framework.

Many plastic surgeons perform rhinoplasty from within the nose, making their incision inside the nostrils, others prefer a "open" procedure, especially in more complicated cases; they make a small incision across the columella, the vertical strip of tissue separating the nostrils.

When the surgery is complete, a splint will be applied to help your nose maintain its new shape. Nasal packs are soft plastic splints also may be placed in your nostrils to stabilize the septum, the dividing wall between the air passages.