INITIAL RECOVERY TIME: 10 DAYS
FINAL RESULTS: 9 MONTHS
Located front and center on the face, the nose is a key player in facial harmony, or a natural, aesthetically pleasing sense of proportion among our facial features. A nose that is out of proportion—too large or small, too long or short, or characterized by a large bump or prominent nostrils—can disrupt facial harmony and cause a person to feel self-conscious about his or her appearance.
If you are unhappy with the shape or size of your nose, rhinoplasty with an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon is a safe and effective way to correct what bothers you and get a more attractive nose that enhances your natural features.
Rhinoplasty consistently ranks as one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the United States. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 145,000 men and women underwent nose reshaping surgery in 2015 alone. It’s no surprise, really—with the results of a single procedure, you can enjoy a nose that better fits your face for a lifetime.
The benefits of rhinoplasty extend beyond the aesthetic. Reshaping the nose can:
Nose reshaping is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Dr. Chen is experienced in a variety of rhinoplasty techniques, allowing him to address specific issues for each patient. His goal with nose reshaping is not to give you someone else’s nose, but to make corrections that refine your unique nose and refine your natural facial features.
Dr. Chen performs many nose reshaping procedures using incisions completely hidden inside the nose. This allows him to reshape cartilage and nasal tissues without any external scarring.
More extensive nose reshaping procedures may call for an open rhinoplasty. Dr. Chen makes tiny external incisions between the nostrils in addition to internal incisions. This allows him direct vision to make necessary changes to the bone, cartilage and skin. Once healed, the scar is virtually undetectable and easily concealed by the natural contours of your nose. Tip and nostril reshaping procedures typically involve an open rhinoplasty.
Many patients choose to combine rhinoplasty with other facial procedures for enhanced results. Chin augmentation, ear pinning, and neck liposuction can help further improve facial harmony by refining the balance between features. All of these procedures can typically be performed at the same time as rhinoplasty with no additional recovery time.
When you wake up after surgery, your nose will have been placed in a hard protective splint; you also may have gauze packing in your nostrils to provide protection and support. Yes, this is fairly uncomfortable, but you will only have to endure this for a few days. Pain is typically minimal, but expect soreness, bruising and swelling to last for several weeks. While vigorous activity is off-limits at first, it’s good to get up and take frequent, easy walks as soon as possible after surgery.
When you go out in public after nose surgery is really up to you, although most patients feel comfortable doing so after their splint has been removed and bruising has subsided to the point where it does not draw attention—about 10 to 14 days after surgery. By this time, you should be able to return to sedentary work as well as most daily activities. Exercise routines can be gradually resumed beginning about 3 weeks after rhinoplasty, although you will need to avoid contact sports for several months.
Because rhinoplasty reshapes cartilage and sometimes bone, as well as skin, results require up to 12 months to settle into their final shape. But don’t worry—your new nose will look great well before your results are final. Major improvements are noticeable in about 1 month, after the bulk of post-op swelling subsides. Results continue to improve subtly and gradually thereafter.