Rhinoplasty or nose shaping is a surgical procedure that aims to improve the function or appearance of the nose. Rhinoplasty is performed to achieve certain esthetic goals, to restore a traumatized nose to correct breathing problems, and for rejuvenation (for example, nose tip lowered).
When you think of rhinoplasty, it is best to take all aspects into consideration. You should find exactly what you don’t like about your nose and how you want it to look. Even if the opinion of your friends and family is important, you should decide what should be improved. During the consultation you will be asked about your motivation. The aim is to provide complex healing, taking into consideration both aspects, psychological and physical.
Is rhinoplasty for me?
- My nose is too large compared to my face.
- Viewed from the front, my nose looks wider and with enlarged nostrils.
- My nose is crooked.
- The nose tip is too high or too low.
- My nose has an irregular shape.
- My nose was deformed after an accident.
Consultation
Please be prepared to answer some questions about your health, and it would be good to bring all relevant documents. Of particular importance are the medicines you take, breathing problems, and allergies causing breathing difficulties. The internal structure of the nose will be thoroughly assessed, the shape and size of the nose, and the skin quality. The changes that are necessary for achieving a smooth integration with the rest of your facewill be explained to you. You will receive specific instructions about diet, smoking and taking certain medications. Other procedures, such as deviated septum, can be corrected during the same intervention.
Surgical intervention of rhinoplasty / septoplasty
The procedure depends on the defects you want to be corrected and lasts about one hour. Rhinoplasty can be done with general or local anesthesia.In the first case, you will be asleep during the operation, while local anesthesia assumes local area numbness and intravenous administration of sedatives. The type of anesthesia will be determined before the operation.
In modern rhinoplasty there are two major surgical approaches: opened and closed interventions. The open structure allows visualization and diagnosis of nasal obstructions or subjacent deficiencies. The incision is hidden in the tinniest area of the nose trills, the columella. Postoperatively, its presence will be unnoticeable. In case of the closed procedure, a marginal incision will be made inside the nose. This technique fits patients who want changes at the peak and in the middle of the nose. If changes are needed on a larger scale, other surgical techniques are preferred. In both cases the existing tissue is removed, added or repositioned. The surgery ends with fine sutures and the tissue around the nose is immobilized to protect the new form.
After rhinoplasty or septoplasty
It is advised to keep your head in an elevated position after surgery. Contusions and swelling under the eyes will be increased in the first 2 or 3 days after surgery, and the application of cold compresses is useful in such cases. After 3 or 4 days the temporary residual staining can be masked with makeup. Swelling around the nose will retreat constantly and continuously.
More details about the intervention and postoperative recommendation will be received at the consultation.
Frequently asked questions about rhinoplasty
The procedure can be carried out from the age of 16 in girls and 17 in boys, once growth of the nasal structures is generally complete. Parental consent is required for minors.
Usually about 1.5 hours, though this varies with the complexity of the problem and the technique chosen. The hospital stay after surgery is one night.
It is usually performed under general anaesthesia. Where only small changes are needed it can be done under local anaesthesia with sedation. Dr. Fodor decides which is appropriate at the consultation.
In closed rhinoplasty the incisions are made inside the nose. Open rhinoplasty adds a small external incision on the columella, the strip between the nostrils, which gives direct sight of the bone and cartilage structures. Your surgeon will explain which technique suits your case.
A thermoplastic splint is placed on the nose and kept for 7 days. Small silicone tubes are often placed inside the nose and removed after 2 days. The sutures used dissolve on their own.
Swelling builds over the first three days and then begins to subside. The eyelids may look discoloured, blue-violet in the first days and yellowish towards the end of the week, while the cheeks and upper lip settle gradually.
Yes. A deviated septum can be addressed during the same operation through septoplasty, which involves removing or reshaping the deformed part of the septum.
Medicines that can thin the blood should be avoided for 10 days before the operation, as they can contribute to bleeding during and after surgery. Instructions specific to your situation are given at the consultation.
Bleeding is the most common complication. Pain and discomfort, bruising and swelling, numbness or reduced sensation in the nose, asymmetry, contour irregularities and breathing difficulties can also occur. Healing is slower in people who smoke. The risks are discussed in full at the consultation.
Documented cases (16)
Real cases operated by Dr. Lucian Fodor, each with a full description of the procedure.
- Rhinoseptoplasty — Shortening and Refining a Long Nose with a Drooping TipHow the Patient Presented The patient described her concern in terms of proportion rather than detail: her nose seemed too long and too prominent within the whole of…
- Closed Reduction Rhinoplasty — Hypertrophied, Wide Nose with Dorsal Hump and Drooping Tip – Case 269Closed reduction rhinoplasty for a hypertrophied, wide nose with a dorsal hump and drooping tip. The nose no longer dominates the face, and reads as natural rather than operated on.
- Refinement Rhinoplasty — Oversized, Disproportionate Nasal Tip – Case 267Refinement rhinoplasty confined to an oversized, disproportionate nasal tip. The change is deliberately restrained but visibly rebalances the face, without erasing the patient's individuality.
