1. Demand for rhinoplasty is growing. In 2015, according to ASAPS stats over 145,000 people headed to plastic surgeons for nose surgeries.
2. It’s not just cosmetic— it often corrects real issues. “Many patients have breathing issues from a deviated septum or large turbinates – the portion of the nose which heats and filters air when you breathe,” explains board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Peter Neumann, “Men and women seek corrective and aesthetic procedures in equal numbers and across all age groups.” It’s not necessarily about vanity— it’s a surgery with potential to really help people stop or reduce suffering from trauma, injury, or breathing difficulty.
3. It probably won’t change your voice if you go to the right, experienced doctor. “Some doctors will tell you that your voice may change due to rhinoplasty – if done correctly that is NOT true!”
4. Computer-generated noses aren’t what good doctors produce. There’s a lot of talk in the plastic surgery field about using computer simulations to best model a ‘new’ nose for a patient, but Dr. Neumann says that the human touch is always best. “Computer-generated results offer little value since humans are not computers. Always make sure that your surgeon is well trained, understands your wishes, and is well versed in the art of rhinoplasty.” The surgeons Pre and Post-operative patient pictures can be a reliable guide their capabilities.
5. It’s more affordable than you think. Rhinoplasty won’t cost you a brand new car or a down payment on a house.
6. The surgery itself only takes 1-2 hours, and recovery is mild to moderate. “Surgery takes between 1-2 hours, under anesthesia and patients are required to wear a small cast for up to 5 days. We rarely if ever use packing anymore and are able to do surgery without the discomfort of packing. It’s an old technique that is very rarely used and most patients don’t want it.”
7. Winter months see the most demand for rhinoplasty. According to Dr. Neumann, rhinoplasty recovery is generally easier and quicker in cold weather. There’s also an uptick in vacation time, allowing patients who don’t want to take additional time off of work or school to undergo a rhinoplasty at this time.
8. You have to steer clear of aspirin, Advil, and other drugs for a while. Sounds counter-intuitive to stop taking pain-reduction drugs, right? It turns out steering clear of these ordinary helpers may actually speed recovery, “I require that all patients stop medication that could lead to bleeding such as Aspirin Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and Vitamin E. We start all patients prior to surgery on homeopathic herbs such as Bromelain and Arnica Montana, which hasten recovery and decrease swelling and bruising quickly.”
9. Sleeping with 2 pillows after surgery is a good idea. Keeping your head elevated post-rhinoplasty is a good idea to reduce nighttime swelling. The two pillow technique is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help keep recovery time on track in the first few days following a rhinoplasty procedure.
10. Technique for men’s and women’s rhinoplasty varies. You may think a nose job is a nose job, but when it comes to rhinoplasty, it’s almost entirely art. The angle and slope of a man’s nose is different from a woman’s, and many experienced plastic surgeons will choose angles that feminize a woman’s nose.
