Rhinoplasty: Answers to your questions
1. Is Rhinoplasty surgery a painful operation?
You will be under the influence of anesthesia during your surgery and you will not feel any pain during the operation. All patients are advised to take pain relief medication for the first few days after surgery. Generally, you won’t feel like you need to take painkillers but some may want to use a harder painkiller anyways. The most common complaint I’ve gotten is the difficulty of breathing through the nose for the night after surgery. The next day you will begin to breathe easier after we take off the intranasal dressing which we placed in your nose the day before. Most of our patients state that they have not faced any problems during the week after surgery.
2. Are there any complications or risks of Rhinoplasty Surgery?
There is a certain amount of risk and potential complications in any surgical operation. The surgeon’s task is to anticipate them and to point them out to you. I usually inform my patients against the risk of infection and bleeding. Although excessive bleeding after rhinoplasty surgery is also very rare, my mission is to inform my patients of this possibility. If such a situation occurs, it will do within a few hours immediately after the operation. In this case, patient should not worry and let the doctor know instantly.
3. Can I combine my Rhinoplasty surgery with other facial surgeries?
To answer briefly, yes. Most rhinoplasty patients combine their rhinoplasty with other facial surgery, even with body operations. For example, it is fairly common in patients to get their eyelid surgery or breast augmentation with their nose surgery. In such situations, it is strongly recommended that you discuss the details with your doctor.
4. Is it proper if I tell my doctor that I want to talk to her/his former patients who had a nose surgery before?
Of course. We support our patients to contact our former patients who had undergone similar operations on their own. The reality is, the more information is always better when it comes to patient. This is surely an understandable request.
5. Does my health insurance cover my rhinoplasty surgery?
In some cases, a portion of the amount of your Rhinoplasty operation may be covered by your health insurance. This might occur in some cases such as a warped nose pole, the nasal valve surgery, or if the operation is related to the patient’s previous injury or damage. In such cases, breathing related part of the restructuring of the nose can be covered by the insurance. If the operation is considered due to purely aesthetic reasons not insurance, but the patient is fully responsible for the cost of the surgery. This should be discussed at the initial examination in terms of knowing the portion of insurance coverage.
6. Can my doctor fix the shape of my nose aesthetically and treat my breathing problem at the same time?
Yes, this is a fairly common condition. Both your breathing problem and your cosmetic dissatisfactions can be solved at the same time. Your nose will be reformed in accordance with your facial features. This would count as a plastic surgery and your insurance will not cover it. The only thing in the medical context covered by insurance companies is the problem of breathing. For extra payments, the next year’s agreements or so, you still need to contact your health insurance company.
7. What are the medical conditions that might prevent a healthy recovery after a Rhinoplasty operation?
Situations which may be threatening for a successful nose operation are usually related to the internal structure of the nose and they are rare. For example, in my opinion, patients who suffer from The Wegener’s granulomatosis syndrome (WG) -affecting the nose cartilage – are not suitable for a rhinoplasty operation. The risk of complication is very high that we avoid performing a surgery. The health of the patient has been always our first consideration. Apart from this, there are very few medical conditions that could interfere with a healthful recovery.
8. How long does it typically take between the initial examination and the surgery?
It depends on the person. Patients usually set the appointment of the operation one to four months after the inspection. For out of town and international patients, time is more valuable, so they keep it shorter. However, some patients who are so unsure about the operation might want to last it up to 6 months, even a year. It really makes no difference. Because, no matter how much time passes, the doctor will remember the patient’s condition and desired results quite clearly and will always save the patient’s personalized nose design with detailed interview notes. Whether immediately after examination or years after the initial examination, I always go over my surgery plan and make sure of all the details.
9. Open Rhinoplasty technique or Closed Rhinoplasty technique?
Open and Closed Rhinoplasty Technique simply refer to two possible surgical approaches of Rhinoplasty surgery. With Open Technique nasal cartilage and bone structures can be configured in more detail. It allows the entire skin over the nasal cartilage and bone to be lifted up to find out what’s underneath. Especially in patients who have problems with the tip of their nose, this technique is more suitable. In Closed Rhinoplasty technique, all of the incisions are enclosed inside the nose. All of the work is achieved through the nostrils from the inside. Because of that there is no visible external scar. This technique is preferred if there is no genuine nose deformity. The doctors’ opinions conflict over these two methods. However, I think that it is a more accurate approach to make this decision in accordance with the needs of my patients.
10. Will I have scars after surgery?
Each incision in the skin leaves a trace. When people say “ Scar” we think of big, ugly stitches. However, as aesthetic nasal surgery incisions and stitches are made in a much more controlled manner, they are very difficult to be seen visually. The Open Nose Surgery does not leave a noticeable and visible trace. At Endonasal, Closed operations there will be no traces to be seen because cuts are already inside the nose. Patients who have a situation that requires an open technique, will be letting them know and informed before surgery.
11. Are there alternatives to the aesthetic nasal surgery?
There are a number of alternative nose aesthetic operations, but they are limited.
12. Is it true that people get runny noses after surgery?
No, it is not. It may be valid for the first 1-2 weeks after the operation, but I haven’t had a patient in such complaint.
13. Does Smoking affect my recovery after rhinoplasty surgery?
Smoking affects the healing in most surgical operations. In particular, the success of the surgery can be observed by looking at the nose skin. That is why heavy smoking affects healing and postoperative surgical outcome badly. I warn my patients against smoking all the time.
14. Is it true that homeopathic medicines reduce the swelling and bruising?
There is no scientific evidence that homeopathic medicines are useful, but we support our patients who would take advantage of them. The best way of minimizing swelling and bruising is to choose a skilled and experienced surgeon who also has an effective and gentle operation style.
15. If a graft is needed when re-configuring the nose, what kind of material do you use?
In my method, the priority is the patient’s own cartilage grafts. The nasal septum is very convenient to get septal cartilage if needed during the rhinoplasty operation. However, an additional graft may be needed in some cases. In such situations non-structural parts of the ear or a part from the flexible structure of the rib can be used.
16. Will I be asleep during rhinoplasty surgery?
Yes. Rhinoplasty surgery needs to be done under general anesthesia. The surgery usually takes 1-2 hours.
17. Can I have breakfast on the morning of the operation? How soon after surgery can I eat?
The night before the rhinoplasty operation you should not eat after midnight as in all other surgical operations. Your stomach must be empty to prevent complications. About an hour, after waking up from anesthesia, you can begin to eat light meals and drink water.
18. Can I go home immediately after my surgery?
Yes. After you spend a couple hours in our custody after surgery, you have the freedom to go home with your companion. But we strongly recommend you to stay overnight in the hospital for the first night and bring a close family or friend with you who can help you with this process.
19. Can I drive home after surgery?
No, you cannot. It is not recommended you drive a vehicle for at least 24 hours after the surgery. You have to wait until your body completely discards the general anesthesia medications.
20. Will I need somebody to help me at home after the operation?
Well, not exactly. Nonetheless, the first night after surgery, we find it very healthy if you have someone with you who is able to call the doctor in case of an emergency.
21. When are the seams taken out after Rhinoplasty Operation?
Depending on the type of the operation, it generally takes at least 1 week.
As self-absorbing seams are used in the nose, there is no need to remove them.
22. Is it possible to be allergic to these dissolvable stitches?
It is possible, but unlikely. A mild itching is more common. In case of an allergy, stitches will be removed.
23. Will I be given cortisone to help the scar tissue?
Usually not. A very small amount can be implemented to the upper part of the tip of the nose for patients with very thick skin or excessive swelling of face. With the open rhinoplasty technique, this possibility is higher.
24. How many times will I have to go see my doctor post-surgery?
I usually see my patients on the 3rd and 7th days for dressing. For long-term follow-up, every two months until the 6th months and after that it goes like 1st year and 2nd year.
25. When will the external splint be removed?
The light metal external splint will be removed about a week after surgery.
26. When can I breathe easy?
We can breathe immediately after surgery with the help of the thin silicon layer into the nose. We recommend our patients not to blow during the week after the operation. You may gently blow your nose after one week. Rinsing the nose with salt water is also recommended.
27. Can I wear my glasses after my surgery?
Yes, but your glasses must not oppress your nose. I suggest my patients to use “frame ups” to hold the glasses of the nose or to tape the glasses to their forehead if possible.
28. How long after a rhinoplasty before I can resume activities?
You can start brisk walking a few days after the operation. It would be adequate if you are away from moderate/heavy activities such as running, cycling, swimming, weight training for a month. You can always continue from where you left. Even after a month, you need to be really careful and try to minimize the possibility of trauma to your newly operated nose.
29. Will nose continue to grow after nose surgery?
If rhinoplasty surgery is administered to an adult, the nose stops to grow. Bur for younger patients, it may be. Therefore, we recommend to wait until the age of 16 in girls and 17-18 in boys.
30. Is it true that it takes a full year until you see results?
Yes. Remember, full results of a rhinoplasty are not typically seen for up to a year after surgery. After three months post rhinoplasty, approximately 80% of the swelling disappear. Within six months time, about 90% of the swelling will have dissipated, while the remainder of the swelling can slowly disappear over the next year or longer until the final, most refined result is achieved.
31. What if I’am not pleased with the results of my nose operation?
A clear and effective communication must be created during the examination for patients’ future happiness. It is extremely important that the patient has realistic expectations. A component and reputable surgeon does her/his best to show the patient all of the probable consequences. If the patient is truly unhappy with the consequences of the surgery, she/he should definitely let the doctor know. The problem may usually be a swollen nose tip or swelling along the nasal dorsum swelling. What the patient does not realize is that it is probably something temporary. In such cases, the doctor shows the pictures of the healing process and tells the patient that she/he needs to be more patient. Because full results of a rhinoplasty are not typically seen for up to a year after surgery.
There is a rare possibility of distortion of the nose, but it can be corrected with very simple procedures. When something unexpected occurs, we offer a correction operation to our patients. Health and satisfaction of our patients mean a lot to us, so we do not demand fees in such cases.
Related
Revision Rhinoplasty
Tip Plasty (Cosmetic Surgery of The Nasal Tip)
Cosmetic Nose Surgery
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