RHINOPLASTY

NOSE PLASTIC SURGERY - RHINOPLASTY

This is a surgical procedure that changes the shape and size of the nose to gain a more pleasant image in proportion to the rest of the face.

The objective may be aesthetic, such as reducing a nose perceived as too large, narrowing a nose that is wider than preferred, aligning deviated noses, eliminating any unsightly bumps, reshaping the tip of the nose and/or improving the angle between the nose and the upper lip to obtain a more pleasing appearance.

Rhinoplasty can also address problems inside the nose and thereby improve nasal breathing. Whenever there are internal obstructions causing difficulties in breathing or contributing to sinusitis, surgery can improve both the aesthetic appearance of the nose and nasal functioning.

Rhinoplasty may also boost the self-confidence resulting from eliminating an unpleasant feature.

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+ WHAT IT CONSISTS OF?

This surgical procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, lasting 2 to 4 hours. This involves incisions made inside the nose, where they are not visible, sometimes combined with a small incision in the skin area separating the two nostrils. During the surgery, the nasal bone and cartilaginous structures are reshaped to create the desired new nasal shape.

At the end of the procedure, a splint is placed over the nose and then removed about a week later. A small absorbable tampon is placed inside the nose. However, Prof. Dr. Rui Xavier applies a surgical technique that eliminates the need for any type of nasal tamponade, which makes recovery less uncomfortable.In some cases, hospital admission may be necessary for the first night after surgery.

However, in most cases, patients are discharged from hospital at the end of the day of surgery.

Normal daily activities may be resumed about 7 to 10 days after surgery and with physical exercise possible around 3 weeks after surgery, apart from contact sports which should only be resumed after 6 weeks.

Some types of rhinoplasty lead to mild ecchymosis around the eyes for about a week and there is usually some oedema of the nose and face after surgery. Some residual oedema may persist for several weeks and the final results of the surgery can take months or even half a year to achieve, depending on the skin and type of intervention performed.

+ POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Rhinoplasty surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, which has a very low but real risk of complications.

There is a minor risk of post-operative bleeding (which may require treatment) and a minimal risk of nasal infection.

Rhinoplasty is a very thorough and time-consuming surgical procedure. The oedema that appears during surgery can mask small irregularities or asymmetries that may only become visible at a later stage.

It is important to understand that surgery cannot itself guarantee a perfect result. The objective is not perfection but to improve the aspect of the nose.

The final result depends to a large extent on the way the skin heals. This healing process can lead to irregularities that only appear weeks or months after the intervention. These irregularities may only be palpable or they may also be visible.

Should unexpected changes or small irregularities appear, a second, usually simple, surgical procedure may be suggested. However, this happens only in a small percentage of cases.