Seattle, Bellevue How does Rhinoplasty Surgery work? Joseph Z.

Hi Joseph, rhinoplasty reshapes a patient’s nose by making incisions to access the bones and cartilage that support the nose.The incisions are usually made inside the nose so that they are invisible after the surgery. Depending on the desired result, some bone and cartilage may be removed, or tissue may be added (either from another part of the body or using a synthetic filler). After the surgeon has rearranged and reshaped the bone and cartilage, the skin and tissue is redraped over the structure of the nose. A splint is placed outside the nose to support the new shape of the nose as it heals.  Rhinoplasty may be done using general or local anesthesia.  Often performed as an outpatient  procedure but sometimes requires a 1-night stay in the hospital.  . Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape, and angle of your nose and bring it into better proportion with the rest of your face. It can also correct structural problems with the nose that cause chronic congestion and breathing problems. The results of rhinoplasty are permanent.  Cosmetic surgery  should only be done on a fully developed nose, at around 15/16 for females and 17/18 in males.  If surgery is done before this time, continued development of the nose can alter the surgical results and possibly cause complications.