Rhinoplasty
Offering Rhinoplasty In Virginia
Among the most popular facial plastic surgery procedures in the United States is the nose job. Medically known by the name rhinoplasty, a nose job is designed to alter the size, shape, or function of the nose. While it may seem like only a small part of the face, the nose is a vital component to the overall composition of one’s facial features. If the nose is too large or too small, it can make the entire face appear to be out of proportion. The feelings of discomfort that can accompany an out-of-proportion or misshapen nose can be quite common, and it’s one of the primary reasons that patients will pursue a rhinoplasty procedure.
Our Washington DC and Virginia rhinoplasty patients seek out nose surgery for a wide variety of reasons. Rhinoplasty can correct deficiencies in breathing or damage caused by a broken nose. It can also address issues caused simply by genetics. In other cases, patients may seek out changes for purely aesthetic reasons. Whatever the reason, the results can change the entire face, enhancing the overall aesthetics and proportions of the face. The Sanctuary Cosmetic Center’s Washington D.C. Metropolitan area rhinoplasty patients consistently remark on how much more comfortable and confident they feel after their surgery. If you’re interested in getting your rhinoplasty in Virginia at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, contact us right away to get started with a confidential consultation.
Am I A Good Candidate For Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty patients pursue this procedure for a wide variety of reasons. There are some characteristics that rhinoplasty patients have in common, however. Those characteristics may include the following:
- You are unhappy with the size or shape of your nose
- You want to change the basic structure of your nose (including the cartilage)
- The shape of your nose interferes with your breathing
- The shape of your nose leaves you susceptible to severe sinus infections
- You may have broken your nose at some time in your life
- The bridge of your nose exhibits a bump or other asymmetry
- The tip of your nose droops noticeably
- Your feel as though your nose is too big for the rest of your face
- The aesthetics of your nose causes you discomfort
- You have realistic expectations about what a rhinoplasty can achieve
You are generally healthy enough for surgery
There are, of course, other criteria that could lead one to be a good candidate for a rhinoplasty procedure. If you have any questions about your nose or your qualifications for this procedure, you should schedule a consultation with a highly qualified plastic surgeon, such as those at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center. During your consultation, you may also be asked about your general medical history and your desired results.
What Happens During A Rhinoplasty Procedure?
What happens during your rhinoplasty procedure will largely depend on your desired results and the best way to achieve those results. If you get your rhinoplasty at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center in Virginia, your procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you will return home the same day. Nose jobs can be performed either under general or local anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure.
There are two basic forms of rhinoplasty:
- Closed Rhinoplasty: During this version of the procedure, your surgeon will make a small incision in the nose, usually around the nostrils. Through this incision, the surgeon will make the desired changes to your nose. Closed rhinoplasty has the benefit of being minimally invasive, meaning patients experience less pain and faster healing. However, the extent of changes that can be achieved in this way are somewhat limited, meaning that a closed rhinoplasty is ideal for those patients who want to achieve subtle to moderate changes.
- Open Rhinoplasty: When an open rhinoplasty technique is used, a small incision is made between the nostrils (known as the columella). Once that incision is made, the outer tissue of the nose is pulled up and over the nose, giving surgeons broad access to make big changes where necessary. Open rhinoplasty can be used to make changes to the cartilage or other vast changes to the nose. While this procedure is by its nature more invasive than the “closed” technique, because the incision is quite small and discreetly placed, any scarring that might result is easily hidden and hard to discern. This technique is usually used for patients who want to make major changes to their noses.
Once the procedure is complete and the immediate effects of the anesthesia have waned, patients are allowed to return home to begin the next phase of recovery.
Rhinoplasty Recovery And Results
Almost all rhinoplasty patients return home the same day as their procedure. In most cases, the nose will be placed in a splint or in a cast in order to preserve the results of the surgery. This will protect your nose from accidental bumps and pressure. That said, rhinoplasty patients are generally given explicit instructions to avoid activities that could result in collisions or trauma to the nose. All patients are given detailed recovery instructions that include topics such as how to mitigate discomfort and how to sleep during the first few weeks after surgery.
Depending on the technique employed by your surgeon to achieve your desired results, bruising and swelling may require up to two weeks to begin to subside. There will be minimal swelling—the type of which only you and your rhinoplasty surgeon will be able to notice—for anywhere between six and twelve months following your procedure. That said, you should be able to return to most social activities within the first two weeks of your procedure.
Patients who have had a rhinoplasty will notice changes in their nose both obvious and subtle. In cases where structural deficiencies have been corrected, patients may find it easier to breath. In cases where damage from a broken nose has been corrected, patients will find the nose to be straighter and more symmetrical. Patients who are looking for aesthetic solutions will find their altered nose to be more in line with how they feel their noses should look.
It’s worth pointing out that there is no such thing as a “perfect” nose. Most patients who are interested in rhinoplasty are instead seeking out a nose that works with the rest of their face. The Tysons Corner, VA rhinoplasty experts at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center have a depth of experience and expertise in creating a nose that will work with the rest of the face. The surgeons at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center ensure that the final results are proportional and aesthetically pleasing. Our Washington D.C. rhinoplasty patients get nose jobs for a wide variety of reasons, but nearly all of them report a significant rise in self-confidence and self-esteem following the procedure.
In other words, our patients finally feel as though they have the nose they were always meant to show off. If you are interested in getting a nose job in our Northern Virginia surgical center, contact the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center today to schedule a confidential consultation and get the process started.