Rhinoplasty (Nose Job)

Rhinoplasty (nose job) is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries. It routinely is among the top five most popular plastic surgeries every year. But before you make your appointment, consider that many people live with imperfect noses and it doesn’t bother them at all (or not much).

Also consider whether your nose gives you a uniqueness and character that you love more than you dislike your nose’s perceived imperfections. You don’t want to be “Jennifer Grey’d” with your nose job.

Jennifer Grey, you may remember, was America’s darling after starring as “Baby” in the hit movie Dirty Dancing. Everyone loved her. I loved her. Several years later she had the bump on her nose removed, and although she looked gorgeous, most people couldn’t recognize her anymore. Her acting career quickly declined afterwards, perhaps as a result of this change, even though she and her nose looked great.

However, if you are undeterred, and you feel that your nose needs more help than you can provide it with makeup, products, and injectable fillers, then you should know what you are in for with a nose job.

Rhinoplasties are some of the most difficult cosmetic surgeries we perform. A rhinoplasty must be done so precisely that (studies show) even one millimeter of a bump left on the nose could be visible at a normal conversational distance and could impact the perception of appearance.

A rhinoplasty is also extremely complex because one small change to the nasal cartilage can have several, sometimes unexpected outcomes in the resulting shape of the nose (as you may have seen with certain celebrities).

Before undergoing rhinoplasty, I advise a realistic self-appraisal (or maybe even a professional one): Do you have a real, bona fide issue with your nose that is worth going under the knife for? Surgery for a bump on the nose or a nose that is becoming longer and sharper with age can make a big difference in appearance, even out of proportion to what you might guess. It can definitely make you look younger.

However, rhinoplasty is a surgery not without risks. Because nose jobs are such difficult operations and each plastic surgeon has his or her own style of nose that he or she creates, it’s best to consult with at least two or three plastic surgeons before settling on one. Make sure you and your doctor are on the same page about the kind of results you want.

Only sign up for the surgery when you are convinced that your surgeon understands and is capable of providing you with those results. Also make sure to take a look at your surgeon’s before-and-after photos to ensure that you like his or her results. If you can’t find a plastic surgeon who is on the same page as you, then do not have surgery. That may be a sign that a rhinoplasty may not be in your best interests.

Rhinoplasty surgery is not a one-surgery fits all.  Depending on your condition, the surgery could take anywhere from one to four hours, and may result in no visible scars or scars that can be very obvious.  Some of the top rhinoplasty surgeons in the United States are members of The Rhinoplasty Society and/or The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.  You can find them at www.surgery.org.