The nose is the most visible part of the face, and it is its shape and general appearance that determine the perception of a person by others. Many of us are not happy with our nose: some do not like its size or shape, others suffer from a hump or too wide wings, and others want to fix the tip of the nose that happily protrudes upwards or, on the contrary, falls down. . All these problems are solved simply to the delight of patients with the help of one of the oldest plastic surgeries - rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty- Surgery to correct (change) the shape or size of the nose, which aims to improve its appearance, as well as eliminate problems with nasal breathing and create a psychologically comfortable state of the patient.
Types of rhinoplasty
Distinguish between cosmetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty.
The main objective of cosmetic rhinoplasty is to correct the "mistake" of nature by changing the shape or size of the nose, thus giving the face a more harmonious and attractive appearance. Aesthetic rhinoplasty can be complete or superficial (partial).
Complete rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery during which the surgeon touches all the structural parts of the so-called external nose: bone tissue, cartilage tissue, as well as soft tissue. This operation is indicated for patients who want to reduce the length or width of the nose, change the shape of the saddle and remove the hump.
Partial (or superficial) rhinoplasty is an operation to correct (change) the shape of the nose, when the surgeon is limited to processing only some of the external parts of the nose, without affecting the bone tissue. Partial rhinoplasty is performed if it is necessary to correct the tip of the nose or reduce the wings, although a complete rhinoplasty may also be necessary to eliminate such problems; this is decided by the doctor after an examination and a discussion with the patient.
Reconstructive rhinoplasty is mainly aimed at solving a problem such as the elimination of breathing difficulties due to the curvature of the nasal septum or hypertrophy of the turbinates. Reconstructive rhinoplasty involves the restoration of the appearance of the nose, damaged (for example, "slipped to the side" due to a fracture), as well as partially or totally lost due to injury. This type of operation is used if it is necessary to correct the congenital deformity of the osteochondral skeleton in the nasal region. Sometimes a plastic surgeon has to literally "sculpt" a new nose, using cartilage from the atria or costal cartilage (in especially severe cases), as well as artificial materials.
Often the patient has to undergo surgery not so much for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes, but to restore normal breathing, which was impaired due to the deformation of the nasal septum received during the trauma. Post-traumatic surgery typically includes nasal plastic surgery and septoplasty (surgery aimed at correcting the nasal septum, its main goal is to restore normal nasal breathing).
Preparing for rhinoplasty surgery
Before deciding on an operation, the patient, together with the plastic surgeon, discusses the future parameters and the appearance of the nose, it turns out what exactly the patient wants to achieve, and the end result is simulated using a computer. This approach helps to "try on" the new nose on the patient's face before the operation and to ensure that its new appearance does not violate the overall proportions of the face, and the shape of the nose will blend harmoniously with all facial features. .
It should also be borne in mind that rhinoplasty is not performed if the patient has not reached the age of 17-18. This is due to the growth of the body and the formation of cartilage and bone skeleton; The consequences of rhinoplasty at an earlier age can be unpredictable. But it is preferable to resort to rhinoplasty not before the age of 21; Doctors say that it is at this age that the skeleton finally forms.
Features of nose correction surgery.
Rhinoplasty is recognized as one of the most difficult plastic surgeries: after all, it is important not only to change the nose and give it the desired size or shape, but also not to disturb nasal breathing. Therefore, such an operation should be performed only by an experienced specialist who has already proven himself and has good patient reviews.
Rhinoplasty can be performed with both open and closed access. Open access involves an incision in the skin from the outside, which in the end will be almost invisible. With a closed access, the surgical intervention is performed from the side of the nasal mucosa (through the nostrils) without external incisions and does not leave any traces. Closed rhinoplasty is considered more difficult and requires the special skill of a plastic surgeon.
The type of access is determined directly in the consultation and depends on many factors: the shape of the nose, the characteristics of its structure and the desired end result. The operation to correct the size or shape of the nose is performed under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia: the choice of anesthesia is influenced by the complexity of the surgical intervention and the duration of the proposed operation. . . . In any case, the patient completely gets rid of the pain and does not feel any discomfort.
Postoperative period
Rhinoplasty is a serious surgical intervention that requires not only the professional approach of the doctor, but also the responsibility of the patient himself during the rehabilitation period. The postoperative period is painless. Only the first few days, tampons, which make nasal breathing difficult, bring some discomfort to the patient.
A fixation plaster bandage is applied to the nose, which is removed from time to time for skin care; in general, the use of such a bandage is mandatory for 7 to 10 days. During this time, the primary edema usually disappears and the bruising and swelling under the eyes disappear. The residual subcutaneous induration, almost invisible to others, disappears completely within 6-8 months. After this time the final result of the rhinoplasty will be visible.
As a general rule, the patient is discharged the day after the operation, but still remains under the supervision of a doctor and comes to the clinic for examinations and bandages. The general recovery process after rhinoplasty surgery takes about a month, during which the patient is prescribed to wear a special bandage in the nose area, as well as to limit physical activity and eliminate bad habits (smoking, drink alcohol).
A patient who has undergone rhinoplasty must undergo mandatory examinations with a plastic surgeon 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation.
Rhinoplasty contraindications.
An experienced plastic surgeon will refuse to perform the operation if the patient has a history of the following diseases:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- blood clotting disorders;
- chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys in the acute stage;
- oncological diseases;
- infectious diseases;
- Mental illness.
Of course, rhinoplasty is a serious step in the life of a person who dreams of changing his nose and at the same time her life. But many of us understand perfectly well: if any, even significant, flaws in the figure can be "disguised" or even turned into advantages with the help of clothing, then an ugly nose is the first thing that others pay attention to when they look at it. A person. expensive. And if this very nose is too big or bent, then such a "show" cannot be hidden in any way, it will always spoil the appearance and mood. Therefore, sometimes you need to decide on a surgical intervention and correct the shape or size of the nose, which you will suffer all your life, sighing every time you look in the mirror.