Your nose is one of the central and defining features of your face. If you’re not happy with the appearance of your nose, you most likely are unhappy with your appearance. At Skin MD conveniently located in Orland Park, Skokie, and Evergreen Park, IL, we are proud to offer our patients the ability to achieve the nose of their dreams through rhinoplasty. This procedure can reshape the nose and make it both aesthetically pleasing and proportional to your face.
If you have spent your life unhappy with the size, shape, and appearance of your nose, know that rhinoplasty is the solution that transforms the nose you were born with into the nose you’ve always dreamed of.
What Should You Expect After Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a procedure that allows individuals to invest in a facial focal point that they’ve never been proud of: their nose. Once you commit to undergoing a surgical procedure to enhance the appearance of your nose, you can expect that the flaws that have bothered you for years will be erased, and you’ll end up with the nose you’ve always wanted. Your nose will look more proportional and symmetrical to the rest of your face.
During your consultation, you will make your nose wishlist known to our surgeon. You will point out any flaws that you see on your nose, including bumps, symmetry issues, and any other imperfections or features that you want to change. Our surgeon will present you with a good idea of what you can realistically expect post-procedure during this time. There won’t be any surprises, but you may be surprised at just how much you love your new nose.
What To Expect: Your Final Results
Once your surgery is complete, you will begin the recovery process. The total recovery time varies among patients since each surgery is unique and no one nose is identical. Most patients experience complete healing within several months of their procedure but can confidently go out in public within two weeks.
Your New Nose
Regarding how your new nose will look, you will get a better idea of how your nose will ultimately look when fully healed by three months post-op. Within six months of your procedure, most of your nose tissues should be healed, and your new and improved nose will be fully visible.
Total and final results will show up gradually, typically within one to three years post-op. While this may seem like a long time, you will love your new nose as soon as you see it and won’t notice the gradual, slow improvements in its appearance during the years that follow.
The Rhinoplasty Process
Your Initial Consultation
If you have committed to finally taking that first step and scheduling a consultation to find out how you can achieve your dream knows, congratulations! This is an exciting appointment because it helps us create the treatment plan to give you your ideal nose.
We will examine the inside and outside of your nose during this initial consultation, analyze your nose structure, including the bones and cartilage, and take photographs of your nose from different angles. These photographs are important because the different angles allow us to determine which techniques must be used during the procedure to help create your ideal nose.
Outlining Your Goals
During this consultation, you should tell us everything you do not like about your nose. Some patients bring in pictures of their dream noses so that we can have a better understanding of what they’re looking for.
While it is not possible always possible to exactly replicate a picture of a nose, we will provide you with a realistic idea of how your nose will look post-op. Once we confirm that you are a candidate for rhinoplasty, we can schedule your procedure once you are happy with the proposed treatment plan.
Preparing for Your Procedure
Once we schedule your procedure, we will provide you with a list of instructions on how to prepare so that you are fully ready on the day of your appointment. We typically advise our patients to refrain from the use of blood-thinning medications and supplements, including fish oil, aspirin, ibuprofen, and Saint John’s wort, among others. Blood thinners can prevent your body from experiencing complete healing post-op.
If you are a smoker, you must refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after your procedure. Smoking weakens body tissues which can negatively affect the healing process after your surgery is complete. It also weakens the cardiovascular system and can lead to other negative side effects.
The Different Techniques
We can employ different techniques during rhinoplasty to help you achieve your ideal nose. The two primary techniques are called open and closed rhinoplasty. We will determine which of these techniques is right for your procedure when designing your customized treatment plan when you come to our office for your initial consultation.
Open Procedures
We typically advise those who wish to completely reshape their nose to undergo an open procedure. An open procedure involves a small incision at the base of the nose. This provides the surgeon with an unobstructed view of the inside of the nose. This technique is also an effective way to help treat nasal and sinus issues. Once the nose is opened, your surgeon can address issues with symmetry that may not have been fully visible during your initial consultation.
Closed Procedures
A closed procedure involves incisions made on the inside of the nose, which can help avoid any visible scarring. Closed procedures also decrease the total recovery time and are typically recommended for patients who only want to make minor adjustments and changes to their noses.
Your Procedure
Once you arrive at our office, we will put you under general anesthesia before the procedure begins. Our surgeon will then begin to carry out the necessary techniques to help you get everything on your wish list and completely fulfill everything laid out in your treatment plan.
Depending on your goals, your nose may be broken to help remove extra cartilage or bone. Cartilage may be added to the tip of the nose. To obtain this cartilage, we may retrieve it from different body areas, including the ribs or ears. Once your procedure is complete, we will insert the necessary stitches and a splint or cast in your nose. Once you wake up, you will begin the recovery process.
Your Recovery
Before your procedure, you should plan on spending about a week post-op resting at home. You will need to take time off of work so that you can rest and focus on a healthy recovery. We will provide you with the necessary instructions that you must follow to get the best results possible and heal quickly.
Focus on Rest
The number one directive for a quick and healthy recovery is rest. During your first week of recovery, you should focus on healing. You should not engage in strenuous activities, workouts, or any intense exercise. Once that week has passed, you can resume moderate exercise.
For three months post-op, you should refrain from any activities that could cause your nose to get bumped or hit, including tennis, volleyball, or any other sport that leaves your face exposed to flying objects.
Adjust Your Sleeping Position
To help promote the best results, you will need to sleep with your head elevated for a couple of weeks after your procedure. This elevation will help the tissues in your nose heal quickly as possible. The best way to maintain elevation during the night is by popping several pillows under your neck.
Eat a Healthy Diet
There are certain foods that you should avoid during your recovery. Spicy foods or foods high in sodium can make your body swell, which does not promote healing. Focus on eating healthy foods that are easy for your body to digest during that first week. Once the recommended time has passed, you can resume your normal diet. Our staff members will provide you with further instructions on the best foods to focus on during your recovery.
Attend Your Follow-Up Appointments
Because this procedure is very involved, we will schedule appointments during your recovery to check on your nose, how it’s healing, and answer any questions you may have. Depending on the techniques used during your particular procedure, you may need to wear a cast for a week after your procedure is complete. We will remove this splint at one of your follow-up appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are My Results Permanent?
This procedure will give you the nose of your dreams. Once you alter your nose’s size, shape, and structure, those changes will be permanent. The aging process can lead to subtle changes in the nose, including elasticity loss and changes in nasal cartilage. However, you will be able to enjoy your dream nose for the rest of your life.
Can This Procedure Be Combined With Others?
The benefit of nose surgery is that we can add other nasal procedures to your procedure. Some patients choose to add a septoplasty to their aesthetic procedure. Septoplasty addresses and corrects a deviated septum which occurs when the bone and cartilage between your nasal openings is not straight.
Septoplasty’s goal is to improve airflow into the nose. The benefit of adding this procedure to your rhinoplasty if needed is that not only will you get a more aesthetic-looking nose, but you will be able to breathe better as well.
Will My New Nose Look Natural?
Some people want to change their noses but are nervous about doing so for fear of looking unnatural. This is a perfectly normal fear, but you can rest assured that when you choose our office for your nose surgery, you will be in the hands of a surgeon who knows how to create the perfect nose for your particular facial structure and features.
Once your procedure is complete, your nose will look beautiful and very natural. Some people may not even be able to tell what has changed, but they will notice that you look better overall.
Who Is a Candidate?
The best candidates for rhinoplasty are adults over the age of 18 who are in good health and want to improve the appearance of their noses. Patients must be adults whose noses have stopped growing, which typically happens by the age of 18.
It is important to be in good health since this procedure requires the use of general anesthesia. During your consultation, we will confirm your eligibility for nose surgery by examining your nose, discussing your medical history, and reviewing your ultimate goals.
Get Your Dream Nose
Investing in yourself by scheduling a procedure that will improve your nose can make all the difference in your appearance and confidence. Contact the experts at Skin MD conveniently located in Orland Park, Skokie, and Evergreen Park, IL, today to learn more about nose surgery and how it can help transform your appearance.
