One in three people on the planet have thought about correcting their nose at least once. 70% of patients choose rhinoplasty because they are 100% dissatisfied with their appearance and want to solve aesthetic problems: remove the hump, make the nose thinner, smaller, smoother. 30% of patients decide to undergo rhinoplasty for medical reasons: nose injuries, breathing difficulties, deviated nasal septum or frequent sinusitis.
Problems with the shape of the tip of the nose are not uncommon. But don't be shy, everything can be solved. If the defects of the figure can be corrected with clothes, diets or sports, then it is necessary to contact a plastic surgeon to correct the nose or lips.
In this article we will talk about all the features of the procedure, preparation for plastic surgery and other important stages.
Indications and contraindications: medical, aesthetic, indirect, absolute
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that takes 1-2 hours. As a result, the patient's appearance changes and the face becomes more attractive. Before carrying out the plastic, it is necessary to agree all points with the doctor and thoroughly prepare for its implementation: pass tests, follow a diet, give up cigarettes and alcohol at least a week before the operation.
Indications for surgery
The indications for the procedure are congenital and acquired.
The congenital indications for plastic surgery are various aesthetic as well as physiological defects: hooked, forked, thick or drooping tip, its lateral displacement, too wide or narrow nostrils.
The operation may be necessary after injuries or diseases in which a curvature of the nose occurs, as well as in case of breathing difficulties due to the structure of the organ or to age-related changes (aging of the skin). The above indications are understood to be acquired.
To restore or correct the tip of the nose, it is necessary to consult a surgeon, if surgery is required, the density of the cartilage, the thickness of the skin and tissues, the length, width of the nose and other factors will be taken into account. The patient's wishes are always taken into account and even fulfilled as much as possible, but the final decision is made together with the doctor, because excessive cartilage removal can lead to poor health.
Before the operation, it is necessary to examine the nasal cartilage and also make sure that the skin in the area of the respiratory organ is healthy - there is no inflammation or signs of infection.
Contraindications to surgery
Nose tip correction is a serious procedure, it must be approached consciously. What are the contraindications to the procedure?
- Age.The operation is carried out from the age of 18. At this age, tissue formation occurs completely. However, surgeons recommend correcting the tip of the nose between the ages of 20 and 35. It is then that the bone and cartilage formation is complete, the skin is elastic, and the regeneration after the procedure is active.
- Blood clotting problems.When a patient has poor blood clotting, the risk of surgery is higher than usual and therefore it is best to refuse to perform it.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases.Surgeons do not recommend performing an operation during an exacerbation of diseases. It is better to wait for the state of health to normalize and undergo an examination. Only in case of positive test results can one decide on rhinoplasty.
- Viral diseases, infections, inflammations.It should be remembered that if there are at least minimal health problems, it is better to postpone the surgery until complete recovery.
- Oncology.Rhinoplasty is contraindicated in patients with oncology.
- Menses.The operation is contraindicated during menstruation. It is desirable that the correction be carried out within two weeks after the end of menstruation.
It is also contraindicated to perform plastic surgery during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Before the operation, the patient must be examined and tested to provide the necessary preparation for rhinoplasty.
Other ways of correction. Because rhinoplasty is the safest method
To correct the nose, surgeons use different surgical techniques depending on the client's wishes and the result the patient expects to receive. However, you can find other methods of correcting the tip of the nose on the net.
Clamps
In online stores you can find so-called "nose correction pliers". Manufacturers assure that when wearing correctors 2-3 times a day, the effect will be noticeable, comparable to performing surgery. But, of course, this is far from the truth. For the correction of the nose, clips or other devices of pseudo-specialists will not work. If there is any effect, it will be short-term - for 2-3 weeks, and the correction is insignificant.
Exercises
There is a series of exercises for the face that allows you to correct its shape. These exercises are useful for maintaining muscle tone, cheekbones and double chin, but will not work for correcting the shape of the cartilage. The effect after systemic exercise persists for 2 weeks.
Correction with threads
The threading technique is performed by a specialist with a special needle using micro punctures. Specially designed notched threads are inserted into the skin of the nose, which form a frame. The wires are inserted through small holes and the structure holds it in place. After two days, the doctor removes the ends of the threads and the patient sees the final result, which lasts about 3 years.
Use of hormonal drugs
To correct the tip of the nose, you can also follow a course of administering hormonal drugs. First of all, you need to consult an endocrinologist. If there are no contraindications, a hormonal drug can be administered. This procedure is done to remove excess soft tissue and lift the tip. For correction, it is necessary to undergo a course of procedures that will last from 2 to 3 weeks. It is worth noting that the drugs give a temporary effect - from 3 months to 2 years, depending on the chosen drug.
Surgical correction
According to experts, rhinoplasty is the most reliable and effective way of correction. Unlike previous methods, rhinoplasty provides a permanent result. The procedure lasts 1-2 hours under local or general anesthesia. The main advantages of the operation:
- all possible correction options (lower or raise the tip, reduce, straighten or narrow the tip of the nose);
- elimination of respiratory problems;
- lifetime result;
- correction of injuries, birth defects.
3 Techniques for performing the task. What is the difference
There are several types of rhinoplasty: classic closed, open and hybrid methods. Surgeons resort to different types of plastic surgery depending on the result to be obtained, the shape of the nose, the position of the bone and cartilage tissues and other factors.
A feature of classic closed plastic surgery is that it can be used to correct the nasal spine, but the tip correction will be more difficult than with an open one. In the case of this method, incisions are made inside the nasal passages and access to the tip is only possible when the cartilage is removed in the incision. But there are also advantages: no visible scars remain after the operation. Closed plastic is suitable for removing a hump or correcting bone tissue in case of curvature.
In the case of open surgery, the surgeon makes an additional incision between the nostrils. This contributes to better access to the structures of the nose, ample possibilities to change its size and shape. The scar after the procedure will be almost invisible and small. With this method, you can more effectively reshape the tip of the nose (compared to the closed method). Its disadvantage is the possible formation of a small scar on the outside of the nose and a longer recovery period. The scar shrinks after a couple of months after the operation and can also be removed with the use of additional healing agents and creams, which the surgeon will recommend if necessary.
Since the above methods have their drawbacks, surgeons have developed a combined plastic technique. When using it, incisions are made inside the nose, which are characteristic of both methods, but, unlike the open method, there is no external incision on the skin.
The combined method (also known as "hybrid") was developed taking into account all the advantages and disadvantages of the closed and open methods.
The main advantages are the ability to modify the structure of the nose as much as possible and not leave visible scars. Recovery after the combined method occurs within 2 weeks and there are no visible scars on the skin.
When using the hybrid method, the surgeon has the ability to make corrections during the operation, as well as check the desired result, avoiding the possibility of excessive or insufficient correction. The combined method has only one drawback - it is more complicated from a technical point of view.
A few words about something important. Prepare for surgery
Before performing rhinoplasty, it is necessary to undergo training. You will need to consult with a plastic surgeon to discuss the desired changes. The surgeon examines the nose and explains the reality to achieve the desired result. During the consultation, questions are discussed about the limits, the operation, the peculiarities of its preparation, rehabilitation after it, as well as possible complications.
Before the operation, the patient must be examined to make sure that there are no contraindications and to pass the following tests:
- blood for HIV infection and hepatitis C and B;
- clinical blood test;
- blood biochemistry;
- laboratory analysis of urine;
- analysis of the prothrombin index;
- fluorography;
- electrocardiography;
- test for tumor markers;
- roentgenogram.
In addition, the patient must listen to the doctor's recommendations and adhere to them. Avoid drinking alcohol one week prior to surgery, quit smoking, do not use blood thinners, do not drink water or eat food for five hours before the procedure. It is important to refrain from active pastime and walk in the scorching sun a couple of days before rhinoplasty.
On the course of the operation and its main phases
Rhinoplasty is performed under general or local anesthesia. The choice of the type of anesthesia depends both on the wishes of the client and the peculiarities of the operation, and on the method that the plastic surgeon will use to perform it. The patient can always share his wishes regarding anesthesia, but the final decision is made by the doctor. The process and quality of rehabilitation after rhinoplasty also depend on the choice of the type of anesthesia.
Local anesthesia is used in case of minor nose correction with hormonal injections, fillers or threads. These correction methods do not cause severe pain, therefore general anesthesia is not required in most cases. But this type of anesthesia is practically not used in rhinoplasty, when the surgeon needs to touch the bones of the nose or cartilage.
General anesthesia is used by the surgeon in most cases. This type of anesthesia allows you to completely avoid pain during the operation and the patient will have no memory of the operation.
The operation takes 1-2 hours. After anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the skin or mucosa. Depending on the wishes of the patient and the specific case, the doctor selects an open or closed method for the operation.
During rhinoplasty, the doctor separates the soft tissues of the nose from the bone and cartilage in the nasal cavity. Then he performs the movement of the cartilaginous and bone fragments, shapes a new shape of the nose. After the manipulations, the plastic surgeon applies absorbable sutures to the skin or mucous membranes, depending on where the incision was made. The next step is to tamp the nasal passages with large gauze pads. The final stage of the operation is the imposition of a fixing plaster cast.
The type of incision is selected by the surgeon based on the structure of the nose, the complexity of the procedure and the preferences of the surgeon in the work. The cut can be axial, perpendicular, oval or angled.
Rhinoplasty itself is performed by three main methods: open, closed and combined. The characteristics of each of the methods are described in the paragraph "types of operation"
The choice of the method of plastic surgery is presented directly to the patient, but doctors recommend choosing the methods with the lowest level of trauma. Surgeons claim that the least traumatic methods are closed and combined, since in the case of their use, the incision is small, and recovery after surgery is faster.
Recommendations of the surgeon in the postoperative period. How to avoid complications
Rehabilitation after surgery takes an average of 20 to 25 days. If the rhinoplasty was performed under general anesthesia, the patient should also be hospitalized for 24 hours after surgery.
For three days after the operation, gauze or cotton swabs should be in the nasal cavity to ensure the immobility of the new forms and prevent swelling. On the 5-8th day (depending on the speed of healing) after the plastic, the suture material is removed. After a week or 10 days, the patient is removed from the plaster cast, the hematomas and swelling begin to gradually disappear.
Recommendations of the doctor in the postoperative period:
- Sleep on your back, be sure to use a high pillow.
- To reduce the level of discomfort associated with dry mouth (as one of the possible consequences of the procedure), use special solutions or pastes to soften.
- Do not abuse alcohol and smoking.
- Refuse trips to baths, solariums, saunas.
- Don't wear glasses.
- It is forbidden to take physical activity.
- Temporarily stop eating hot foods and drinks.
- Do not touch, knead or feel the nose.
Possible complications
Complications after rhinoplasty are rare. Some of them appear immediately after correction, while others occur in the later stages of healing. Natural complications include edema and bruising. The external signs of swelling disappear within a week after plastic surgery, the deep swelling disappears after six months. Breathing difficulty disappears on its own 10 days after the operation.
To protect yourself as much as possible from possible complications, it is important to carefully choose a specialist, a clinic and provide complete information about your state of health, injuries or diseases, if any. The final result of the performed operation also depends on strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations during the rehabilitation period.
Conclusion
Rhinoplasty is used by women and men at any age. Surgeons advise to perform surgery to correct the tip of the nose at a young age and not to postpone it. It is important to undergo a full course of examination, to make sure that there are no contraindications to plastic surgery. The most popular indications for rhinoplasty are:
- correction of the tip of the nose (large, sharp or round);
- a long nose;
- wide nasal bridge;
- lifting the tip of the nose or narrowing it;
- elimination of asymmetry;
- shortness of breath;
- elimination of the consequences of injuries or poor-quality rhinoplasty;
- split nose tip correction.
If the patient has a small defect, the operation is performed under local anesthesia. In 90% of other cases, rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. The procedure itself takes one to two hours. The method of carrying out the procedure (open or closed) is based on many factors. These include the complexity of the nose defect and the client's wishes. But the final decision rests with the plastic surgeon.
The quality of rhinoplasty and the final result directly depend on the choice of a specialist and the clinic, so this must be approached thoroughly.