Nose
Nose surgery can be performed on patients who have a nasal disharmony in relation to their facial proportion (facial aesthetics). Everyone can perform this type of surgery, but the cases must be studied separately.
What are pre-surgical care?
The patient will first carry out an evaluation in the office, where we will study his respiratory function and observe the proportion of the nasal framework in relation to and the architecture of the face. All preoperative exams are performed for medium to large surgery, in addition to an evaluation with an otolaryngologist, to check nasal function.
In the consultation, the patient may suggest the nose he idealized, but we must keep a harmony of the face to avoid exaggeration
(“Michael Jackson” nose).
How is the nasal surgery process?
Nasal surgery usually develops with general anesthesia, but there are cases in which local anesthesia, with or without sedation, can be used. The nose can be operated as a whole (surgery of the back, nasal tip, columella, nasal wings, septum and turbinates), or only a part of the nose can be operated, for example: sanding of the nasal dorsum. Complete nasal surgery consists of treating the bone part, all nasal cartilages (with their respective shortening) and nasal wings, where the result will be a nose of smaller proportions and with a more or less tapered tip. In a less complex process, only the nasal tip can be operated, so there is no fracture of the nasal bones.
Is the postoperative painful?
Although there are medium or high grade swellings and edema, post-surgical pain is practically non-existent. There may be more or less pronounced edema of the eyelids and purple spots on the lower eyelids, which will disappear in approximately 7 days. In the most sensitive anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic patients (lyser, baralgin, etc.) they can be ingested, mitigating any pain that may exist.
What are the post-surgical care and recovery time?
A period of approximately 5 days must be respected for a post-surgical rest. The application of compresses (saline or cryogel) to the eyes, to soothe or prevent swelling, should be used. After this period, the bandages, tampons and plaster will be removed (if a fracture has occurred). On the sixth day the patient resumes his routine activities, however swelling and purplish marks may be present.
Where are the scars?
Most scars from nasal surgery are internal and practically imperceptible.
When do I return to physical activities?
Physical activities without contact may be restarted after 15 days. Activities with physical contact (football, volleyball, basketball, etc …) must wait a period of 60 days.
When do I see the final result of the surgery?
The partial result is observed immediately after removal of the dressing, but a slight edema will be accompanying the patient for a period of 6 months. Only after 1 year will the final result be achieved.
Is there a possibility that the nose will resume its pre-surgery shape?
This possibility is practically ruled out, as we remove bone parts and parts of the cartilaginous framework, which are responsible for the shape of the nose. However, in some rare cases of hypertrophic scarring, they may mask the initial result, increasing the nasal tip or the nose as a whole. After a few months, this internal healing will decrease, assuming the desired aesthetic result for the nose.
The surgery was not to my liking, what should I do?
After the established period of approximately 1 year, we will have the final result of the surgery. We will then be able to carefully evaluate the face measurements, to check if there is a need for a new surgical intervention, or small corrections with bioplasty.
Is septum deviation correction a special case? Can rhinoplasty be associated?
In cases of deviated septum and “spongy flesh” (turbinate hypertrophy), correction can be made simultaneously, with the help or not of an otolaryngologist.