In general, a good candidate for a nose job is anyone who is dissatisfied with the current appearance of their nose. Some common aesthetic nasal issues that people have are a bulbous or poorly defined nasal tip, asymmetrical nostrils, a hump on the bridge of the nose, or a pointed nasal tip. Our expertly trained team at Marietta Plastic Surgery has performed numerous rhinoplasty procedures over the years.
In order to ensure the full satisfaction of our patients, we take the time to discuss their specific aesthetic goals. This includes asking which areas of their nose they are unhappy with and understanding what they are trying to accomplish through rhinoplasty.
Once we have this information, we will formulate a personalized procedure plan that will provide the patient with their ideal aesthetic results. We also provide our patients with a detailed list of pre-operative and post-operative instructions to help them prepare for their procedure and their recovery.
Deciding to undergo any plastic surgery procedure may be difficult. At Marietta Plastic Surgery, our board-certified Marietta nose surgeons understand that the shape of your nose can affect not only how you look, but how you feel about yourself. Whether a nose job is right for you or not is a personal decision and one that only you can make for yourself. However, when deciding whether to have a nose job, or rhinoplasty, you should take several aspects of the surgery into consideration, including:
- Timing of surgery
- Recovery time
- Expected outcome
Each of these considerations can help you decide not only if a nose job is right for you, but if it is right for you right now.
Timing Your Nose Job
A nose job is not a procedure of particularly long duration. It may require between one and three hours in surgery, and generally produces remarkable results over time. Most patients who go into the nose job procedure with realistic expectations are highly pleased with the outcome. But when timing your nose you should take into consideration your:
- Age
- Physical health
- Goals and schedule
You must be at least 16 years old and your bone and cartilage system should be stable before you have a nose job performed. You should also be in good overall physical health and be a non-smoker to promote your recovery and lower the risk of scarring. Additionally, you should not be anticipating life events with which a nose job might interfere.
Recovering from Your Nose Job
With rhinoplasty, more than just soft tissue is addressed. In order to change the shape and size of certain parts of the nose, bones may need to be fractured or shaved and nasal cartilage will need to be cut and repositioned. This kind of work can be very intense on the nasal tissue and the surrounding tissue.
Because of this, individuals who undergo rhinoplasty can expect to experience a significant amount of temporary swelling and bruising. Some degree of swelling can last for up to two years.
However, your nose will not have a swollen appearance for two years. It takes about three to six months for a majority of the swelling to subside. After this time, your nose will have a much more natural appearance that will closely resemble your final results. As the additional swelling begins to subside, the subtler details of your results will begin to show.
If you are anticipating any upcoming life events, such as a wedding or media event, you may wish to postpone your nose job until you have enough time for the bruising and a majority of the swelling to dissipate. Full recovery from a nose job may take up to some time, during which time you may continue to see mild swelling. Remember to be patient. The full benefits of a nose job are not usually visible until as much as six months after the procedure.
What to Expect from Your Nose Job
Your expectations going into your nose job will play a large part in determining whether or not you are happy with the results. A nose job only affects your nasal bone and cartilage, and in general will not change any other facial features or your skin tone. A nose job can improve your appearance, but you will still look like you. During your rhinoplasty consultation, we use visualization software to give you an idea of the results you may see from your surgery.
If you need help deciding if a nose job will produce your desired outcome or if you have more questions about nose surgery, please contact our office today to schedule your consultation with one of our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons. We welcome patients from Atlanta, Marietta, Woodstock, and all the surrounding areas of the southeastern US.