Rhinoplasty – Improving the Nose

Rhinoplasty is the plastic surgery procedure that involves the nose. It is, in essence, an operation to improve the appearance of the organ. The improvements can mean reduction or adding something to make it look better as perceived by the owner. There are two basic approaches to a nose job, and these are the open and the closed techniques. Both can be done by the surgeon and both have advantages and disadvantages to them.

Open Technique

The open method is the one that many doctors favor due to the ease of access that it gives. The procedure starts with the surgeon prepping the patient. Once everything is ready, incisions are made on the face around the nostrils as well as across the piece of tissue that separates both nostrils. The changes that the surgeon needs to make are then made, and the skin and tissues are restored to their original positions. This is where the method gets its name: from the fact that the entire skin can be opened due to the incisions which allow access to the nose and its basic structure. Many doctors prefer this rhinoplasty method, and this is often recommend, especially for operations that requires reduction, which entails shaving off some bone and cartilage. Recovery from the open method is better than the closed one, but only by several degrees. Scarring is a risk that can occur, although the incisions are made close to the natural creases of the person's nose, which may minimize visibility.

Closed Technique

This method does not have the incisions which liberate the skin from the tissue. This means that the scope of the surgeon is more limited compared to the open technique. The operation starts with the incisions being made within the nostrils. This basically guarantees leaving no visible scars, which is not guaranteed by the open technique. Rhinoplasty recovery using this technique may also be a bit tricky because the incisions are found inside the nose, which means packing is usually stuffed in the area to support the structure and to minimize bleeding. Steps may also need to be taken to ensure that the nose is kept clean so as to prevent an infection from developing. Packing may be removed just a couple of days after the surgery as directed by the surgeon, but the nose should not be touched or moved frequently until the doctor says it can be.

In all, the surgeon is the one who recommends which rhinoplasty technique best fits the needs and preferences of the patient. There are some instances when one procedure may not be fitting for a particular patient. However, a consultation can clear this ambiguity up and allow the work to begin.