Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is surgery that modifies the shape of the nose, and is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in plastic surgery. Through this technique it is possible to reduce or increase the size of the nose, change the shape of the tip or the back, narrow the nostrils or modify the angle between the nose and upper lip.

The procedure

Rhinoplasty is always performed in an operating theatre, and usually involves a one night stay in hospital. A rhinoplasty usually takes between 1 and 2 hours, although in complex cases it may take longer and general anaesthesia is usually used.

After conducting the patient evaluation, the surgeon, in our case Dr. Alexo Carballeira, will use the optimal technique in each case. This procedure can be performed from the inside of the nose (closed rhinoplasty) by making small incisions inside the nostrils, or by a small incision in the columella (open rhinoplasty), especially for the most complex cases.

In certain cases it is possible to perform modelling of the nose without surgery, through the use of tissue fillers, a technique called rhino-modelling. This procedure is indicated for patients who initially do not want a permanent effect, for minor corrections or for those who seek non-surgical techniques.

Recovery

The patient may feel swelling in the face, discomfort over the nose and headache, which diminish with medication. After surgery, a cast is placed over the nose, which will help maintain its new shape, and furthermore, nasal plugs are inserted into both holes in order to prevent bleeding and stabilize the nasal septum.

Most bruises will disappear in about 10 days. After a week, or at the most two, the plaster is removed and the patient can restart his/her normal daily activity.

The result

In short, rhinoplasty is a very safe procedure in expert hands and performed in a hospital environment with which very remarkable results are obtained.