Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)
Rhinoplasty is a very common procedure in Dr. Ward’s practice. He is a perfectionist and gives you his undivided attention to details of your nose surgery. He discusses what your expectations for your nose surgery and then let’s you know what he can do and the outcome you should expect.
Dr. Ward will review the structure of your nose and discuss the possibilities of improvement with you. Factors such as the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, the thickness of your skin, and your age and nasal size expectations will determine if you are a candidate for nasal cosmetic surgery. Dr. Ward recommends not operating on teenagers until after they’ve completed their growth spurt around 15 years for girls and later for boys.
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Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is for people who are looking for improvement in the nasal area for the following reasons:
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What technique does Dr. Ward perform for nasal surgery?
Dr. Ward utilizes the "open" technique in which the rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose. There is no visible scaring at all. When the procedure is for flared nostrils (alar wedge excision), the small scars are at the base of the nose and are usually not visible.
What can I expect for the nasal healing time?
Within a week or two your nose begins to look normal. Still, the nasal healing time is a slow and gradual process. Swelling may be present for a few months especially at the tip but usually only noticeable to you.
NOSE SURGERY RECOVERY
Rhinoplasty surgery usually takes about one and a half hour. When the surgery is complete a splint will be applied to help your nose maintain its new shape. At the post operative visit 7 days after surgery your splint is removed. After surgery your nose may ache and have a dull headache. This discomfort can be controlled with prescribed pain medication. Staying in bed with your neck elevated for the first few days is expected. Most of the swelling and bruising should disappear within two weeks.
