Rhinoplasty, what does nose surgery consist of?
Nose surgery consists of two fundamental factors: to be able to make the patient breathe better, to be able to breathe better through the nose, and two, to be able to change the shape of the nose. Many times we need to do both, we need to change the shape of the nose so that the patient can breathe better. But of course, what we cannot do is for a patient to have a nice nose and not be able to breathe. The two go together and that is how it has to be to get a good result and a happy patient.
What procedures can be performed?
On the nose we can do different procedures. If it is the approach, we can do closed procedures or, nowadays, the most common is to do open procedures. Open rhinoplasties in which a small incision is made on the columella, on this area, and allows us a much wider exposure and more consistent results. On the other hand, we can perform rhinoplasties in which we intend to reduce the shape of the nose, regularize it, make the nose higher, lower… In fact, we can change practically everything. All within certain limits.
What corrections can be made to the nose?
We can make all kinds of corrections to the nose. The most common, in Spain, where we have Mediterranean noses that are large, with a high hump, the most common is to reduce a hump and have to make a tip that is more harmonious, more appropriate. It is also frequent, more and more, that we have to improve the exposure of the mouth by changing a little the position of the nose because we must not forget that the second part of the face that we look at the most after the eyes, is the mouth.
Post-operative rhinoplasty, how is the recovery?
The post-operative period after rhinoplasty is getting easier and easier. For one thing, I do not use packing, which makes it very comfortable for the patient to breathe and have no pain. Rhinoplasty is not a painful procedure, although it has the reputation of being so. How many days will you stay? Well, you will wear a splint, a small piece of plastic on the nose on the outside of the nose, for four or five days and then we will remove it and the patient should be able to look pretty good. He may have to wear a minimum of makeup at some point and little else. The truth is that within a week he should be able to return to his normal work or social life.