Quick Facts About Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty surgery, commonly known as a “nose job,” is a popular cosmetic procedure for patients unhappy with the size or the shape of their nose. The chief goal of rhinoplasty is to alter and revise the nose to fulfill the patient’s desired appearance. When planning your rhinoplasty, your surgeon will always take your skin type and facial structure into account. Our skilled and artful surgeons are passionate about providing patients with quality, lasting results.
Rhinoplasty patients should be nonsmokers in good overall health. While there is no official minimum age for rhinoplasty, cosmetic surgeries are best performed on people who are finished growing. As such, girls should be at least 15 years old, and boys should be at least 17. Teens who wish to have the surgery must be sure they understand the procedure and have parental consent.
Although rhinoplasty surgery is largely known for its cosmetic benefits, its applications are more versatile than that. For instance, many patients with breathing difficulties that affect sleep or exercise undergo rhinoplasty to improve nasal function after injury or illness.
The cost of a rhinoplasty at SpaMedica varies according to the particular area(s) of the nose that you would like to address; however pricing typically starts from $4,999 for a tip-plasty and $8,999 for a standard reduction rhinoplasty of the bridge, tip, and nostrils. If you have undergone a previous rhinoplasty elsewhere and are unsatisfied with your results, a revision rhinoplasty may cost up to $12,999 due to the complexity of the procedure.
Before Your Rhinoplasty at SpaMedica in Toronto
Before opting for rhinoplasty surgery, it’s important to ensure that you have realistic expectations going in. Experience the “try before you buy” approach during your pre-op consultation with the VECTRA 3D computer-simulated imaging system to accurately show you what kind of results to expect. Thanks in part to our thorough rhinoplasty before and after protocols, our patients tend to be extremely pleased with their final results!
To ensure the best results, Dr. Mulholland may make a few requests of you leading up to your rhinoplasty. You may be asked to:
- Get a lab test to ensure your overall good health
- Adjust or stop taking certain medications
- Stop smoking, as it can compromise post-op healing
- Avoid anti-inflammatories, as they thin the blood and can increase bleeding
During Your Rhinoplasty
Every step taken during your rhinoplasty surgery will be decided upon pre-op, as discussed during your consultation.
Although the specific stages of your rhinoplasty procedure will depend on your unique goals and needs, Dr, Mulholland will typically perform the following steps:
- Gain access, either through an internal or external rhinoplasty incision
- Identify the structures to be corrected–whether it’s a reduction of the dorsal or bridge, or an augmentation
- Carefully create fractures in the nasal bones to perform the correction
- Perform the technique required, such as a reduction, augmentation, or debulking of the tip
- Narrow the nostrils or adjust the septum as needed
After Your Rhinoplasty
After your rhinoplasty procedure, nasal packing is inserted, and special skin tape and a cast are applied to your nose.
Although recovery time varies widely depending on the intricacies of your custom procedure and on how well you follow post-op instructions, most patients can expect the following rough timeline for recovery:
- In the first few days, a rhinoplasty procedure can cause significant bruising and swelling, but pain and discomfort are minimal and manageable
- For the first 3 days while the packing is inserted, it is typically very challenging to breathe through your nose, but once removed, you’ll breathe freely again
- In terms of bruising and swelling, you can expect to look much better after about 3 weeks and very good by 6 weeks
- Your aesthetic improvements will occur gradually, with about 70-80% of your results visible after 6 months
- Your results, especially in the case of the nasal tip (which can remain swollen for 5+ months), are not considered final until it’s been a year
Recovery After Rhinoplasty
After rhinoplasty surgery, most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort, usually controlled with the prescribed pain medication. However, it’s best to plan for enough time off work, as under-eye bruising and the use of a splint for the first week may be uncomfortable in a work or social setting.
To promote quick and optimal healing, patients should:
- Avoid strenuous activity such as jogging or swimming for 2-3 weeks
- Take walks to promote circulation and prevent swelling
- Avoid wearing glasses for 4-5 weeks to avoid shifting the nose or leaving a dent
- Avoid blowing your nose or laughing whenever possible
- Eat healthy and stay hydrated to give your body the nutrients it needs to repair itself
- Take enough time off work to heal properly
- Get lots of rest and keep your head elevated
- For best results, it’s always important to follow all of Dr. Mulholland’s aftercare instructions very carefully
Contact us at SpaMedica in Toronto to view our rhinoplasty Before & After gallery today!
