A rhinoplasty is more commonly called a “nose job,” and it entails reshaping and restructuring the nose. It can be done to correct a congenital defect, repair damage caused by an injury, or restore function to a damaged nose. Rhinoplasties are also done simply to improve the patient’s appearance.
Deviated septum
Some people have conditions, which make breathing through their nose difficult. A common example is the deviated septum that may afflict as many as 80% of the population. The nasal septum is the central cartilage of the nose, and if it’s off-center, it can impede a person’s ability to breathe. It can also increase a person’s susceptibility to sinus infections or sinusitis. Deviated septums can be caused either by an injury or a congenital defect. Since the septum continues growing until the patient is around 18, this type of nose job cannot be done on anybody under 18.
Injuries
Accidents and sports injuries sometimes result in broken noses. Such injuries need to be dealt with quickly, for there is a two-week window in which the nasal bones can be put back in their proper place with relative ease. After two weeks, the broken bones become fixed in their new position, and it becomes much harder to straighten and repair the nose. On the other hand, if the rhinoplasty is performed within the two-week window, the results tend to be quite good.
Cosmetic reasons
The nose is one of the most noticeable and prominent facial features. A bumpy or disproportionate nose detracts from a person’s looks and can hurt their self-esteem.
Examples of cosmetic problems people often want fixed include:
- The ski nose is one in which the nasal bridge has a depression at some point. The surgeon will use either an implant or cartilage from the septum to make the nose bridge flatter and smoother.
- In an irregular nasal tip, the cartilage at the end of the nose is asymmetrical. One side may be higher, lower, bigger or smaller than the other side.
- A person with a nasal tip projection has a protruding nasal tip. This condition makes the nose look bigger than it is.
Many clients are also unhappy with the size or proportions of their nose. Many people have rhinoplasties to fix noses that are too wide, long, big, or small. As the nose does not finish growing until a person is in their mid-teens, plastic surgeons generally will not perform cosmetic surgery on anybody under 15 or 16 years old.
If you are interested in rhinoplasty, contact the office of Dr. Thomas Funcik today to schedule your consultation.