Rhinoplasty has become a popular cosmetic procedure requested by both men and women alike. In recent years, women are not the only ones electing to undergo plastic surgery to improve their physical appearance; men are also joining the ranks in ever increasing numbers. The perfection of facial features is the ultimate goal of the rhinoplasty.
Even though a man would be hard pressed to admit it -it is crucial in today's society to be physically attractive in order to achieve success. It can open the doors wide to new venues of employment and a vibrant social life that would have been at one time unattainable. It also doesn't help that the media constantly bombards us daily with models of perfection. Let's face it- who wouldn't like to change some physical attribute if they could?
Basically, rhinoplasty is a means to alter the nose in such a way that it is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and minimizes the impact of undesirable features of the face.
Although men undergo rhinoplasty for distinctly different reasons than women do the end result is the same-a significant improvement of their facial features. A person may feel that their nose is too big. If that is the case, then the nose dominates and detracts from the rest of the face rendering the individual unattractive to the eyes. Sometimes, rhinoplasty is performed to correct a structural abnormality that can affect breathing or after a serious injury to the nose.
It is important to note that if the procedure is performed solely for cosmetic reasons most insurance companies will not cover it.
There is no difference in how the actual rhinoplasty is performed on either gender. The distinction lies in that what would look good on a man would not look good on a woman. The actual profile and nose angle are uniquely different between the two sexes. To achieve a balanced look it is imperative to consider certain facial features such as pronounced brows and the angle between the nose and forehead so that the rhinoplasty doesn't appear strangely out of place.
Women generally look better with a larger angle, while men do well with a smaller one. Men have more pronounced brows, and this must be taken into account as well.
Rhinoplasty surgery usually involves the addition or the removal of portions of bone or cartilage. In other instances, tissue grafting or insertion of synthetic implants is used to achieve the optimal effect.
The most important step before a rhinoplasty is to meet with the surgeon for a consultation to discuss the actual procedure, potential risks, options and a candid overview of reasonable expectations for the patient. Photographs will be also taken and processed through a computer imaging program so that the patient can determine the visual outcome of the surgery.
The patient needs to disclose his medical history as well as current medications. The surgeon will also provide guidelines regarding routine functions that need to be altered afterwards such as bathing and eating. It is also imperative that if the patient is a smoker that they abstain from this activity for a period of time before and after the procedure.
During the surgery itself, an incision is made after the administration of anesthesia. This incision can be done in one of two ways, open or closed.
- In the closed version the incision are hidden from view inside the nose.
- Whereas in the open version the incision is made across the columella, a narrow strip of tissue that separates the nostrils.
After the procedure is complete a splint will be applied to assist in maintaining the new shape. The septum may also be stabilized with some sort of dressing as well. As with any surgery, swelling will be evident and will ultimately subside in a few weeks time. There are certain restrictions to be followed for the first few weeks afterwards such as not blowing one's nose, minimal sun exposure and absolutely no strenuous activities.
