Usually known as a nose work, rhinoplasty is one of the most common and cosmetic surgeries worldwide.
It is a process that alters the “size or shape of the nose” to improve the appearance and symmetry of facial features, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
In the Philippines, the transition to the knife has become more socially accepted than a decade ago. In fact, some public figures have been opened for their rhinoplasts, such as Alex Gonzaga, Geneva Cruz and “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition” Alum Xyriel Manabat, to mention some.
In this GMA News Online, we talked to two doctors certified by the Board of Directors who break down everything you need to know and more if you are thinking of getting a nose job.
Why do people get rhinoplasty?
People undergo rhinoplasty for both cosmetics and functional reasons. As Dr. Kaycee Reyes explained, an aesthetic dermatologist and the founder and chief executive of Luminisce, “some want to improve the way their nose is looking for aesthetic reasons, while others need to correct breathing problems or structural issues.”
Reyes’s statements, Dr. Eduardo Yap, resident of a plastic facial surgeon and rhinoplasty expert at Belo Medical Group, said that “some techniques also improve breathing and overall nasal function, making the process both aesthetic and functional”.
For the cosmetic side, Reyes said that “rhinoplasty is essentially a sculptural nose”.
“Imagine your nose as a work of art that is already 90% perfect: The surgeon acts as a skilled artist who makes careful, accurate adjustments to improve the balance and harmony of your face,” he said.
“They do not rebuild your whole nose from scratch. They refine what is already there,” he added.
Preparation for surgery
Reyes noted that those planning to undergo rhinoplasty should be at least 90 to 95% of adult size “, which usually occurs about 15 to 16 for girls and 16 to 17 for boys.”
Before surgery, Yap stressed that patients should be mentally “prepared that the surgical effect varies depending on different people”.
“Surgery is just an improvement in the structures the patient has,” he said.
Agreeing with Yap’s statement, Reyes emphasized that in addition to being naturally ready for surgery, “emotional readiness is just as important”.
“The patient should be in a stable place mentally and not deal with significant changes in life, such as divorce parents, school changing or ending important relationships,” he said.
He also informed patients to postpone rhinoplasty if they have recently experienced trauma or injury, are treated for depression or anxiety, feeling pressured by others instead of deciding themselves or having unrealistic expectations of how surgery will change their lives.
The surgery
The length of the surgery depends on the doctor and the clinic, but usually lasts between one and four hours.
In Luminisce, patients may choose to stay awake during the procedure without anesthesia, or they may choose intravenous repression or general anesthesia if they prefer to rest through it.
“Most of the work happens through tiny incisions in your nose, so there are no visible scars,” Reyes said.
“In some cases, the surgeons make a small incision under the tip of the nose, but this heals to become almost invisible,” he added.
In Belo, however, patients should be calm under intravenous anesthesia.
“Since this surgery is long, patients should be monitored by an anesthesiologist,” Yap said.
So what exactly is happening? Doctors usually use your own tissue, such as ear cartilage, to further determine the tip of the nose. Synthetic implants are sometimes used, such as silicone, but they have a higher risk of complications.
“Once the edge is shown, the bridge is reinforced to combine with the new advice,” Yap said. “Occasionally nasal bones are in breaking to make the bridge narrower.”
Recovery
Shortly after surgery, patients are called upon to rest for a few weeks, although they do not remain confined to bed. Recovery is a gradual process that can take up to one year.
“Patients can have a daily bath from the neck to the bottom. The face can be cleaned with wipes. Dry shampoo can be applied to hair if needed,” Yap said.
By the weeks two to four after surgery, Reyes noted that 60 to 70% of the swelling recedes, allowing patients to take a look at the new shape of the nose.
“While they can return to work or school, the nose remains tender and contact sports are still out of bounds,” he said.
“Between two to six months, the refining phase, the nose continues to settle as the swelling gradually decreases and the definition is improved,” he added.
The final appearance of the nose should be more visible after a year after surgery.
At this point, Reyes explained: “The result looks like what was always the nose to be – people will not be able to say that the patient had surgery.”
It also informed the maintenance of an open communication with your doctors before and after surgery.
“Ask questions during the consultations, explicit concerns honestly and maintain contact during recovery,” he said.
Are there rhinoplasty risks?
While rhinoplasty is generally safe when performed by experienced, certified by the Board of Directors, there are still risks, as well as any surgery.
“Synthetic materials can cause reaction, rejection, extrusion and infection, but the impact is less than 1%,” Yap said.
In the meantime, Reyes said that “serious complications are quite rare in rhinoplasty, especially when performed by a specialized plastic or facial surgeon.”
However, Reyes said it was possible to have a nosecraft during or after surgery.
“Some who sink in the first few days are normal, but significant bleeding is a danger, though not too common,” he said. “If it happens, doctors can usually manage it with packaging or capture.”
“The key is to choose a surgeon with a lot of rhinoplasty experience and follow all the instructions before operation, which together minimize the risks,” he added.
As with any surgery, Reyes also said that there is a risk of infection, “although rhinoplasty infections are quite rare”.
“The signs of infection to watch would be increasing redness, warmth, swelling or pus from incisions or fever,” he said. “It’s unusual. But it’s something we have to look out for.”
Is rhinoplasty permanent?
The results of rhinoplasty are permanent, but aging still affects the nose over time.
According to Yap, “We must consider the aging factor of the facial and skin bones.”
“The nose may lose a little of the projection of the limb as centuries.
In a similar feeling, Reyes said that “aging is inevitable but predictable.”
“For over 10-20 years, all noses have been experiencing some tip that falls due to gravity and ligament,” he said.
He also noted that 10 to 15% of patients with rhinoplasty “undergo revision procedures” after their initial surgery.
“However, most revisions include minor improvements and not significant reconstructions,” he said.
Tips for the first timers
For those who first submitted a nose job, Reyes emphasized the importance of taking the time when making the decision.
“Rhinoplasty is a selective surgery that permanently changes your appearance on the face,” he said.
Reyes recommends three to six months of “cooling period” between consultation and surgery, especially for patients under 25, to allow time for reflection.
“Carefully choose your surgeon, not the location of your process,” he said, noting that the cheapest option is rarely the best value.
Reyes also encourages patients for the first time to set realistic expectations.
“Your nose should look like a sophisticated version of your natural anatomy, not like someone else’s nose,” he said.
Finally, Reyes informed that if patients feel uncertain, the best option is to wait.
“Uncertainty suggests that more time is needed for examination, research and emotional preparation,” he said.
“The right time for surgery is when you have thoroughly investigated your choices. You have chosen an excellent surgeon, economically prepared and emotionally and you feel confident of your decision without external pressure,” he added.
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