Rhinoplasty, is a procedure to reshape the nose for aesthetic reasons or to correct a birth defect or injury. Some people undergo rhinoplasty as a treatment to relieve breathing problems. It is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip.

Rhinoplasty is usually done for patients who do not like the appearance of their nose or who have breathing problems, congenital defects, or injuries to their face or nose. The best candidates for rhinoplasty are people who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations.

Many doctors prefer not to operate on teenagers until they are at least 14 or 15 years old for girls and later for boys. This is because teenagers have not stopped growing and their noses may still change in years to come. If your teenager is considering rhinoplasty, you should take into consideration their social and emotional adjustment prior to surgery.

Counseling to address issues related to self-image. Other types of surgery to correct congenital defects.

Prior to any surgery, your doctor will give you a complete medical examination and evaluate your overall health and your health history. You may be required to get additional tests such as X-rays and lab tests. Your doctor will also review with you the potential risks and benefits of the operation and will ask you to sign a consent form. It is important that you ask questions and be sure you understand the reason for the surgery as well as the risks.

It is important that you inform your doctor if you have allergies to any medications, what medications you are taking, and if you have bleeding problems. It is also important to inform your doctor if you are pregnant.

Your doctor will also give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.

Depending on the circumstances of your surgery, you may be instructed to do the following:

• Completely empty your colon and cleanse your intestines prior to surgery. You may be requested to drink clear liquids only for one or several days prior to surgery.
• Stop eating or drinking after midnight the night before the operation except medications that your doctor has told you are permissible to take with a sip of water the morning of surgery.
• Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Find someone to drive you home after the surgery. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties.
• Stop smoking at least six to eight weeks prior to surgery as smoking delays wound healing. Smokers are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery.

During the first 24 hours after surgery you may experience:

• A puffy face
• A nose ache
• A dull headache

Pain medication prescribed by your surgeon may relieve discomfort associated with these symptoms. Stay in bed with your head elevated (except for going to the bathroom) for the first day.

Swelling and bruising around your eyes will increase at first, but will peak after two or three days. Apply cold compresses to reduce this swelling and to make you feel better. Swelling and bruising should disappear within two weeks or so.

A little bleeding is common during the first few days following surgery, and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. You may be instructed to avoid blowing your nose for a week or so, while the tissues heal.

If you have nasal packing, it will be removed after a few days and you'll feel much more comfortable. All dressings, splints, and stitches should be removed within one to two weeks.

You should be up and about within two days, and able to return to school or sedentary work a week or so following surgery. It will take several weeks, before you are fully recovered.

Gradually resume your normal activities, until then follow these suggestions:

• Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, sexual relations and any activity that increases your blood pressure) for two to three weeks.
• Avoid hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it sunburned, for eight weeks.
• Be gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.
• Resume wearing contact lenses, though glasses must be taped to your forehead or propped on cheeks until your nose is completely healed.

You should schedule frequent follow-up visits with your doctor to check your progress. If you have any unusual symptoms between visits, or any questions about what you can and can't do, call your doctor.

Important considerations when having nose surgery:

• There may be bruising and swelling for several months following the surgery, especially in the tip. Therefore, the final results of rhinoplasty may not be apparent for a year or more.

A variety of factors may influence the cost of the surgery. They include:

• Insurance coverage
• Pre-existing health
• Insurance co-pay
• Location of the facility

These factors vary depending on you and your situation.

The cost of each procedure can vary dramatically based upon age, location, gender, and insurance coverage. HealthGrades provides detailed cost estimates which include the costs of the procedure, drugs, hospital stay, and more. Each cost estimate is easy to understand and provides medical terms you need to know.

The detailed cost estimate for Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery), includes costs for:

• Reconstruction of the nose with or without work on cartilage, external parts including bony pyramid, septal repair and/or elevation of the nasal tip
• Revision of nose tip and/or bony work with or without osteotomies (surgical cutting of bone)
• Revision for nasal deformity secondary to congenital cleft lip and/or palate, including columellar lengthening and/ or tip, septum, osteotomies (surgical cutting of bone)
• Repair of nasal defect within the nose (intranasal) and/or transpalatine
• Repair of nose and/or mouth fistula (an abnormal passage)
• Reconstruction of inner nose
• and Repair of nasal septum and/or vestibular narrowing (stenosis), with or without cartilage scoring, contouring or replacement with graft.