Rhinoplasty (more commonly known as a nose job) is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the United States—in 2016, it was the third most-frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedure. Here’s a breakdown of what you should know about rhinoplasty:
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Reasons for Rhinoplasty
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- Change the appearance of the nose.
- Fix a problem due to injury.
- Resolve breathing problems.
Rhinoplasty in the U.S., By the Numbers
- There were 223,018 rhinoplasties performed in 2016.
- Of those, 75% were for female patients and 25% for males.
- Percentage of rhinoplasty procedures, by age
Ages 13-19: 14%
Ages 20-29: 31%
Ages 30-39: 24%
Ages 40-54: 21%
Ages 55 and older: 10%
Rundown on Rhinoplasty
- Meet with your surgeon to discuss the procedure.
(Can include a physical exam, medical history and photos of your nose.)
- Follow pre-operative instructions from your surgeon.
- Undergo the procedure.
(Can be done in an outpatient facility or hospital under local or general anesthesia; the surgeon will either use a closed or open technique to reshape cartilage and bone in the nose.)
Recovery Tips
- Follow all post-operative care instructions.
- Dressings and support splints stay in place for about a week.
- No asprin or ibuprofen for the first couple of weeks.
- If you smoke, stop, so recovery isn’t delayed.
- While resting, keep your head above chest level to prevent swelling.
- Avoid vigorous physical activity for several weeks.
- Don’t get bandages wet.
- Limit sodium to prevent swelling.
- Don’t wear eyeglasses or sunglasses for 6 weeks.