Disclaimer: not everyone’s rhinoplasty experience is like this; this is just a generalized flow of what can be expected.
Many of you would love to take on plastic surgery as your career. A common procedure that your patients may choose to undergo is a rhinoplasty (or a nose job, as it’s called almost everywhere outside of medicine). While this procedure can be done at the same time as a deviated septum is fixed, it’s important to note that the two are different. A rhinoplasty changes the appearance of one’s nose, while a septoplasty is the procedure that fixes a deviated septum. Instead of simply walking you through the procedure, though, I wanted to put you guys in the shoes of your patients so that you are better equipped to give them the care they need. So pretend you want a rhinoplasty and read through this focused on what a patient may feel. I invite you guys to empathize with your patients so that, when it comes time for you to walk a patient through a rhinoplasty, you’re considering what they may be feeling. Take away the concerns that you would have as a patient, and think of what you could do to address them. Without further ado…
The consultation is the first step to any elective procedure one wants to receive, and it’s no different for cosmetic ones. In the case of a rhinoplasty, one must be meticulous in their choice of surgeon as every doctor has a unique cosmetic style. It’s important to take a while to think about who will be working on your nose. After all, you want to feel comfortable with who’s going to be working on your face. Once you feel ready to begin the process, a typical consultation can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour; this is where you would express any of the fixes you would like on your nose, and get to familiarize yourself in-person with the type of surgeon they are. Pictures may also be taken in order to digitally reshape your nose to the shape and size you desire, as if you were doing a Photoshop preview of the rhinoplasty. If you feel confident within the surgeon—that they will be able to capture the vision you have about your nose—you could then schedule the date of your surgery. Leading up to the surgery, there may be paperwork, or certain pre-op tests like bloodwork and imaging that your doctor may require from you. These are just to ensure that there will not be any complications within your surgery, and to identify any allergies, or health risks they need to take into account. Additionally, imaging can give them an idea of your anatomical structure so they can formulate a plan before making any cuts. A couple weeks or days prior to surgery, you will need to pick up the prescription of pain medication prescribed by your doctor. Additionally, a week prior to your surgery date, it is recommended to drink pineapple juice, and take Arnica to reduce bruising after surgery.
Once the day of your surgery arrives, you will speak to your anesthesiologist and surgeon prior to going in the operating room. You are not allowed to have any jewelry, makeup, contact lenses, glasses, or nail polish on during the surgery. Once you put on your surgery gown and are in the operating room, you get put under anesthesia. It’s an outpatient procedure, but this may still be one of the most nerve-inducing parts of the entire experience, since it’s basically the point of no return. After surgery, you will wake up from anesthetics in the recovery room where a nurse will help you wear your clothes, and get the situation handled for you to go home. Every patient after surgery must have an accompanying adult that will be tasked with taking you home, and making sure everything is alright for up to 72 hours. If you do not have an adult, you will have a private nurse to ensure you have a good recovery.
Post-surgery, it is important not to get the affected area wet, and not to place any glasses on top of the cast. At this point your nose is in a very sensitive place, and your surgeon will walk you through all the small details that you need to be aware of. If you have any concerns, it’s also always best to call their office and ask. This is another reason why a comfortable relationship with your doctor is important. Eating salty foods increases your chances of swelling, too, so it would be ideal to stay away from heavily salted foods. Soft, and liquid food should be consumed, as it will be hard to eat during recovery. After a week, the cast is taken off. But don’t freak out right then! It is important to remember that your nose after cast removal is not how the final look of your nose will be. It will still be very swollen, and you may still have bruises. It takes up to a year or two for the swelling to completely go down and reveal the actual shape of your nose. After cast removal, it is important to always tape your nose to help the swelling decrease. You will continue to have regular checkups with your surgeon after your cast removal, and final product pictures may be taken with your consent to help the surgeon provide new patients with a reassuring look at their work. Now go enjoy the result of the rhinoplasty!
References:
- Our own Board’s experiences with rhinoplasty!
MedConnect 