A nose reduction is usually done to improve the appearance of a nose that may be too protrusive. In most instances, the nose reduction is accomplished by the classic “cut and stitch” method of plastic surgery. The tip of the nose is removed from inside the nostrils and the excess flesh is cut off and resutured inside the nasal passages so that the scars cannot be seen. Sometimes,
nose reshaping and implants can also help correct the appearance of a nose that seems too long or wide for the face. Many plastic surgeons will also offer a combination of several techniques together, such as a nose reduction, nose reshaping and nose implants to achieve the most attractive effect.
The reshaping of a nose may be achieved either through “cut and stitch” nose surgery or through the use of lipoplasty.
Lipoplasty may involve the removal of material through a small vacuum. Then, using tiny incisions placed either inside or outside the nose, the cartilage and tissue are gently reshaped. Sometimes the surgeon may simply use the head of the cannula of the lipoplasty wand to shape the nose. Cartilage that is removed from the extra long tip of the nose might also be harvested and reimplanted inside the nose to achieve a balanced effect.
There are no real guidelines as to what constitutes the perfect nose so plastic surgeons who specialize in nose reduction surgery will often have a photo album in their office that contains photographs of a variety of differently sized and shaped noses for you to refer to you. It also helps if you bring in a picture of the nose that you would most like to end up with (if possible). However, with a straight nose reduction the problem is usually very obvious to the plastic surgeon. The aesthetic decisions that might be made once it is decided how much of the tip of the nose you want to remove may include whether or not the nose tip should point upwards or downwards and whether or not the new tip of the nose should be sharper or more rounded.
As a nose reduction is an invasive operation that you need to make arrangements to take some time off work if you decide to have it. Your doctor will also probably advise you to have several units of your blood drawn before the surgery as the removal of facial tissue can cause a great deal of bleeding. Depending on how you respond to treatment you may be out of the hospital the same day or within two weeks.
The operation itself is considered to be major invasive surgery is usually done under general anesthesia. Like most major surgery, nose surgery is not recommended for individuals with underlying autoimmune conditions or a serious disease. As a lot of bleeding may be involved, so is also not recommended for smokers or people who have a history of bruising. It may also not be recommended for individuals who suffer from a lot of dental, sinus, ear or eye infections.
Postoperative infection is of special concern to recipients of a nose reduction simply because the nose is situated near the sinus, eyes and brain. You can also expect swelling, bruising and crusting of the nose to occur after the operation for a week or two. Many people also develop black and blue eyes for a week or so after this operation as cavities around the eyes absorb excess blood and fluid during the healing process.
Recovery from a nose reduction may be a trial for some individuals. Breathing through your nose may be impossible for a few weeks and it is very common to suffer from headaches afterwards. Many individuals have found themselves on a morphine drip for two weeks after this type of plastic surgery is conducted. It is inevitable that you will be prescribed narcotics for the pain so if you have a history of addiction this kind of surgery is probably not for you.
If all goes well, your recovery from nose reduction surgery should take about a month. However it can take six months in total for the swelling in your face to completely reduce and the effect of your new nose to finally take a permanent form and shape.
Nose Reduction