Nasal Surgery
Rhinoplasty
Nasal surgery, also known as rhinoplasty, encompasses surgical procedures designed to correct aesthetic features of the nose as well as to correct functional breathing problems. Nasal irregularities are commonly due to inherited traits. They can also be due to injuries to the face that may cause damage to the nasal bones and cartilage. Such “deformities”, including prominent dorsal humps, crooked noses, bulbous tips, beak noses, and pinched noses, can be improved with nasal surgery. Such aesthetic changes to the shape and the size of the nose are typically considered to be cosmetic in nature.
In contrast, rhinoplasty procedures designed to improve the flow of air through the nasal passages are commonly considered to be functional in nature. A markedly deviated septum can often cause complete occlusion of airflow through one (or both) of the nasal airways. In addition, enlarged Inferior Turbinates can block the flow of air in both of the nasal airways. As such, Septoplasties (straightening of the deviated septum) and Turbinectomies (reduction or removal of the inferior turbinates) are commonly covered by most insurance plans when medically necessary.
You might consider nasal surgery if you want to improve the contours and proportions of your nose or if you simply want to be able to breathe better. Rhinoplasty procedures that are done well should not make you look like a different person. The real goal of these procedures should be to make changes (often subtle) that bring your nose into better harmony with the rest of your face.
Preoperative Evaluation
Before proceeding with rhinoplasty surgery it is of utmost importance that you discuss both your motivations for the surgery as well as your postoperative expectations in detail with Dr. Lober. It is the patient’s responsibility to be very clear about their concerns and what their expectations for the surgery are. And it is Dr. Lober’s responsibility to make sure that these concerns and expectations can and will be met by the intended nasal surgery. In short, it is essential that both the patient and the surgeon be on the same page when it comes to the planning and the execution of any form of rhinoplasty procedure.
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Irregularities of the tip of the nose (too big, too small, unbalanced, etc.) can often be corrected by simple manipulation of the cartilage framework that gives shape to the nasal tip. Refinements can be made by repositioning the cartilage and suturing it into new positions, reducing the amount of cartilage present, and adding cartilage in areas where it may be deficient.
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Irregularities of the dorsum of the nose (pronounced hump, “ski slope” dorsum, crooked nose, etc.) often require manipulation of both cartilage and bone. If indicated, it may also require controlled fracturing of the nasal bones on either side of the nose to change the base and the width of the entire nasal complex.
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Rhinoplasty surgery may also include straightening of the nasal septum and reduction of the inferior turbinates of the nose. These procedures are most commonly performed to improve airflow through the nose. Septal adjustment may also be required to improve the external appearance of a crooked nose.
Types of Nasal Surgery
Surgery & Recovery
We perform the majority of our nasal surgeries under general anesthesia in the privacy of our own surgery center in Athens, GA. Surgeries limited to only the nasal tip typically take up to one hour. Full rhinoplasty procedures, involving both alterations in the tip as well as the nasal dorsum, can take up to one and a half to two hours. The addition of a septoplasty and/or turbinectomy can take slightly longer.
Patients undergoing nasal surgery will typically wear an external nasal splint for the first 4 to 5 days. If an internal nasal packing is required (for septal procedures), it will be removed within 48 hours. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities (including bending over and heavy lifting) for at least the first postoperative week.
Physical downtime (light activity, driving, etc.) from the surgery can be as little as 3 to 5 days. Social downtime (outings, social events, meetings, etc.) will generally be from 10 to 14 days.