I Wish My Nose Looked Different
Date Added: May 10, 2008 01:24:48 AM
Rhinoplasty can change the size of your nose, the angle between your nose and upper lip, the shape of the tip or the bridge; or it can narrow the width of the nostrils. Nasal surgery can usually be performed in an hour or two in an ambulatory surgery clinic, and you can go back to work or school in less than two weeks.
With modern methods, the entire rhinoplasty may be done completely inside your nose, with no scars. You should always ask your doctor beforehand if the rhinoplasty will be an open or a closed operation. An open procedure means a tiny but visible scar will be left across the column of tissue between your two nostrils. If other external incisions are necessary, they almost always can be made less visible by placing them in the natural folds and creases of your skin.
It's helpful to think of your nose as having three structural parts - one made of bone and the other two of the pliable but durable tissue called cartilage.
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The bony vault is an extension of the skull. It is made up of two nasal bones joined at a midline and connected to the bones of the face closest to the eyes. It joins with the septum (the cartilage that divides your nose into two passages) to form a structural I-beam that extends the length of the nose.
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The upper cartilaginous vault is the middle section of the nose. Its roof is the bridge that connects and gives stability to the sides of the nose.
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The lower cartilaginous vault forms the base of the nose. The cartilage has two "feet" that rise from the nasal floor and join briefly in the column that divides the nostrils, and then spread out somewhat like wings on either side of the nostrils. The shape of the tip of the nose is dictated by the particular angles of the cartilage as it rises from the nasal floor and diverges to the sides, as well as by the thickness and size of the skin that covers it.
Your nose was built to breathe, and your surgeon will be careful to not do anything to diminish that basic function. At one time, rhinoplasty usually meant down-sizing or reduction of the nose. Often this led to the tell-tale "surgical nose" in terms of appearance, ski-sloped, pinched or turned-up, as well as to a loss of optimal breathing ability. Now it has become more possible to preserve the basic internal structure. Surgeons have the ability to use bone or cartilage grafts to augment or contour parts of the nose in order to achieve an appearance of balance, proportion and harmony. Some doctors use special sutures to bend or shape the pliable cartilage to form a more attractive nasal contour or better-functioning airways.
Rhinoplasty now can be tailored to suit each person's unique situation. Even people with the same general appearance have different internal anatomy. In addition, your concept of a beautiful nose may not be the same as the next person's, or even the same as your surgeon’s concept.
Some desired changes are easier to accomplish than others. You may be a good candidate for this surgery if your nose appears too large for your face, too wide when viewed from the front, or looks off-center or crooked. Perhaps your profile shows a distinct bump on the nasal bridge. The tip may droop or plunge, or may be thickened or enlarged. Or maybe your nostrils flare out excessively.
On the other hand, some patients present special problems, especially the male patient, the older patient, and ethnic variations. Certain anatomical situations also fall into this category, including people with disproportionately low root (the area between the eyes), short projection of the tip, a low and broad bridge line, thick skin or a large skin sleeve.
You need to make a realistic appraisal of your own motives for getting cosmetic nasal surgery, and determine how well you can cope with this change. You may want a certain family or ethnic characteristic eliminated from your face. Most people with this intent are satisfied with the results after rhinoplasty, but a few later realize that they miss seeing those special characteristics and seek another operation to restore what was lost in the first operation.
Can your surgeon accomplish the changes you desire? How do you know if the changes will retain or enhance your breathing? Is the decision to change your nose your own, or one made due to family or peer pressure? Are you mature enough to live with the changes you desire? These questions are best answered by yourself and your plastic surgeon in close, face-to-face consultation.
You would be wise to ask for before-and-after photographs of the surgeon's actual patients who have noses with similar anatomy. Computer programs to project what your nose will look like are popular and somewhat helpful. They do not, however, take into account the practical realities of your situation and your surgeon's skills. For example, the doctor can straighten out your nose on the computer, but, given your unique nasal anatomy, can the same thing be done in actual practice?
No other operation can make such a difference in your appearance. If you’ve examined the options, explored your desires thoroughly, and are ready for a change in your appearance, you can join the more than 130,000 people annually who undergo rhinoplasty.
You can also read about lip enhancements in Almost Anyone Can Now Have Beautiful Lips.
