Rhinoplasty Cost in India

What to expect during a rhinoplasty procedure?

Pre-operative phase

The medical team at the hospital or facility will conduct some tests and medical examination to determine the suitability of the candidate for this procedure. 

Review of medical history: The doctor will ask about the reason for wanting this surgery and the expected goals, if it is an elective surgery. For medical conditions, a history of nasal obstruction, previous surgeries and prescribed medications are also considered. If a person has a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia, rhinoplasty can not be performed.

Physical examination: The doctor will conduct a physical examination to examine the facial features and the inside as well as outside part of the nose. The physical exam will enable the doctor to determine the surgical technique and plan the changes that needs to be made.

Also, the physical features, including the thickness of the skin or the strength of the cartilage (at the end of nose) may also be considered. The physical examination helps determine the impact of rhinoplasty on breathing and understand the expected outcomes.

A discussion: During the consultation, the surgeon will discuss the expectations and risks involves in the surgery. Understanding the expected goals is important for the doctor. They also explain the potential and limitation of rhinoplasty and what results should be expected. 

The instructions that the candidate needs to follow before the surgery include:

• Avoid blood thinning medications such as aspirin for two weeks before and after the surgery. These drugs may increase the risk of bleeding. The doctor may other alternative medications, if required. It is also recommended avoiding herbal remedies and over-the-counter supplements.
• Stop or quit smoking. This is an important point as smoking can slow the healing process after the surgery. It may also make the patient more likely to have an infection.
• Before scheduling rhinoplasty, arrange a person to drive to the facility and from the hospital to home. For the initial few days after the surgery, some people may have memory lapses, delayed reaction time and impairment of judgment. It is best if a family member or friend can stay with the patient for a night or two to help with personal care during the recovery.
• The surgeon may also consider any additional surgery, if required, that can be done at the same time. For instance, a chin augmentation might also be preferred along with rhinoplasty. This procedure is an operation to better define the chin. 

During the surgery

The basic steps involved in a rhinoplasty surgery are the following:

• Patients are given anaesthesia, a medication to ensure comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices of anaesthesia include intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia. A suitable choice is made on the basis of doctor’s recommendation and patient’s personal preference.
• Then the surgeon will make an incision, depending on the type of rhinoplasty operation – open or closed procedure. In a closed rhinoplasty, the incisions are made in a way that they remain hidden inside the nose.
• Whereas in an open procedure, an incision is made across the narrow strip of tissue which separates the two nostrils, known as columella.
• After making these incisions, the surgeon gently raises the skin that covers the nasal bones and cartilages. This gives an access to reshape the structure of the nose, as per the requirement. An enlarged or bulbous nose is reduced in size, by removing bone or cartilage from some parts.
• The surgeon may also place additional cartilage grafts in the nose, if required. Usually, the cartilage from the nasal septum (the partition that separates the nose from the middle) is used for the grafts. Sometimes, a section of cartilage from the ear or of rib cartilage, rarely, can also be used for this purpose.
• For correcting a deviated septum, the surgeon straightens, adjusts the alignment and reduce the projections inside the nose to improve breathing.
• The incision is then closes, after the underlying structure of the nose has been sculpted as per the desired shape. The nasal skin and tissue are redraped and incisions are closed with sutures. There might be a need to place additional incisions in the natural creases of the nostrils to alter its size.
• It may take some time to see the results. For a few days after the surgery, the splints and gauze packing are put to support the nose as it heals.