Questions and Answers About Rhinoplasty
When can I work out after my rhinoplasty procedure?
To prevent a nose bleed, its best to refrain from any working out or strenuous exercise for at least 2 weeks after a rhinoplasty procedure. It is also important to avoid contact sports for at least 1 month after the procedure.
Will my nose still be unique to me after a rhinoplasty?
Even after a rhinoplasty procedure, patients still have their own skin, bone, and cartilage. The cartilage and bone itself is only modified a few millimeters to make the required changes. The largest amount of change is usually reduction of the dorsal hump which could be 3-4 mm of cartilage and bone removed to refine the bridge line
Is rhinoplasty painful?
No, rhinoplasty is not painful for the simple fact that we do not place any painful packing on the inside of the nose after the surgery. If your rhinoplasty surgeon is placing packing on the inside of the nose, that itself can be very painful, so it’s best to avoid it.
How can rhinoplasty improve the function of my nose?
Rhinoplasty is performed for cosmetic purposes. A septoplasty can improve airflow movement through the nose when there is a deviated nasal septum present. Turbinate surgery is performed when the inferior turbinates are enlarged and blocking airflow. Valve collapse and vestibular stenosis are treated with spreader graft placement in the nose to prevent the upper lateral cartilages from blocking airflow. Functional breathing nasal surgery can be performed at the same time as a cosmetic rhinoplasty.
How do I know if I need a septoplasty?
A septoplasty is only performed for patients who have symptomatic airflow blockage in the back of the nose. A thorough internal examination of the nose is going to be required to make the medical diagnosis functional airway obstruction and a deviated nasal septum. Medical necessity must be met prior to being able to perform a septoplasty.
What is the best age to undergo a rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty can be performed on the patients over 17 years of age in order to undergo the procedure. It is important the nose and the face have stopped growing before undergoing a cosmetic rhinoplasty procedure.
Will I need nasal packing after my rhinoplasty procedure?
Painful Nasal packing is no longer used in rhinoplasty, so it is important not to get any packing in the nose unless there is a complication such as a hemorrhage which absolutely requires packing for approximately 2 days.
When will a rhinoplasty be covered by medical insurance?
Medical insurance does not cover any cosmetic rhinoplasty procedures. Medical insurance may pay for a broken nose, a deviated septum, or sinus-related surgery as long as there is a functional component to the procedure, and medical necessity has been documented and preauthorization with your medical insurance has been obtained.
Do you offer revision rhinoplasty?
Revision rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult operations to perform correctly in the entire field of cosmetic surgery, whether that be in Seattle WA or elsewhere. Previous alterations to the normal structural nasal anatomy and scar tissue present along with thick skin make the operation very challenging for the operative surgeon. Make sure your surgeon has extensive experience with rhinoplasty, and especially revision rhinoplasty. A revision rhinoplasty can be performed with an open rhinoplasty technique, or closed rhinoplasty technique.