Rhinoplasty is a nose reshaping surgery that is performed when a person needs to improve the appearance of the nose or remove some defect in the functionality of the nose. Through this surgery the shape of the tip or the bridge, the angle between the nose and the upper lip and the span of the nostrils can be altered to achieve the desired result. Medical conditions like breathing problems, chronic stuffiness, post nasal drip and snoring can be fixed through rhinoplasty.

There are two types of rhinoplasty procedures that are used by surgeons, open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty. Both types of procedures requires making an incision on the nose and working on the nasal tissues and muscles for providing the desired shape.

Open Rhinoplasty

The open rhinoplasty requires cutting the columella that is separating the nostrils, to have access to the nasal tissues. Additional incisions can be made inside the nose if required. The skin is removed to have exposure to the cartilage which is modified by reducing, reshaping, suturing and supporting it. Grafting is done to ensure maintenance of the desired nose structure.

The advantage of open rhinoplasty is that surgeons have full exposure to the nasal anatomy and amendments can be done easily. Grafting can also be done extensively in this case. However it is a long process and can take about 3 hours to complete. After effects like scarring is always a result of open rhinoplasty but it can fade with time. Sometimes scarring thickens the tissues which can cause the nose to form an unwanted direction. Swelling can also take more time to heal in open rhinoplasty.

Closed Rhinoplasty

A closed or endonasal rhinoplasty requires making an incision inside the nostrils. The skin is lifted from the underlying cartilage to re-contour the bones and tissues. This technique is mostly used to remove minor defects on the nose that is why it cannot be applied to everyone. It takes less time than an open rhinoplasty and can last up to 2 hours depending on the amount of work required.

The main advantage of closed rhinoplasty is no visible scarring because all incisions are made inside the nose. For surgeons it is less preferable because it offer less exposure to the nasal anatomy to work freely. But it mainly depends on the complexity of the nose reshaping required. Closed rhinoplasty can only be good for candidates who fall in the minimum alteration criteria of the surgery.

Recovery, Side Effects & Cost

The typical recovery period from the rhinoplasty surgery can take about two weeks. If there are external sutures it will take a week to remove them. Swelling and bruising is sure to occur in both cases which can take from two weeks to a month. Some other side effects like clotting and infection can also occur but rarely. It is better to consult the medical condition with the surgeon before opting for the surgery. A primary rhinoplasty surgery can range from $3000 to $ 8000 and that requiring a revision to the nose surgery can cost around $10,000 to $15,000.