Rhinoplasty or as it is more commonly called, a nose job, can be a much more complex procedure than simply changing the shape of the nose. While it is not uncommon to have surgery to reshape the nose, the nose is also a highly complex structure made up of bones and cartilage as well as the sinus cavities and there are multiple issues that can arise that need to be surgically addressed.

When undergoing surgery, incisions will typically be done internally so there will be no scarring on the outside of the nose. If the nostrils need to be separated for any reason, it may be necessary to make a small incision on the outside as well. Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will be able to see the bone and cartilage and can begin the process of reshaping. Sometimes cartilage will need to be removed and bone may need to be removed or shaved down. It is also possible to simply rearrange some of the existing structure. After this is done, the skin and tissue will be repositioned over the new structure and the incisions will be closed. It may be necessary to apply a splint to the outside of the nose and to have some surgical packing on the inside. These things can remain in place for up to a week.

After the surgery, it is not uncommon to have quite a bit of swelling, tenderness, and bruising. This will go away fairly quickly and you will have medication to manage the discomfort. As most of the sutures are internal, they will dissolve and not need to be removed. If you do have sutures in between the nostrils, these will need to be removed, but it is painless. Over the next few months, your nose will continue to settle into its new shape and within a year, the complete healing process will be complete.