What Should You Expect During a Rhinoplasty Consultation?

There is nothing worse than feeling self-conscious about your appearance. But how do you know if you would benefit from a rhinoplasty consultation? And what should you expect? Rhinoplasty is the process of reshaping or contouring one’s nose, which can be done in multiple ways. Understanding what to expect during a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon will help you feel more at ease and help you decide if rhinoplasty is for you. Rhinoplasty consultation options are limited only by your surgeon’s schedule, but a few common options are available. Here is what you should expect during a consultation.

1. Evaluation Video

You will need to view a video to evaluate your symmetry and your nose’s size. The video will generally evaluate what is happening within the nose areas but might not reveal any specific information about your problem area(s). In some cases, you may be asked to take a facial impression. This impression helps the surgeon visualize the desired outcome and allows them to plan out your surgery.

2. Photographs

Rhinoplasty is often performed as a series of small procedures instead of as a single large operation. So, while you may go into your consultation with a full idea of what you would like to do, your nose may not be symmetrical when it’s time for surgery. Additionally, different surgeons work differently. Some surgeons will start with the most conservative approach and only add to the procedure once it is clear that the desired results can be achieved within the parameters of their office schedule. Others will start with the most extreme procedure and build on top.

For these reasons, it’s critical to have as much information as possible before your consultation. Photographs help evaluate whether or not you would benefit from more than one surgery. But remember that while a consultation can help you make decisions about surgery and how it will be performed, no medical procedure is guaranteed to be risk-free. You are probably thinking about many things other than cosmetic surgery at this point in your life. If you looked at your photographs and decided that cosmetic surgery is not for you, remember that you still have the option to defer surgery to a later time. You will want to discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives of postponing rhinoplasty with your surgeon.

3. Surgery Procedure

In addition to your photographs and video, you will probably be asked for information about family medical history and general health concerns. You will also be asked to choose your anesthesia provider. You should expect a discussion about the procedure being performed, why you need it and how it will be performed. This is also a good time to ask questions. But remember that no medical procedure is risk-free. Like any other surgery, rhinoplasty has the potential for complications, so it’s important to discuss these risks with your surgeon. This is called a discussion of benefits. These risks and benefits will be presented to you as they relate to you.

4. Aftercare

After your surgery, you will need to rest and avoid strenuous exercise for a few days. You will also want to keep your chin up, as it can pull on the face and make the nose look smaller. Recovery time is one to two weeks depending on which surgery you have performed. Your results will start showing within a few weeks of surgery and continue improving. Post operative rhinoplasty prevention and maintenance are the key to avoiding problems and the need for additional surgery.

Some surgeons will provide you with a detailed report of your consultation, including pictures, videos, and comments about your case, before you leave. This report can help you recover and give you hope as you wait for your initial surgical outcome.

Nose Surgery is a very personal decision. A consultation can help ease your mind during this process, but no medical procedure is risk-free.

5. Patient satisfaction and risks

Rhinoplasty surgery has the potential to be a risk-free procedure. A complication rate of 1% or less is typical for all plastic surgery, and the same can be said for rhinoplasty. With that being said, complications do sometimes occur. If you are concerned about any potential risks involved in rhinoplasty, you should discuss these with your surgeon before going forward. This is especially important if you have other medical conditions. Risks are the number one reason that people who have been through a consultation with a surgeon have their surgery deferred until later in life.

6. Follow up appointments

You will want to ask your surgeon if you need to schedule follow-up appointments after your initial consultation. This is generally a good idea, and it will allow you to ask questions about any concerns you may have about your surgery. Be sure to take note of the date and time of these to follow up appointments on the paperwork that you bring home from the consultation.

You’ll also want to make sure that you remember your post-operative care instructions. Sufficient follow-up appointments and adherence to the instructions given by your surgeon are critical to a successful recovery.

7. Follow up care instructions

Your surgeon will tell you what you should expect in terms of recovery time and post-operative care, which will be different for every patient. While practicing good oral hygiene is important at all times, it’s absolutely essential during the time after surgery. Your surgeon will usually recommend that you use a retainer. This piece of plastic fits over the area where the jaw was while healing, ensuring that you don’t accidentally bite down on your nose, which can result in excessive scarring and troubled breathing.

Conclusion

Rhinoplasty, like any other surgery, has the potential for complications. If you have any concerns about this procedure or any questions about it, you should discuss them with your surgeon before going forward. As is true with all medical procedures, surgery has the potential for complications and downtime during recovery. Do not use consultation as an opportunity to put off scheduling a life-changing decision that may require months of recovery time.