Because rhinoplasty is such a popular procedure, many prospective patients enter their rhinoplasty consultation thinking they know exactly what to expect. While they are right that nasal surgery can have a tremendous and positive impact on their lives, there are a lot of misconceptions about the procedure that continue to exist. Some of these misconceptions can lead patients to have false hopes about their surgery. Negative misconceptions can drive away patients who might have greatly benefitted from rhinoplasty. Either way, these misunderstandings shouldn’t be allowed to continue. Here are some of the biggest myths people believe about rhinoplasty and the real facts behind them.
Wrong: Men Don’t Get Rhinoplasty
Right:While women do make up the majority of rhinoplasty patients, there is no shortage of men who are having the procedure and enjoying their results. Rhinoplasty can be customized to suit the unique needs of any man’s or woman’s nose, making changes to its appearance while preserving or improving the breathing function. Plenty of men want to correct a crooked nose, alter the size of their nostrils, or remove a hump, just like female rhinoplasty patients.
Wrong: Recovering From Rhinoplasty Is Painful
Right:While the swelling and bruising (plus that nose cast) may make rhinoplasty patients look miserable, that’s actually not true at all. Most of us assume that the tender-looking area around the nose must be in extreme pain, yet most rhinoplasty patients find themselves surprised at how little discomfort they feel. The nose and face are swelling as part of the healing process. Eventually, this healing stage will pass and the swelling will diminish gradually. While you’re waiting through it, you can use pain medication and other tips from your facial plastic surgeon to stay as comfortable as possible.
Wrong: Changes to Your Nose Will Change Your Facial Expressions
Right:The nose is the central piece of the face, so it tends to draw a lot of attention. For this reason, many rhinoplasty patients fear that any changes made to their nose will affect their facial expressions. Luckily, the nose isn’t really involved in many of our facial expressions. Even so, the changes made to wide nostrils, a bulbous tip, or anything else, don’t affect your expressions at all. Following your rhinoplasty, you will look perfectly normal when you frown or smile, grimace or grin.
Wrong:RhinoplastyAffects the Way You Breathe
Right:There are many occasions when a rhinoplasty is performed with the intention to change the way a person breathes. Narrow airways, a deviated septum, and other injuries or deformities will make breathing difficult. Yet, all of these problems can be corrected by rhinoplasty surgery, with or without making cosmetic changes to the nose as well. Nasal surgeries that are performed only as a cosmetic procedure, however, should not affect the breathing at all. A skilled rhinoplasty surgeon can make adjustments to your nasal structure that will not alter the way you breathe at all, unless you have discussed ways to improve it.
Wrong: People Will Be Able to Tell You’ve Have Rhinoplasty Surgery
Right:Although your close family and friends will likely notice the change to your appearance, rhinoplasty results are not meant to look obvious for the rest of your life. Your facial plastic surgeon will only deem your rhinoplasty a success if the results are natural-looking and proportionate to the rest of your face. Your scars will be well hidden inside the nostrils or on the underside of the nose. Your results will be based on the surgical plan you discussed with your surgeon, which should take into consideration the spacing of your facial features and the measurements of your face. When you work with a credentialed facial plastic surgeon with experience, your rhinoplasty results will be hard to pick up, even by old friends who can’t quite place what’s different about you.
Wrong: Patients Can Pick an Ideal Nose From a Catalog
Right:While your facial plastic surgeon will have pictures and other visuals to help clarify the kind of characteristics you want your nose to have, you certainly won’t shop for a new nose from a catalog of photos. Other patients expect they will need to bring in a picture of their ideal nose, perhaps from a magazine or celebrity tabloid photo. The truth is that every rhinoplasty patient has a unique nose and facial structure that must be considered when planning surgery. For some people, a celebrity nose might work; for most patients, your surgeon will start with the facial structure that exists and create your new, ideal nose based on these measurements. “Cutting and pasting” other people’s facial features onto your own face looks unnatural.
Wrong: Any Surgeon Can Perform a Rhinoplasty Surgery
Not all surgeries are created equal, especially when it comes to facial surgeries. In fact, rhinoplasty is one of the most complicated and delicate surgeries performed today. As a prospective patient, the best thing you can do for yourself is carefully select a facial plastic surgeon with an extensive history of success with his patients. Get the rhinoplasty results right the first time around so you’re not stuck looking for a new surgeon to perform a revision rhinoplasty later.
Right: It’s Always Smart to Choose the Right Rhinoplasty Surgeon
To learn more about howrhinoplastysurgery can benefit you, consult with a recognized expert in facial plastic surgeryand guarantee your best results. Dr. Andrew Frankel is board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Ear Nose and Throat). He is exceptionally well trained in the field of nasal surgery and has been recognized for his original research regarding vasculature to the nose and rhinoplasty’s effect on it. Schedule your appointment today with a world-renowned facial plastic surgeon to guarantee your best rhinoplasty results. Contact Dr. Frankel’s office, located at 201 Lasky Drive in Beverly Hills, California, by calling (310) 552-2173.
