Duke's expert physicians offer rhinoplasty, or nose surgery,
at the state-of-the-art Duke Aesthetics Center in Durham, North
Carolina.
Rhinoplasty is a procedure to change the size or shape of
the nose.
It can be used to reduce or increase the size of the nose,
change the shape of the tip or the nasal bridge, narrow the
opening of the nostrils, change the angle between the nose and
the upper lip, correct a birth defect or injury, or help
relieve some breathing problems.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your nose,
rhinoplasty can produce effective, permanent results that will
bolster your self-esteem and improve your self-image.
Procedure Details
During surgery the skin of the nose is separated from its
supporting framework of bone and cartilage, which is then
sculpted to the desired shape. The nature of the sculpting will
depend on your problem and your surgeon's preferred technique.
Finally, the skin is redraped over the new framework.
Many plastic surgeons perform rhinoplasty from within the
nose, making their incision inside the nostrils. Others prefer
an open procedure, especially in more complicated cases; they
make a small incision across the columella, the vertical strip
of tissue separating the nostrils.
When the surgery is complete, a splint will be applied to
help your nose maintain its new shape. Nasal packs or soft
plastic splints also may be placed in your nostrils to
stabilize the septum, the dividing wall between the air
passages.
The procedure usually takes two to four hours.
Recovery
After surgery -- particularly during the first twenty-four
hours -- your face will feel puffy, your nose may ache, and you
may have a dull headache.
Plan on staying in bed with your head elevated (except for
going to the bathroom) for the first day.
You’ll notice that the swelling and bruising around your
eyes will increase at first, reaching a peak after two or three
days. Most bruising will be gone within two weeks.
Most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within two days,
and able to return to school or sedentary work a week or so
following surgery.
Risks
Problems breathing through the nose, asymmetries or minor
deformities requiring revision, and scarring are all possible
risks.
Physicians
Physicians offering this service include:
Locations
This service is available at:
