Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Services
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Rhinoplasty
Content

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is surgery to repair or reshape the nose.

Alternative Names

Cosmetic nose surgery

Description

Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the exact procedure and the person's preference. It is performed in a surgeon's office, a hospital, or an outpatient surgery center. Complex procedures may require a short hospital stay. The procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours. It may take longer.

With local anesthesia, the nose and the area around it is numbed. You will probably be lightly sedated, but awake during the surgery (relaxed and not feeling pain). General anesthesia allows you to sleep through the operation.

The surgery is usually done through a cut (incision) made inside the nostrils. In some cases, the cut is made from outside, around the base of the nose. This type of cut is used to perform work on the tip of the nose or if you need a cartilage graft.

A splint (metal or plastic) may be placed on the outside of the nose. This helps maintain the new shape of the bone when the surgery is finished. Soft plastic splints or nasal packs also may be placed in the nostrils. This helps keep the dividing wall between the air passages (septum) stable.

Open Article Detail

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. 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
  • Help relieve some breathing problems

Nose surgery is considered elective when it is done for cosmetic reasons. In these cases, the purpose is to change the shape of the nose to one that the person finds more desirable. Many surgeons prefer to perform cosmetic nose surgery after the nasal bone has finished growing. This is around age 14 or 15 for girls and a bit later for boys.

Risks

Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general are:

  • Reactions to medications, problems breathing
  • Bleeding, infection, or bruising

After surgery, tiny blood vessels that have burst may appear as tiny red spots on the skin surface. These are usually minor, but are permanent. There are no visible scars if the rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose. If the procedure narrows flared nostrils, there may be small scars at the base of the nose that are not usually visible.

In rare cases, a second procedure is needed to fix a minor deformity.

After the Procedure

You will usually go home on the same day as your surgery.

Right after surgery, your nose and face will be swollen and painful. Headaches are common.

The nasal packing is usually removed in 3 to 5 days, after which you will feel more comfortable.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Full recovery takes several weeks.

Healing is a slow and gradual process. The tip of the nose may have some swelling and numbness for months. You may not be able to see the final results for up to a year.

References

Menick FJ. Aesthetic nasal reconstruction. In: Neligan PC, ed. Plastic Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2013:chap 6.

Tardy ME Jr, Thomas JR. Rhinoplasty, Sclagani AP. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al., eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2015:chap 34.

Related Articles

From Sutter Health

    Talking To Your MD

      Self Care

        Other Related Content

          Patient Information

          Couple in kitchen looking at digital tablet

          Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

          • Accepted Health Plans
          • Tips for Choosing a Doctor
          • Health Insurance Guide

          Find a Doctor Who Fits Your Needs

          Related Videos

          http://www.pamf.org/heidi-keesis.html. Heidi Keesis, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgery physician's assistant, talks about sun damage and aging skin and non-surgical ways of improving one's looks. She works at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Sun Damage and Anti-Aging - Heidi Keesis, MPA, Cosmetic Surgery PA-C

          http://www.pamf.org/heidi-keesis.html. Heidi Keesis, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgery physician's assistant, talks about sun damage and aging skin and non-surgical ways of improving one's looks. She works at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Sun Damage and Anti-Aging - Heidi Keesis, MPA, Cosmetic Surgery PA-C
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-benjamin-maser.html.  Dr. Maser, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about rhinoplasty, cosmetic surgery of the nose - what it is and who is an appropriate candidate.  He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Rhinoplasty, Plastic Surgery of the Nose | Benjamin Maser, M.D. | Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-benjamin-maser.html. Dr. Maser, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about rhinoplasty, cosmetic surgery of the nose - what it is and who is an appropriate candidate. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Rhinoplasty, Plastic Surgery of the Nose | Benjamin Maser, M.D. | Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-david-n-white.html. Dr. White, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of plastic surgery of the face/neck - and who are appropriate candidates for surgery.  He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Facial Plastic Surgery - David N. White, M.D., Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-david-n-white.html. Dr. White, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of plastic surgery of the face/neck - and who are appropriate candidates for surgery. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Facial Plastic Surgery - David N. White, M.D., Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-roy-w-hong.html. Dr. Hong, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of liposuction and who is the best candidate for the procedure.  He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Benefits of Liposuction - Roy Hong, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-roy-w-hong.html. Dr. Hong, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of liposuction and who is the best candidate for the procedure. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Benefits of Liposuction - Roy Hong, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-steven-bates.html. Dr. Bates, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of breast augmentation surgery and who is an appropriate candidate.     He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Breast Augmentation - Steven Bates, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-steven-bates.html. Dr. Bates, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of breast augmentation surgery and who is an appropriate candidate. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Breast Augmentation - Steven Bates, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          Doctor Profiles

          The following doctors are part of the Sutter Health network. Learn about the doctors on this site.
          Suzanne Kerley, M.D.

          Suzanne Kerley, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          John R. Griffin, M.D.

          John R. Griffin, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          Johnny Chang, M.D.

          Johnny Chang, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          Ario Barzin, M.D.

          Ario Barzin, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          John Talley, M.D.

          John Talley, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          Frank J. Piro, M.D.

          Frank J. Piro, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          Roy W. Hong, M.D.

          Roy W. Hong, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          Cindy Russell, M.D.

          Cindy Russell, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          John Connolly, M.D.

          John Connolly, M.D.

          • Plastic Surgery

          View All Related Doctors

          The Sutter Health Network of Care
          Expertise to fit your needs
          Primary Care

          Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

          Specialty Care

          Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

          Emergency Care

          For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

          Urgent Care

          After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

          Walk-In Care

          Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

          About Sutter

        • About Our Network
        • Annual Report
        • Awards
        • Community Benefit
        • Contact Us
        • News
        • Giving
        • Find Care

        • Birth Centers
        • Care Centers
        • Emergency Rooms
        • Hospitals
        • Imaging
        • Labs
        • Surgery Centers
        • Urgent Care
        • Walk-In Care
        • View All >
        • Featured Services

        • Behavioral Health
        • Cancer Services
        • Family Medicine
        • Home Health and Hospice
        • Orthopedics
        • Pediatrics
        • Pregnancy
        • Primary Care
        • Women's Health
        • View All >
        • Patient Resources

        • Accepted Health Plans
        • Classes and Events
        • Estimate Costs
        • Flu Resources
        • Health and Wellness
        • Medical Records
        • Medicare
        • My Health Online
        • Pay a Bill
        • Symptom Checker
        • Our Team

        • For Employees
        • Physician Careers
        • Recruiting Events
        • Sutter Careers
        • Vendors
        • Volunteers
          • ADA Accessibility
          • Contact
          • Privacy
          • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

          • LinkedIn Opens new window
          • YouTube Opens new window
          • Facebook Opens new window
          • Twitter Opens new window
          • Glassdoor Opens new window
          • Instagram Opens new window

          Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

          Cookie Policy

          We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

          Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences