How Long Does Rhinoplasty Surgery Take?
Do you ever look in the mirror or examine your selfies and feel that the shape of your nose does not look right with respect to the rest of the face? Does your nose look long in the photos or tilt in one direction or does the tip look fat and boxy to look it? Of you felt lately that you are not able to breathe freely through the nose and have been breathing through the mouth? If this all sounds familiar then the answer to all your problem is a simple rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty or the nose job can be a life-changing experience for many. The nose is not only essential for our being but its symmetry has the ability to enhance our natural beauty without appearing too made up. Knowing that they are looking good gives a healthy boost to a person’s morale and self-esteem. Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery but it is still a surgery and it is quite natural to want to know all about it, like how much time will it take, what is the recovery time, etc. It helps the individual be more confident and comfortable.
A Nose job is a safe and successful procedure and it can take anywhere from about 1 to 3.5 hours to complete the surgery. Every patient has a unique set of facial features, and needs and expectations from the surgery. One individual’s nose job can be done in less than one hour while the other’s might take longer.
Basic rhinoplasty is done to manipulate a person’s nose to change its appearance and/or improve its function. It helps in a to of things such as sinus relief, correcting defects caused because of injury or trauma, broken nose, congenital birth defects such as cleft lip and so much more. The surgeon works with the bones and cartilage in the nose to get the desired function and appearance. In cosmetic rhinoplasty, the focus is entirely on correcting the shape and structure of the nose without disturbing the functions, and in functional rhinoplasty, the main aim is to improve breathing and sinus. Rhinoplasty is done because of
- Personal preference
- Health concerns
- Facial injuries
Individuals who are in good health condition and above 18 years of age and are not addicted smokers and done abuse alcohol are the most suitable candidates for rhinoplasty. The use of tobacco and drugs increases the risks of more tissue damage and delayed healing. A nose job is a very intricate procedure and should only be done by an experienced, trained, and accredited professional. A practiced rhinoplasty surgeon will take under two hours to do a primary rhinoplasty whereas a less specialized or experienced surgeon can take up to 5-6 hours.
What affects the time rhinoplasty takes?
How long the rhinoplasty takes is a question whose answer is dependent on many factors. The two most specifics that affect the duration of rhinoplasty surgery are nasal structure and function.
- The first thing that the surgeon check is the condition of your nose, the skin type, etc. Is this your primary rhinoplasty or the secondary one?
- The second step is to discuss the goals of rhinoplasty. Are you looking to rectify the appearance of the nose or are there any functional needs as well.
- The third thing affecting the time taken by the nose job is the number of procedures that need to be. Cosmetic and functional rhinoplasties can often be combined together.
Factors affecting how long a rhinoplasty operation lasts
In plastic surgery, it is not about how quickly but the emphasis is on how well it is done. Efficiency is what takes prime importance. This is because, after two to two and a half hours of surgery, the swelling and bleeding start to work against the surgery. Rhinoplasty length can never extend beyond 5 hours at any time. Let’s look at the factors that come into play for it
Anaesthesia
Since rhinoplasty is an invasive surgery, anesthesia becomes a must. Though it does not affect the outcome of the procedure it does affect the length of the surgery. The anesthesia that is used in rhinoplasty is a low-level one. The longer the operation the more the anesthetic and it can lead to longer waking up time and some disorientation and grogginess during the day. Another factor is the type of anesthesia used. For most surgeons the preferred combination is local plus a low dose of general anaesthetic. This does not affect the recovery time post-nose job. In the case of non-surgical rhinoplasty, only a local numbing cream is applied before injecting the fillers and it has no downtime.
Grafting
In cases of trauma or injury to the nose or in reconstructive rhinoplasty the surgeon might need to harvest the cartilage from other parts of the body such as the ear or rib to get a suitable graft and it can increase the surgery time. Additional tissues somethings become necessary to get the finest results. These requirements often come when performing rhinoplasty to correct a round or plunging tip, correct the nasal bridge, straighten the crooked nose, or lengthen or widen the nose. The first choice of harvesting is the nasal septum in case of septum correction and improve breathing and preventing sinus infections. The next choice is cartilage from the ear. In such cases, the incision is done in the back of the ear in line with the natural curve. Rib cartilage is used when the surgeon needs a large piece of cartilage. It is then shaven in thin slices and most used to raise the nasal bridge. It is not very time-consuming but adds to the length of the surgery.
Open vs closed rhinoplasty
This is the surgeon’s choice. Open rhinoplasty takes more time than closed rhinoplasty. Close rhinoplasties are done in less severe cases and are often referred to as a patient-favored technique. The reason is that the incisions are placed inside the nose and no scarring is visible outside. Open rhinoplasty on the other hand gives a more approachable view to the surgeon and makes it easier and more precise to place cartilage and tissue grafts. It is a primary choice when significant manipulation is required. The incisions are made on the outside of the nose and then closed with sutures so some scarring might be visible. Open rhinoplasty can add 20 extra minutes to the operation than closed rhinoplasty.
Experience, style, and preference of the rhinoplasty surgeon
Rhinoplasty sounds simple but to get good results you need expertise. Closed rhinoplasty can restructure the nasal architecture and even improve breathing without visible incisions or marks and only ultra-experienced surgeons can meet this mark. For new surgeons, closed rhinoplasty can become a challenge. Therefore how much actual experience the surgeon has gained makes it possible for him to do the surgery quickly and without risks. The skill and judgment of the surgeon matter the most when it comes to gaining the nose that you always wanted. Going to an inexperienced surgeon as a cost-cutting measure can run a risk of doing more damage. A skilled surgeon will understand the challenges of your nose and work quickly and efficiently to meet your specific needs.
Complexity of the rhinoplasty surgery
This has the most effect on the amount of time your surgery will take. For breathing issues such as septoplasty, turbinate reduction, etc time taken can be longer, whereas some cosmetic changes can be done easily as an outpatient procedure. The nose is a delicate structure comprising cartilage, skin, and bone and it needs great expertise to get good results.
The length of rhinoplasty surgery also includes other factors such as time taken to prepare the patient for the surgery, inducing the anesthesia, disinfecting, instrumentation, and monitoring, etc. A change to one part of the nose can affect the rest of the nose and the face. The surgeons aim to preserve the function and keep the scarring to minimal and still bring out the finest and most natural new look for the nose.
