Rhinoplasty for medical or cosmetic purposes
In the consultations before rhinoplasty your surgeon will spend a significant amount of time discussing the concerns about appearance and nasal function. The history will be reviewed in detail. Age, ethnicity, skin thickness, profile, aesthetics of the nose, nasal lip relationship, nasal chin relationship, history of trauma, history of prior nasal surgery, breathing assessment, septal deviation, nasal valves, allergies and sinus disease are all covered during your consultation before any surgery is performed. A careful nasal and facial exam will be conducted and photographs will be taken and evaluated during your rhinoplasty consultation.
After your consultation you and Dr Barakate will go over the rhinoplasty surgery plan in detail. The outcome of rhinoplasty surgery relies on precise techniques to improve the aesthetics and breathing function of the nose. Thorough pre-operative planning is essential to ensure a successful outcome. A week before your rhinoplasty surgery you will have another consultation to be sure any wants and needs are met, and to go over what has been planned. Before and after rhinoplasty instructions will be finalised.
In most cases rhinoplasty requires an overnight hospital stay. The recovery time after rhinoplasty generally lasts between one and two weeks. A splint on the nose will be applied and will be removed one week later. After rhinoplasty surgery, appointments are needed several times in the first three months. After the initial recovery period appointments are needed every three months for one-year and annually after that time frame. Follow up is a key component of rhinoplasty as the nose will continue to improve over the first 12 months. For patients from out of the area, special arrangements will be made to ensure appropriate recovery. Rhinoplasty, unlike all other cosmetic surgery procedures requires a long-term commitment by the surgeon and the patient in order to ensure a successful and satisfactory outcome. This is a pre-requisite from our Rhinoplasty Specialists for any patient that desires to have nose surgery.
Other procedures that may be needed in combination with rhinoplasty surgery:
Functional
- Nasal septal reconstruction (septoplasty)
- Nasal turbinate reductions (turbinoplasty surgery)
- Endoscopic sinus surgery
Cosmetic
- Brow lift
- Eye lifts
- Face lift
Fitness for surgery
Before undergoing any elective surgery, it is essential that you be in good general health. This will minimise recovery time and reduce the risk of complications. Patient safety and wellbeing are the highest priorities. Your surgeon wants to ensure that your nasal surgery goes smoothly and that your health is not compromised during the procedure. If there are any concerns about your overall health, your surgeon will request that you obtain approval from your local doctor and anaesthetist prior to scheduling surgery.
Rhinoplasty risks and complications
- Bleeding – nose bleeds of some degree are not uncommon after rhinoplasty and nasal saline irrigations are required to clear the nose and prevent clots forming
- Infection – antibiotics are given after rhinoplasty to decrease the risk of infection
- Perforation of the nasal septum is uncommon but may develop in around 1-2% of patients
- A change in the way the nose feels after nasal swelling subsides
- Despite all care and best efforts around 1% of patients will request a revision rhinoplasty to address additional functional and cosmetic concerns after primary rhinoplasty
Realistic Expectations
It cannot be emphasised enough how important it is that a patient have realistic expectations about the outcome of aesthetic surgery. While rhinoplasty can significantly improve your appearance, it won’t completely change your life. As dramatic as the cosmetic effects of nasal surgery can be, it is simply a means of enhancing and refining your appearance. Those patients with a positive, healthy attitude and a reasonable understanding of what a nose job can accomplish are generally pleased with their results.
Cost of rhinoplasty
- Apart from the physical and emotional considerations, financial matters are often the most significant factor in determining a patient’s readiness for aesthetic surgery. It is important that a patient be able to manage the cost of the procedure without jeopardizing his or her overall financial stability. If nasal surgery is medically necessary to correct breathing problems or deformity after trauma then insurance may cover part of the cost. However, surgery that is performed for cosmetic reasons must be paid for by the patient.
- The overall rhinoplasty cost depends on the complexity of the surgery required to achieve the desired results. On average, primary rhinoplasty is simpler and therefore much less expensive than secondary rhinoplasty, which can be a more complex procedure. If you are considering nasal surgery, remember that most insurance companies will only pay for functional rhinoplasty procedures that improve breathing or restore appearance after a deforming fracture. Cosmetic rhinoplasty changes are not covered by insurance and we have package pricing available depending on the surgery required. Other procedures required in combination with rhinoplasty surgery including deviated septum surgery (nasal septoplasty), turbinate reductions and endoscopic sinus surgery will also influence the nose job prices.
- The cost of rhinoplasty will not be covered by your health fund or medicare if done purely for cosmetic reasons. For post-traumatic and functional problems, private health funds will cover the hospital costs. Patients are required to cover the surgeon and anaesthetist fees, with a medicare rebate available.
