All the Different Types of Surgical Rhinoplasty

How did we get the modern rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a nose job, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the nose for either cosmetic or medical reasons. It’s one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries worldwide, appealing to a wide range of individuals seeking aesthetic enhancements or functional improvements. The procedure can correct issues like asymmetry, size, or structural problems that affect breathing.

The history of rhinoplasty is fascinating, tracing back to ancient times. Initially, it was developed for reconstructive purposes, particularly for those who suffered injuries or had congenital defects. Over the centuries, rhinoplasty has evolved, incorporating advanced techniques and technologies, making it more effective and safer. Today, it not only addresses functional issues but also helps in enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the nose, aligning it harmoniously with other facial features.

The decision to undergo rhinoplasty is often influenced by a desire to improve appearance or to correct functional issues. For some, it’s a way to rectify breathing problems or deformities due to injuries, while for others, it’s about achieving a desired aesthetic look that can restore their confidence.

The Process of Rhinoplasty – A Brief Summary

The process involves a detailed consultation with a surgeon, where patients discuss their goals, concerns, and expectations. The surgeon evaluates the patient’s nasal structure, facial balance, and skin quality to recommend the most appropriate technique. Rhinoplasty can be performed using various techniques, each tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of the patient. The surgery typically involves reshaping the nasal bone or cartilage, and sometimes, using grafts or implants to achieve the desired shape. Recovery from rhinoplasty varies, with most patients resuming normal activities within a few weeks. However, the final outcome of the surgery may not be fully visible for up to a year, as the swelling gradually subsides.

Patients considering rhinoplasty should carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits, have realistic expectations, and choose qualified, experienced surgeons.

Open and Closed – Approaches to Rhinoplasty

The terms ‘open’ and ‘closed’ are used to describe the surgical approach to your rhinoplasty procedure. This affects things like post-surgical scarring, swelling and the level of access your surgeon has to your internal nasal structure. Whether a closed or open rhinoplasty is more suitable for you will depend on your surgery goals, nasal structure and opinion from your surgeon.

Open Rhinoplasty – During an open rhinoplasty, surgeons will make an incision on the underside of the nose, specifically the center line which is called the columella. This incision allows greater access to the internals of your nose, because surgeons can carefully lift the skin and soft tissue and work with more visibility. This approach is suitable for patients who need a more intense or complicated procedure. It will leave a scar on your columella, but it’s not very noticeable in that area and usually fades over time.

Some people can be scared of having an open rhinoplasty because of the belief that their surgeon will “break” their nose. But the term break in this context is misleading and counjours imagery of something violent and uncontrolled. In reality, there are cases where surgeons do need to change the alignment of your bones, but this is done with a precision cut – not a break.

Closed Rhinoplasty – Where possible, many people choose a closed rhinoplasty over an open one. This is because during a closed rhinoplasty the only incisions are made inside the nostrils, so there is no visible scarring. However, it limits the surgeon’s access and visibility of the internal structure of the nose meaning it is only suitable for less complex cases.

Categories of Rhinoplasty

Most rhinoplasties can be categorised into four main goals – or themes, if you like. They are:

Reduction

Augmentation

Reconstructive

Revision

These categories are pretty self-explanatory. In this context a revision rhinoplasty refers to an operation on someone who has already had a rhinoplasty previously but was unsatisfied with the results. Either functionally or aesthetically.

Types of Rhinoplasty

Hump-Reduction Rhinoplasty: For many people this is the classic type of rhinoplasty that they imagine when they hear the word. For some people their nasal hump is a proud reminder of their heritage, but just as many will feel upset when their profile side is in a picture.

Hump removal methods vary depending on the size and projection of the nasal hump. Smaller cases can be finished quickly and efficiently by simple shaving and readjusting of the bone and cartilage but in a more extreme circumstance the nose may require a thin implant to maintain its stability.

Tip-Plasty: These rhinoplasties focus only on the height and shape of the end of your nose. Through surgery, the nasal tip can be raised, repositioned, narrowed, widened and even drooping tips can get their definition restored.

Alarplasty: Your alar is a medical term for your nose base and nostril area. Alarplasties can reposition the nostrils, usually to make them smaller and closer together.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty:The term ‘ethnic rhinoplasty’ refers to rhinoplasty that mainly addresses the worries and concerns of a certain ethnicity of people. Usually, rhinoplasties are categorised as ethnic when the patient is not a member of the racial majority of the country the surgery is happening in. Successful performance of ethnic rhinoplasties depends not only on understanding of racial differences in physiology, but also the culture and beauty standards that inform the patient’s request.

Asian – In many Asian countries, the height of the nose bridge and tip is part of conventional beauty standards. So many Asian rhinoplasties focus on raising these areas through the use of silicone implants, medical mesh and cartilage from various parts of the body.

Caucasian – For many white people, the conventional beauty standard pushes the opposite of Asia – low bridges. People often discuss the reduction of their high noses from radix to tip.

Afro-Caribbean – Again, many people see their noses as reflections of their cultural heritage. But, as black people live all over the world, they can be exposed to many different standards of beauty. Popular surgeries for these patients include reducing the width of the bridge and tip, and narrowing the alar.

Middle Eastern – Some religions from the Middle East do not allow plastic surgery. However, every person’s relationship with their religion is different. Patients generally prefer conservative, natural-looking results, with one of the most popular procedures being hump-reduction.

Hispanic – People of hispanic descent can be born with a wide variety in their facial features, in addition to exposure to many forms of beauty. A lot of hispanic people, when going in for hump-reduction, still want to maintain the essence of their ethnic features.

Reconstructive Rhinoplasty: This is a surgery used in cases where the nose has been deformed in some way. Because of this, every reconstructive rhinoplasty is unique and they can involve different kinds of grafts, implants and surgical techniques. Reconstructive rhinoplasties can involve multiple operations.

Functional Rhinoplasty: Functional rhinoplasty is focused on correcting the functionality of the patient’s nose, usually to fix breathing difficulties that could be caused by a variety of issues.

Septoplasty: The central line of your nose is called the ‘septum’, and that’s the area septoplasty focuses on. When your septum is mis-aligned (called “deviated septum”) it not only causes asymmetry in the face through the impression that the nose is leaning to one side, but it can cause difficulty breathing and problems with blocking up. This surgery focuses on correcting the deviation in order to restore comfortable breathing. While it can restore symmetry, it doesn’t focus on aesthetical results. Combining septum correction with other aesthetic techniques is called septorhinoplasty.

Revision Rhinoplasty: Similar to reconstructive rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty can also be very different from patient to patient, and requires a unique approach and a variety of techniques. Revisions can be necessary in cases where the original rhinoplasty has failed, deforming the nose, or even in cases of unsatisfactory aesthetic outcomes.

So, now you know about rhinoplasty approaches, categories and specific surgery types. To add more to your understanding, there are also rhinoplasty packages which have a unique name that are performed only by a specific hospital, such as ID Hospital’s Barbie Line Rhinoplasty. Hopefully you now feel much better informed about your options for your nose.