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Preparation Tips Before Getting Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a nose job, is a surgical procedure done to change the shape and alignment of your nose by making changes to the cartilage or bone. It is also one of the most commonly performed types of plastic surgery done worldwide.

People perform nose jobs for different reasons. Some may have it for cosmetic reasons, while other may have it for medical purpose to correct their breathing, correct a birth defect, or because of an injury.

If you are having your nose job surgery for cosmetic reasons, you must wait till your nasal bone has grown fully. However, if it for medical reasons, you can have it at a young age.

Some of the things that a nose job does to the nose include:

• Changing the angle
• Changing the size
• Reshaping the tip
• Straightening the bridge
• Narrowing the nostrils

Before getting your nose job done, you have to prepare yourself to help get the perfect results. Some of the ways to prepare yourself include:

Meet Up With The Doctor

Before having a nose job, you need to make an appointment with your surgeon so that they can determine if you are a perfect candidate for the surgery. During that appointment, you talk to your surgeon about what you expect to achieve after the surgery.

Some other things that the surgeon doe include:

Going Through Your Medical History

This helps the doctor determine what medical procedures you have had in the past and your past physical health. They also look for information about any diseases you may have had and if you have had nasal obstruction at any point in life.

They also look for any history of bleeding disorders like hemophilia that may disqualify you for the surgery.

Physical Exam

This is an important part of the exam, which directly affects the results of your procedure. During the exam, your surgeon looks at your nasal skin, nasal valves, cartilaginous and bony irregularities, nasal sebaceous glands, and skin thickness.

The surgeon also examines how you breathe, your weight, height, and blood pressure.

Medical Photography

The surgeon and assistant take high-quality photos of your nose from different angles. They help with post-operative assessments, and they also help during surgery to understand your nasal shape and give the desired results.

Some of the angles they will take the images include anterior, right oblique, right lateral, left oblique, left lateral, cephalic, basal, and profile view in which you should smile.

Tests

The surgeon performs several tests on you to determine your overall health. That includes a blood test to check for any blood-clotting disorder, anemia, or infections.

They may also perform a pregnancy test, take an X-ray of your chest, and an ECG to show your heart rate, and a CT scan.

Psychological Examination

This mostly happens if you are getting the procedure for cosmetic reasons. They do it because some people are too obsessive and might exaggerate their physical flaws. It helps a patient accept their appearance and avoid the nose job when it is not necessary.

Avoid Certain Medication

Two weeks before you get your nose job, avoid taking medications like aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, and Vitamin E, because they are blood thinning. They could cause excess bleeding during the surgery. You should also avoid fish oil and herbal supplements for the same reasons.

Avoid Smoking 2-3 Weeks Before Your Surgery

Quit smoking or avoid places where you get exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke. That is because nicotine increases your chances of getting complications after the surgery. Some of the risks nicotine could cause include infections, anesthesia risks, scarring, and skin loss.

It also prolongs your recovery time because it limits the amount of oxygen transported by the blood to the surgical site. However, the carbon dioxide in the smoke also has negative effects on your blood vessels.

Don’t Take Alcohol 2 Weeks Before The Procedure

Just like smoking, taking alcohol could have negative effects on you during and after the surgery. One of the major complications is that it thins your blood, which could cause excessive bleeding during the surgery and anesthesia risks.

It also prolongs your recovery time and increases bruising.

Boost Your Protein Intake

Diet changes have a big impact on the procedure and healing process. Experts recommend that you increase your protein intake around three weeks before your surgery. It helps speed up your recovery and helps you overcome surgical trauma.

Shave Your Skin 2-3 Days Before The Procedure

If you must shave the areas around your nose, do it around three days before the surgery. Do not shave it a day before because that increases the chances of infection.

Shaving might damage your skin and cause tiny wounds on your skin where bacteria could grow and cause infection during the surgery.

Don’t Drink Or Eat Anything

Experts recommend that you do not drink or eat anything starting the midnight before your surgery for your safety. That is because your body can’t keep the contents of your stomach from getting into the lungs and resulting in a breathing problem because of the anesthesia.

Do Not Use Makeup Or Wear Jewelry

Wearing any make-up, hair product, or nail polish during the surgery could mislead your surgeon about detecting low oxygen levels in your blood (hypoxemia).

Also, jewelry and contact lenses could be a breeding ground for bacteria that could increase your chances of getting an infection during the surgery.

Watch Your Allergies

Seasonal allergies are common and could be a problem if you want a nose job. That is because they cause a running nose, and that increases your chances of having a difficult recovery. If you experience symptoms, talk with your surgeon and reschedule the date.

Make Necessary Arrangements

After getting the surgery, doctors can’t allow you to go home alone. Therefore, you need to make arrangements about your transport back home. If you are traveling abroad, book your hotel and return flight before getting the surgery done.

You should also shop and restock your groceries and do any major tasks before the surgery.

Wear Loose Fitting Clothes

After you get your surgery done, you need clothes that you will easily remove without injuring your nose. Therefore, you should have loose-fitting clothes or clothes that open up at the front or back.

Avoid Sun Exposure

Before the surgery, protect your skin from the sun because the UV rays damage your skin and could cause healing problems.

Last Updated on June 25, 2021