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12 Vital Topics to Discuss During Your Rhinoplasty Surgical Consultation

Rhinoplasty, also known as a “nose job” or “nose reshaping,” is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed today.
Rhinoplasty alters the proportions of your nose to give you the desired facial appearance.
Rhinoplasty is also used to correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects within the nose, as well as to repair facial damage from an accident or other occurrence.

If you are thinking about getting a nose job, there are a few things you should think about in order to be a good candidate for rhinoplasty; we also have some tips to go over before your consultation with your rhinoplasty surgeon.

Important: It is critical that you are completely honest with your surgeon in all aspects.
Your surgeon will inquire about previous surgeries, medications you are currently taking or have previously taken, known allergies to medications or anesthesia, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, diet, and so on.
It is your responsibility to provide your surgeon with honest and accurate information.
Being dishonest about any of these could lead to a less-than-ideal outcome, if not disaster.

Are you a Good Rhinoplasty Candidate?

If your facial growth is complete and you are physically healthy, you may be a good candidate for rhinoplasty.
You should ideally be a nonsmoker, and you should set realistic goals for improving your facial appearance.
If you fit this description, keep reading for some additional advice on what you should ask your surgeon during your consultation for a nose job procedure.

1) General credentials, education, and experience:

Inquire about your surgeon’s training and certification credentials, as well as his overall surgical experience.
Where did he or she receive his or her training, what are his or her certifications, and how long has he or she been performing plastic surgery procedures?
There are numerous certifications available for plastic surgeons, so it is recommended that you conduct additional research after your consultation to become acquainted with the credentials of your surgeon of choice.

2) Rhinoplasty-specific surgical knowledge:

Inquire with your surgeon about the number of years he has spent performing rhinoplasties and the total number of nose jobs he has completed during this time.
Inquire about your surgeon’s success rate: what percentage of patients are satisfied with the procedures and consider their nose job a success, and how many have required revisions?
How many revisions result in satisfied patients?
You should also inquire how many nose jobs they perform on a weekly or monthly basis, as well as what percentage of total procedures they perform are rhinoplasty versus other surgeries.
This will give you a good idea of how frequently your surgeon performs the same procedure and how well their rhinoplasty skills are maintained.

3) Policy on revisions:

Inquire with your surgeon about their revision policy if the results aren’t what you expected.
It is critical to be clear on this point because one surgeon may perform a free revision if you are not completely satisfied with the outcome for a variety of reasons, whereas another surgeon may only perform revisions based on certain criteria.
Also, inquire about the timeframe for revisions: how long after your procedure must you wait before requesting a revision, if one is required?

4) Rhinoplasty concerns specific to you:

You can inquire about your surgeon’s experience performing rhinoplasty on people of your ethnicity and how this may affect the outcome.
Is your surgeon a male or female nose job specialist, or does she have equal experience and success with both genders?
If you are thinking about having additional plastic surgery procedures done in the future, ask your surgeon how your current rhinoplasty may affect these future procedures and if now is the right time for a nose job.

5) Rhinoplasty Methods:

Inquire with your surgeon about some of the techniques she employs during rhinoplasty procedures.
In particular, inquire whether he or she employs minimally invasive scar reduction techniques.
Another question to ask your surgeon and research yourself is whether you should have an open or closed rhinoplasty and which technique your surgeon will use for your procedure.
The two techniques used by surgeons to reshape the nasal tip are open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty.
In open rhinoplasty, an incision is made along the columella, which is the soft tissue between your nostrils, whereas in closed rhinoplasty, all incisions are made inside the nostril.
Each technique, of course, has advantages and disadvantages.
Some noses are better suited to closed techniques, while others are better suited to open techniques.
Ideally, your surgeon should be familiar with both techniques and use the one that is best suited to your nose during your procedure, based on your unique anatomy.

6) Expected outcomes of your rhinoplasty:

Discuss in detail what to expect from your procedure as well as what could go wrong.
As previously stated, it is critical that you have reasonable expectations for the outcome of your procedure.
You must FULLY communicate these expectations to your surgeon so that he or she can confirm or correct any expectations that are not likely or even possible to achieve.
Before proceeding with the procedure, pay close attention to what your surgeon says and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Inquire about what could go wrong with your procedure and how likely it is that something will go wrong.
Minor issues are uncommon but do occur, and serious issues are uncommon; however, your specific physical structure or medical history may expose you to additional risk or negatively affect the outcome.
Again, be honest and listen carefully to your surgeon, and make sure you are completely comfortable with any potential issues that may arise before proceeding with your procedure, as you and only you will be responsible for the outcome.

7) Rhinoplasty recuperation:

Inquire about your nose job’s recovery process in detail.
Will the recovery period be difficult?
What medications will I have to take?
How long will I have to miss school or work?
What physical activities must I avoid, and how long must I refrain?
Should I avoid flying or traveling?
How will this affect my daily routine during the recovery period?
Will I be able to wear glasses or contact lenses immediately following surgery?
Your surgeon will explain the recovery process and what to expect in the hours, days, and weeks following your surgery.
If you decide to have a nose job, make sure to carefully follow your surgeon’s instructions to ensure the best possible results.

8) Personal responsibilities to ensure the best surgical outcome for my rhinoplasty:

It is critical that patients follow all instructions provided by their surgeon both before and after surgery.
Your surgeon will instruct you on how to properly prepare for your surgical procedure as well as what to do afterward.
The list will include specific instructions on what to eat, drink, and sleep before your surgery, as well as any medication additions or changes that may be required.
Post-operative instructions will include what medications you must take, how to eat, drink, and sleep, as well as what issues and concerns to be aware of once the operation is complete and your body is in the process of healing.

9) Photos of before and after:

As you look through the patient photos, request to see before and after photos from your surgeon and ask him to explain the procedures.
Viewing before and after pictures of the procedures will teach you a lot about rhinoplasty, as well as more about your surgeon, such as his level of passion for his work and concern for his patients.
Make sure she shows you examples of noses that are similar to yours in terms of similarity to your current nose and similarity to your expected outcome.

10) Customer Feedback:

Hearing from other rhinoplasty patients who have worked with your surgeon is reassuring and provides tangible proof of your surgeon’s abilities.
Request written testimonials from your surgeon, ideally with before and after photos.
Inquire whether it is acceptable to contact one or two patients directly for a brief discussion about their nose job experience.
It is uncommon for an experienced surgeon to not have at least one or two former patients who are willing to speak with another patient.
Be wary of any surgeon who does not provide at least one patient with whom you can speak.

11) Price and financing:

This may be the first topic you discuss with your surgeon, and it is crucial to understand total costs.
Make sure your surgeon explains exactly what is and is not included in their quote, such as revisions, lab work, post-operative check-ups, and so on.

12) And why not get a nose job?

This is an intriguing question, and your surgeon’s response may teach you a lot.
Inquire as to why you should NOT get a nose job.
This may lead to further discussions about your unique physical characteristics, which may have an adverse effect on the outcome, as well as the emotional reasons for the decision.
It may or may not influence your final decision, but it will undoubtedly be an interesting discussion to have with your rhinoplasty surgeon.

You should feel relaxed and at ease with your surgeon following your surgical consultation.
You should not feel as if your questions were skimmed over or not fully answered, and you should never feel pressured to make a decision.
If the surgeon is pushy, does not take the time to thoroughly answer your questions, or appears more concerned with getting you to make a decision and/or sign up for additional procedures, walk away and find another surgeon.
This is someone in whom you are putting your trust, your appearance, and your health, and you must be confident that they are the best candidate for your procedure.
If you believe your surgeon is being evasive or unwilling to fully answer your questions, find another.

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    The Seattle Rhinoplasty Center

    Seattle Nose Surgeon ®
    William Portuese MD
    Joseph Shvidler MD

    Seattle, Washington 98104

    (206) 624-6200

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