A Selfie Surgery Guide to Rhinoplasty
Social sharing sites such as Instagram and Snapchat have given a platform to a proliferation of selfies. And with it, an increase in the number of young patients seeking to improve certain facial characteristics in order to turn out a better image of themselves. Millions of young women and men now can “share and compare” facial features and unfortunately, the competition is stiff. Not against one another per se, but from the outer selfie and the inner self. A desire for a better selfie has young women seeking lip augmentation, facial implants, and nose reshaping. Nose reshaping or rhinoplasty made up 32% of all cosmetic surgical procedures for patients between the ages of 20 and 29 in 2015*.
Rhinoplasty is not to be taken lightly. It is plastic s u r g e r y. Unlike lip injections that wear off and require only a needle, nose reshaping is a commitment to surgically alter a facial feature. With this consideration, here is a snapshot of the rhinoplasty procedure.
The Rhinoplasty Consultation
Selfie takers are pros at photo editing their features and generally have a clear idea of the nose shape they hope to achieve with rhinoplasty. The first step in changing your nose shape is a consultation with your plastic surgeon for measurements, and as is the case at Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa, a 3D computer image will be taken of your face and proposed corrections and improvements visualized prior to surgery.
What to Expect
First of all, you’ll need to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from your rhinoplasty procedure. General anesthesia is usually used for nose shaping, so driving home yourself is not only against policy, it could get you a DUI.
The Rhinoplasty Incision
Rhinoplasty is performed either using a closed technique where incisions are hidden in the nose or by the open technique. The open technique involves a stair-step like an incision across the columella (the narrow strip of skin separating the nostrils). Through this incision, your plastic surgeon can lift the tissues of the nose and access the structure beneath. Think of an auto mechanic lifting the hood of the car to get to the engine.
Reshaping the Nose
Your plastic surgeon will have made a plan prior to your procedure to reduce, straighten or augment structures of your nose. Nose shaping may involve cartilage grafts. Usually pieces of the septum (the partition in the middle of the nose) are used, but occasionally a bit of cartilage from the ear may be needed. It is rare to need rib cartilage. Once the surgeon is satisfied with the shape he has created, the skin and tissues are re-draped and the incision closed.
After Your Rhinoplasty
It will take a while until your new nose is camera ready for selfies. Splints and internal tubes will be in place to support your nose for approximately one week. You’ll also be swollen and bruised for a couple of weeks. It may take a year for your new nose to fully refine.
Rhinoplasty is extremely satisfying and patients report a boost in self-esteem after having the procedure. Irregularities such as a dorsal hump, a long nose with a drooping tip (Kim Kardashian), a wide dorsum or bulbous tip can distract from other facial features and create unflattering shadows. Rhinoplasty can correct all these unwanted characteristics. All great news for a selfie connoisseur since a beautifully proportioned nose needs no photo editing.
If you would like to look better in your selfies or you just want to feel better about yourself, schedule a consultation with the plastic surgeons of Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa at 858.720.1440 or fill out the contact form below.