How Long Does Rhinoplasty Take?

As a central feature of the face, the nose brings harmony and balance to your features. So when one aspect of it doesn’t live up to your hopes for your appearance, it can really cause distress and lower confidence. 

At Longwood Plastic Surgery, we bring the artistry of plastic surgery to every rhinoplasty we do, so your nose will be part of a bigger picture that showcases your most striking features.

How Does Rhinoplasty Work?

Because the nose is made of delicate bone, cartilage, and skin, a rhinoplasty (commonly called a nose job) takes an experienced and talented eye to make the subtle changes that improve its appearance. There are two major types of rhinoplasty: open and closed.

For subtle changes that don’t require a great deal of access to all the nose’s structures, a closed rhinoplasty is the procedure of choice. The incisions are made within the nostrils, so there are no outward scars. This does limit the surgical field, so this procedure is ideal for small changes to the shape and appearance of your nose.

Open rhinoplasty involves a well-disguised incision along the columella, the skin on the nose’s underside between the nostril openings. This allows for more dramatic improvements from the bridge of the nose to the tip and everywhere in between.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty can be performed to repair a nose after injury, sculpt away an undesirable feature you were both with, or repair a functional concern like a deviated septum for better breathing. Men and women alike are candidates for rhinoplasty, and those who are in general good health with realistic expectations are often most satisfied with their final results.

How Long Does Rhinoplasty Take?

Your rhinoplasty will take place in our accredited outpatient surgery suite under the best type of anesthesia for your situation, either IV sedation or general anesthesia. Your incisions are made according to the treatment plan you’ve developed with your LPS surgeon, either for open or closed rhinoplasty. The skin and structures of your nose are gently manipulated to give access for sculpting and improvement. You may have bone or cartilage removed, grafts placed to perfect the shape, and revisions made to your septum if indicated. Once your surgeon is satisfied with your nose’s appearance, the incisions will be closed, and you may have a splint and gauze packing to support your nose as it heals.

The entire procedure typically takes between 1.5 – 3 hours.

Is There Any Downtime after Rhinoplasty?

The physicians at LPS will try to perform a closed rhinoplasty as often as possible to minimize downtime and make your recovery less painful. You can expect your recovery to take 1-2 weeks, though you’ll likely feel much like your old self in a few days. 

Don’t panic if you experience significant bruising around your eyes. This is completely normal. It’s essential to follow all post-op instructions, including avoiding strenuous exercise or activities that risk jostling your nose for up to 3 weeks or longer.

What Results Can I Expect from Rhinoplasty?

While you’ll likely see immediate differences in the shape of your nose once the splint is removed, it can take a few weeks for swelling to subside. Once it does, you’ll likely feel a boost in confidence and a reduction in insecurity around the shape of your nose. 

It may take several months or up to a full year for your final nose shape to be apparent, but when they do, these results will last for years to come.

Take the Next Step

Interested in learning about rhinoplasty? Schedule your consultation with Longwood Plastic Surgery today by calling our Brookline office at (617) 383-6250. We serve the Brookline and Greater Boston area with distinction.