Rhinoplasty: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Rhinoplasty FAQs

• Where is Rhinoplasty Performed?

  Dr. Williams performs rhinoplasty surgery in The Williams Center’s accredited ambulatory surgery center, New England Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center. This surgery center is located within the Williams Center main facility.

  This is an optimal situation for patients because the surgery center has the same essential backup systems and safety standards that a hospital does, without the unnecessary exposure to illness and germs.

  Our operating rooms are identical to those in a hospital — we just are not attached to one.

  During the initial patient consultation, Dr. Williams is tuned in to patient’s wants and needs. He understands patients and their concerns and can set and meet expectations for patients wanting to achieve a more “perfect” nose.

• Is Rhinoplasty Surgery Painful?

  Undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure is not painful since it is performed under anesthesia.

  All patients are given pain medicine for the first few days, but most patients do not complain of significant discomfort and typically take Tylenol the first few days.

  The occasional patient will feel the need to take prescription pain medications the first evening after surgery. It is not unusual for us to be told by the patient at their first week postoperative visit that they  had little or virtually no discomfort from his or her procedure.

• Are There Potential Surgical Complications or Risks With Rhinoplasty?

  Like with all surgical procedures, rhinoplasty surgery has risks and potential complications.

  Patients who choose an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon will find that complications are quite rare in Rhinoplasty including for example, nose tip reshaping, but possible risks — such as bleeding or infection — will be explained prior to nasal surgery.

  It is the surgeon’s responsibility to manage risks and to discuss them with the patient. The risks Dr. Williams generally discusses with patients are the potential for infection or bleeding.

  Although it’s extremely unusual for a patient to have any significant bleeding after rhinoplasty, we inform all patients of this possibility.

  If any issue with bleeding arises, it will typically happen within the first few hours and patients must return to the office to have that addressed.

• Can I Combine Rhinoplasty with Other Facial Surgeries?

  Yes. Many patients will have rhinoplasty performed with another facial procedure or a body procedure. At the Williams Center, your facial plastic surgery procedure would be performed by Dr. Edwin Williams, our face specialist, and your breast and body plastic surgery procedure would be performed by Dr. Alain Polynice, our breast and body specialist. (link to each doctor’s pages).

  For example, it’s fairly common for patients to have a rhinoplasty procedure in conjunction with a blepharoplasty or breast augmentation.

  During plastic surgery consultation, patients can discuss all of their surgical goals to learn which procedures can be done during the same operation.

• Will My Health Insurance Cover Rhinoplasty Surgery?

  A portion of rhinoplasty can be covered by health insurance in certain circumstances. Typically, this will occur when a patient has a deviated nasal septum, nasal valve collapse, or in some cases, a previous history of trauma or injury to the nose.

  In those circumstances, the breathing or functional component of the nasal reconstruction is covered by a patient’s health insurance.

  If the rhinoplasty is solely for cosmetic change or improvement, it is not covered by insurance.

  The Plastic Surgery Center at Williams offers several options for financing, including health care financing plans like Care Credit and/or a preoperative layaway approach.

  Depending on your circumstances there may be additional options, so be sure to discuss the concerns with Dr. Williams during your initial consultation.

• Does Rhinoplasty Leave Scars?

  Anytime an incision is made through the skin, it leaves a scar. Most patients think of a scar as being unsightly, and an obvious sign of previous plastic surgery.

  Surgical incisions that leave a scar are done in a more controlled way so that they are very difficult to see. When using the external, or open approach to rhinoplasty, there is an incision or scar that is made along the base of the nose.

  Since Dr. Williams performs most of our rhinoplasty surgeries using the closed, or endonasal, approach, all incisions are made on the inside of the nose.

  This approach helps with a smoother recovery and ensures that incisions aren’t visible after surgery.

  At the Plastic Surgery Center at Williams, we commonly refer to closed rhinoplasty as scarless rhinoplasty since the scars are invisible.

• How Long Does It Take to See Results After Rhinoplasty?

  Approximately 80% of the results of rhinoplasty are seen at one week, 90% at two weeks, and 100% at one year.

  There are two stages of healing after rhinoplasty surgery.

  The first stage, immediately after the operation, is when patients should expect to see visible swelling and bruising. This subsides somewhere between two and four weeks after surgery.

  The second stage happens over the course of the year following rhinoplasty surgery.

  While most swelling is gone after the first month, there is a slow and continuous “shrink wrap” that continues for the first year because of the way noses heal.

  At about three months after surgery, the majority of swelling will have subsided, and the nose has almost reshaped to its final form.

  It isn’t until a full year after rhinoplasty surgery that patients can see the final results.

• After Nose Tip Reshaping Surgery, Do You Pack the Nose?

  To avoid unnecessary and uncomfortable heavy dressing or packing of the nose after all Rhinoplasty surgeries, including nose tip reshaping surgery, Dr. Williams prefers the closed (endonasal or scarless) approach. Rather than heavy packing, Dr. Williams puts light dressing in each nostril, and then seals it with a “moustache dressing” which is taped below the nostrils.

  After the light dressing comes out of each nostril, the light “moustache dressing” is kept on for a few days to catch small amounts of drainage that is normally seen after a rhinoplasty procedure.

  In the hands of a skilled rhinoplasty surgeon like Dr. Williams, only minimal dressing in each nostril is needed.

  When the outer splint is removed one week after a rhinoplasty, patients are wise to stay away from any activities that could lead to a blow to the nose for up to two weeks.

• Will Correcting My Nose Tip With Rhinoplasty Fix Breathing Problems?

  Many patients seeking to correct a nasal tip may have trouble breathing. This may involve a deviated nasal septum, narrow nasal valves, or a twisted or crooked nose, in addition to a misshapen nasal tip.

  If a patient has difficulty breathing, this may be addressed during a nasal tip-based cosmetic rhinoplasty.

• How Much Does Rhinoplasty Cost?

  The fees for a rhinoplasty are contingent on several elements.

  The first element is whether this is the patient’s first time (primary rhinoplasty) or a revision rhinoplasty when the first procedure did not yield desired results.

  When patients have a less-than-ideal result from previous nose plastic surgery, they will often seek an additional surgery, which is typically a longer, more complex procedure — requiring the skills of a highly experienced facial plastic surgeon.

  Finally, a more experienced facial plastic surgeon will cost more, but an experienced facial plastic surgeon also increases a patient’s chance of realizing a successful, desirable result.

  The cost of rhinoplasty generally ranges between $7,000 and $14,000, including operating room fees and anesthesia.

• Can I Wear Contact Lenses or Glasses Following Rhinoplasty?

  After rhinoplasty, a splint is placed on the outside of the nose.

  For patients wearing eyeglasses, this can present a problem. Dr. Williams has found that a small piece of tape can allow the glasses to hang from the forehead as temporary solution.

  Dr. Williams recommends that patients do not wear contact lenses for one week after surgery. At this time, the splint is removed, and normal contact use can resume.

• What Does ‘Board-Certified’ Mean for a Doctor?

  Not all surgeons are board-certified.

  Surgeons who are board-certified are highly specialized in a specialty area or surgery type.

  They are exceptionally committed to professionalism, quality patient care, and lifelong learning through a neutral, third-party entity that represents top-tier surgeons.

  Board-certified surgeons prove their expertise through extensive specialty-specific training and passing rigorous testing.

  All surgeons at The Williams Center are board certified by the American Board of Surgery.