Question:
Is there a different minimum age for rhinoplasty for male and female patients?

Answer:
There has been a general rule that girls should be at least 2 years after their first period, and boys at least 16 years old. These guidelines are flexible, and are frequently adjusted when significant nasal obstruction exists which also needs to be repaired.

Question:
I have developed a hard bump at the tip of my nose. My surgery was 1.5 yrs ago. What is this bump and what will be needed to remove it, surgery or something less invasive?

Answer:
This could represent scar tissue, cartilage grafts, or a bending of the tip cartilages we call a “bossa”. Many contour problems like this can be corrected by minor surgery. Surgery is an invasive procedure, which means there will be some swelling and a brief recovery period. At this point injectable steroids are unlikely to change the outcome.

Question:
For a rhinoplasty, do I have to spend the night at the hospital after the surgery or is it an outpatient procedure?

Answer:
Almost all rhinoplasty procedures are outpatient. It is rare that a rhinoplasty patient is required to stay overnight.

Question:
I have terrible seasonal allergies right now. Can I get rhinoplasty or should I wait until my allergies get better?

Answer:
Allergic rhinitis is not a contraindication for rhinoplasty. The symptoms can be managed with antihistamines and decongestants throughout the operative period. Some congestion is normal anyway after surgery for a brief time.

Question:
I have heard that good plastic surgeons can do wonders. I have a thick nose. The nostrils are very wide, the skin on the nostrils is thick and I have a wide bridge. Can rhinoplasty correct these defects without scar tissue forming?

Answer:
Thick skin is a challenge for any surgeon. There is no magic here, it must be accounted for in designing and executing the rhinoplasty. Realistic expectations must be fully discussed, and these limits accepted.

Question:
I broke my nose years ago which left it slightly bent. I had rhinoplasty to address this but it left a hump on my nose. Why would this happen and how can it be fixed?

Answer:
Long after an injury new bone growth can occur as a consequence of that accident. A hump is the most common sign of this. When this happens a second surgery is often required.

Question:
I feel like my nose is too big for the otherwise delicate features of my face. Can the width of my nostrils being reduced make my facial features more refined?

Answer:
The width and shape of the nostrils can be changed by a variety of techniques collectively call alar base modification. All of these maneuvers involve removing excess skin or soft tissue, which makes the nose wide or flared at the bottom.

Question:
What does saddle nose (or ‘boxer’s nose’) refer to? How can it be treated by a rhinoplasty?

Answer:
Saddle nose refers to a depression of the nasal bridge. This can be caused by an injury, infection, or a loss of support from aggressive surgery. The saddle nose can be repaired with the use of cartilage grafts during rhinoplasty surgery.

Question:
I am 27-years-old and had a rhinoplasty done a year ago. I am unhappy because the insides of my nostrils are much larger and visible and unattractive now. Will another rhinoplasty be able to fix this?

Answer:
This sounds like the ala, or nostril margins, were elevated after your rhinoplasty causing more nostril show than before. This is a significant problem, which may require revision surgery using cartilage grafts to lower the nostril edge. If the nose was shortened too much a similar look may occur.