These days, there’s more to rhinoplasties than just transforming the way your nose looks. The ideal nose job adds balance to the face. Patients can spend up to a year healing after the initial surgery before near final results can be seen although most patients heal fast enough to be photo studio shoot ready again after abiout 3 months with final results being apparent 2-5 years after surgery depending on the skin type, skin thickness, extent of surgery, and various other factors.
How Long Do Rhinoplasty Results Last?
As long as it’s performed by an Atlanta rhinoplasty expert, who ideally is a trained, board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Thomas Walker, the results of a rhinoplasty typically last for a lifetime. Of course, your appearance can still be altered by any future facial injuries or traumas. People who aren’t satisfied with the final results of their first rhinoplasty may opt to have a revision rhinoplasty. Once again, as long as you consult a trained expert before your first surgery, revisions based in dissatisfaction are quite rare.
Revision Rhinoplasty
Surgeons have a lot of things to consider before performing a revision rhinoplasty in Atlanta. Besides the aesthetics involved, they also make sure that the underlying nasal structure is functional so their patients can still breathe normally. And if not, that can and should be improved as well. This includes fixing a deviated septum, reducing enlarged turbinates, repairing nasal valve collapse, straightening a crooked nose, and other techniques to open up the airway.
In some cases where a lot of cartilage has been previously removed in an attempt to make the nose smaller yet often becomes less rather than more attractive from alar pinching and other deformitites, the nose may eventually collapse, change in shape, or become asymmetrical due to the lack of supporting cartilage. That’s why Dr. Walker reinforces the tip and other parts of the nose to ensure rhinoplasty results last a lifetime and simultaneously refining the nasal appearance. Scar tissue build-up can also alter the appearance of the nose and lead to dissatisfaction. However, modern surgical techniques, close monitoring after surgerey, improvements in medical technology, and the greater availability of experts makes this type of failure extremely rare. Dr. Walker monitors his patients regularly for the first year after surgery as early non-surgical intervention, although rarely necessary, with taping, compression exercises, steroid injections, or needle shaves, can optimizer the result minimizing the chance of needing a revision surgery.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rhinoplasty
The ideal rhinoplasty candidate is in overall good health and holds reasonable expectations for the results of their procedure. They should also be willing to follow their surgeon’s post-operative care instructions closely to ensure complete healing and lasting results. Depending on your individual circumstance, you’ll probably be advised to do some or all of the following:
- Avoid strenuous activities for four weeks
- Avoid contact sports for up to three months
- Possibly avoid wearing glasses or sunglasses up to three months depending on the extent of surgery (contact lenses are no problem)
- Adhere to a low-sodium diet
- Sleep with head elevated for the first week
- Clean and lubricate sutures sites daily
While most of the swelling will fade within four to six weeks, secondary healing with skin contracture takes many more months for the nose to heal completely from rhinoplasty surgery. The thicker the skin, the slower this process. Not only should the patient be committed to following all aftercare instructions, they should also be working with a professional team who can provide expert care.
Rhinoplasty in Atlanta
If you’re ready to start your journey to a harmonious face and easy breathing, schedule a consultation for rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty with Dr. Walker today. He and his friendly staff at WalkerMD Facial Plastic Surgery will walk you through the process and ensure you’re a good candidate for this life-changing procedure. Get in touch with us by calling our office at 470-900-FACE (3223) or contacting us online today.
