A rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is a surgery that is irreversible. It’s important to choose a qualified surgeon to trust with your nose as it’s the center of your face with an important functional component. Here are 5 important questions to ask any rhinoplasty surgeon during a consultation.
The Questions to Ask Before a Nose Job
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How experienced are you in performing rhinoplasties?
Most patients think that any plastic surgeon can do a rhinoplasty. The truth is that rhinoplasties are one of the most difficult surgeries to perform on the entire body. Because of this, you want to go with an experienced facial plastic surgeon who specializes in the functional and cosmetic components of the nose. At Utah Facial Plastics, our facial plastic surgeons successfully complete rhinoplasties multiple times per week.
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Were you specifically trained in the field of facial plastic surgery?
Facial plastic surgeons specialize exclusively in the face and go through an extensive amount of education and training. Facial plastic surgeons continue education after their 4 years of medical school followed by a 1 year resident in general surgery and an additional 4 year residency in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery). During this 4 year residency, a facial plastic surgeon spends their entire focus on the face, head and neck. In addition to all that schooling, both of our surgeons went on to complete prestigious fellowships for an additional year.
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Where will my surgery take place?
If your surgeon is operating in a surgical facility, make sure that it is fully accredited with state-of-the-art equipment and a qualified anesthesiologist. This question is almost as important as knowing your surgeons credentials.
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What type of rhinoplasty technique will you be using: “open” or “closed”?
It is best to let your facial plastic surgeon decide which approach they think will meet your expectations, but it is good to know the difference because healing/recovery can be different.
An open (external) approach, might be a better approach for someone who needs tip work done or needs more advanced work done to the nose. With an open approach, expect to have a tiny incision along the columella (the tissue that divided the 2 nostrils). This incision heal well and is nearly invisible 1-3 months after surgery.
A closed (endonasal) rhinoplasty approach is when the surgery is performed inside your nose, leaving no visible incisions or scarring. This approach is appropriate for someone who is wanting the upper portion of their nose worked on or if they are wanting to remove a “hump” only.
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Do you have before and after pictures?
Looking at before and after photos will allow you to get a taste of your plastic surgeons aesthetic sense. Never be afraid to ask to look at before and after photos of a surgeons work before committing to surgery.
Further Reading on Rhinoplasty
- How long does your nose continue to change after rhinoplasty?
- What is the Difference Between a Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty?
- Rhinoplasty and Nostril Reduction Surgery
- Everything You Need To Know About Rhinoplasty Recovery
- 5 Questions You Should Ask Before Getting a Rhinoplasty
- What To Avoid Before Getting a Rhinoplasty
If you would like to schedule a complimentary rhinoplasty consultation, please call our office at (801)776-2220 or contact us HERE.