More commonly, the patient is seeking an improved appearance. It is helpful to have some idea what it is that displeases you; the plastic surgeon can translate your desires into a coherent plan for surgery only if you are clear about what you’re seeking. We offer digital imaging that can help our patients communicate what it is they’re seeking.

The procedure can be done under local or general anesthesia and varies in duration, often under two hours. A splint is applied to the outside of the nose and packs are inserted in the nostrils so there is support both from the inside and out. The packs are probably the most irritating aspect of the surgery for patients but can be taken out somewhere between three days and a week, depending upon how much work has been done. The thin skin of the eyelids shows any underlying bruising, so two weeks of black eyes is not unusual.

The hardest part for the surgeon and patient alike is the waiting between when the surgery is done and the swelling is gone. Commonly the final result can’t be known for a year since even the slightest swelling obscures the definition of the altered nose beneath the skin.