Rhinoplasty

Known Symptoms

• Aesthetic concerns: Visible humps, drooping or bulbous tip, wide nostrils, crooked nasal bridge.
• Functional impairments: Chronic nasal congestion, snoring, difficulty breathing during exercise.
• Red flags (contraindications): Body dysmorphic disorder, unrealistic expectations, active nasal infection.

Known Causes

• Cosmetic indications: Dorsal hump reduction, nasal tip refinement, width reduction, asymmetry correction.
• Functional indications: Nasal airway obstruction (e.g., deviated septum, valve collapse).
  Reconstructive indications:
  Post-traumatic deformity, congenital defects (e.g., cleft lip nose), tumor resection.
• Contributing factors: Patient dissatisfaction with nasal appearance, age-related changes, and genetic traits.

Care

• Prevention: Careful preoperative planning using computer imaging (to align expectations). Smoking cessation to promote healing.
• Follow-up:
  • Short-term: Splint removal at 1 week; monitoring for early complications.
  • Long-term: Assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (final results may take 1 year due to residual swelling).
  • Functional testing (e.g., airway patency) if indicated.

Note: Rhinoplasty requires a balance between aesthetic goals and functional integrity. Surgeons must prioritize nasal airway preservation while achieving desired cosmetic outcomes. Revision rates range from 5–15%, often due to unrealistic expectations or healing variations.