Rhinoplasty is the surgery that modifies the shape of the nose, and it is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in cosmetic surgery. Rhinoplasty can decrease or increase the size of the nose, change the shape of the tip or back, narrow the nostrils, or change the angle between the nose and the upper lip. It also corrects congenital problems, trauma, and some respiratory problems.

​

Rhinoplasty is always performed in the operating room, within a clinic or hospital. Normally, one stays in the clinic the night after the surgery, being discharged the next day.

​

Rhinoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia plus sedation, or more commonly, with general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the surgery and the preferences of your surgeon. If performed under local anesthesia plus sedation, the patient feels relaxed and the nose and its surroundings are insensitive to pain; under general anesthesia the patient is asleep during the operation.

​

A rhinoplasty usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours, although in complex cases it may take longer. During surgery, the skin of the nose is separated from its support, made up of bone and cartilage, which is sculpted into the desired shape. Finally the skin is redistributed over this new support. Many plastic surgeons perform this procedure from inside the nose, making small incisions inside the nostrils; Others prefer to do an open rhinoplasty, especially for more complex cases, in which a small incision is made in the columella.

​

When the surgery is complete, a plastic splint is placed, which will help maintain the new shape of the nose. Nasal plugs are also placed in both holes to prevent bleeding and stabilize the nasal septum, as appropriate.