A whopping $16.5 billion was spent by Americans on cosmetic plastic surgery in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Leading the list is breast augmentation with 313,735 procedures reported. But the most common facial cosmetic surgery, also according to the ASPS, is the nose job, with 220,000 procedures performed nearly every year. We live in an era where we want to embrace our flaws, but not everyone is able to—or wants to—do that, and if one sees a way to get the nose they want, it’s only natural that they’ll go for it! 

Having said that, a nose job isn’t always done for cosmetic reasons. There are a host of medical reasons why you might need one, rather than just want it. Lots of people suffer from nasal obstruction, which makes it difficult to breathe through the nose. It may cause snoring and issues with athletic performance. Injuries, cleft lips, and broken noses are other reasons. The bottom line, however, is that it’s really no one’s business if you want to fix your nose; no one but you and your doctor. Our business, on the other hand, is just to inform you of some of the things to take into consideration before you get a nose job.

Choosing a specialist

Not every cosmetic surgeon necessarily performs a great nose job, even if they’re certified. What we call a nose job in layman’s terms is medically termed rhinoplasty and there are doctors who specialize in it. There is no plastic surgeon who can excel in all procedures, so it would be wise to choose a specialist in that field. You need to do your own homework and read more about the procedure, in addition to viewing before and after pictures of the procedures the doctor has done. Ultimately, the doctor will guide you and help you make many decisions, so feel safe in the hands of an expert in nose procedures is a must.

Two types of procedures

Rhinoplasty surgery can be done in one of two ways; open or closed. Both approaches will involve incisions, but while a closed surgery means that all the work will be done internally in the nostril area, an open one will leave a small and barely visible scar at the bottom of the tip of your nose. It’s the surgeon who will tell you which approach is going to be the best one for you.

Choosing a nose

The fact remains that you’ll practically be choosing a new nose. Don’t be disappointed if the doctor doesn’t agree to you having a nose exactly like that celebrity’s picture you brought into the office to show them. The idea behind this surgical operation is to modify what is bothering you about your nose; not to have a carbon copy of someone else’s nose. After all, you still want to maintain your identity. When you express what bothers you in detail, the doctor be of more help and tell you how they can remedy that particular problem. In most cases, people are bothered by the shape of their nasal bridge, as well as the largeness of the tip of their nose. Generally, a doctor can suggest different shapes, but it’s the one that suits you that counts. An experienced doctor will be able to predict a probable outcome, but most of it will depend on the overall complexity of the procedure. You’ll be working closely with your doctor to have a successful operation, leaving you with results that are close to your expectations.

Having a caretaker ready

In the end, a nose job is a surgical operation, so there will be some things you won’t be allowed to do post-surgery, like any strenuous activity or even driving. It’s better to understand beforehand that you will probably need some help for a little while, so maybe you can arrange for a friend or neighbor to help around if you live alone. Most nose jobs are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you’ll be back home the same day. You will see some swelling and bruising around your eyes after surgery, which will clear up soon afterward.

Rhinoplasty is very popular; you’re not alone if you simply don’t like your nose and want to fix it. With a specialized doctor in their field, it’s also a relatively safe procedure. The best operations are the ones that are done right the first time around. So, when meeting with a doctor, ask about everything you want to know—when it comes to surgery, there’s no such thing as a silly question.

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