Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty FAQs

Your procedure questions answered.

• Is Rhinoplasty painful?

  Your procedure is performed under anesthesia, so you shouldn’t have any pain or discomfort during the surgery. You can expect some swelling, bruising, and potential minor bleeding during the first few days of recovery, but this should subside on its own. The most uncomfortable part of the recovery process for most patients is the blocked-up feeling in the nasal area, which may be a little disorienting.

• How many appointments will I need?

  You can expect at least three total appointments. Before your surgery, you may have one more pre-operative visit. This visit typically involves a pre-operative history and physical at our office. This visit is performed to assess any medical issues you may have and to ensure that your surgery is conducted most safely. Pre and post-operative instructions are reviewed, and this visit is also an opportunity for you to ask additional questions that may have arisen after your initial consultation. Dr. Bhrany will want to see you about a week post-surgery as well to monitor your recovery. Depending on what he says, you may need to return a few more times further down the road for routine check-ups. Dr. Bhrany will always let you know when he wants to see you again at the end of your appointment.

• What if I’ve had rhinoplasty but don’t like my results?

  One of our most popular procedures is a revision rhinoplasty, where we will revise a previous surgery. To find out if you’re a good candidate for this surgery please read our full page on revision rhinoplasty and contact us today to schedule a consultation.

• Can I combine Rhinoplasty with other procedures?

  Absolutely. It’s quite common for our Seattle Rhinoplasty patients to combine their procedure with other facial-enhancing surgeries, including a Chin Augmentation, Brow Lift or Eyelid Surgery. Other patients who are looking for a less invasive route will combine the surgery with non-surgical treatments such as BOTOX or Facial Fillers. No matter what your aesthetic goals are, Dr. Bhrany and his team will be more than happy to discuss all of your options during your Rhinoplasty consultation and what the best procedures would be for you.

• What are the risks/complications with Rhinoplasty?

  As with any surgical procedure, there are risks such as bleeding, infection, poor healing, and risks related to undergoing anesthesia. Specific to rhinoplasty, there are risks of deformity under-correction, over-correction, asymmetry, nasal obstruction, persistent numbness and stiffness, and the need for additional revision surgery. Approximately ten percent of patients who undergo rhinoplasty may be recommended to undergo a revision procedure for refinement of results. If recommended, revision surgery is usually performed approximately 12 months after primary surgery to allow for adequate healing.

• How long until I see result?

  You may see some changes as soon as the swelling goes away, but you should expect it to take about a year for your new nasal contour to fully refine.

• When can I go back to work after my Rhinoplasty?

  If you have a nonphysical sedentary occupation you may return to work after a few days. But you will typically have a nasal cast on your nose and splints within your nose for a week. Thus, most patients typically return to work approximately one week from surgery. For patients with more physically demanding jobs, two weeks away from work may be recommended.

• When can I exercise again after a Rhinoplasty?

  It's recommended that patients wait at least two weeks before returning to heavy exercise, face-down yoga positions, or any activity that is likely to get the heart racing and increase your blood pressure. We encourage light activity such as walking the next day after surgery. For any activity that involves prolonged submersion in water, major pressure changes such as diving, or potential contact to the nose, you generally should wait about a month to six weeks. By taking your time to properly heal, you are preventing excess swelling. Most noticeable swelling is gone within one month. But, too vigorous activity too soon after surgery may drive more fluid to the area and make you appear more swollen.

• Will the scars from Rhinoplasty be visible and/or permanent?

  When Rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose (Closed or Endonasal Rhinoplasty), there is no visible scarring at all; when an open technique (External Approach) is used, a small incision is placed on the base of the nose (columella) and typically heals with minimal noticeability. Regardless of the method that Dr. Bhrany decides to utilize, he will do his best to make sure any scarring is minimal and well hidden in your nasal contours.

• Will fixing a deviated septum stop snoring?

  In some cases, septoplasty surgery (correcting a deviated septum) may reduce snoring and even treat patients with breathing disorders such as sleep apnea. But sleep apnea and snoring is typically more related to other aspects of your airway such as your palate, tongue, and throat that septoplasty surgery will not impact. Schedule an assessment with Dr. Bhrany to see if this procedure is right for you.

• Will my breathing be affected by Rhinoplasty surgery?

  Nasal surgery is often performed to improve nasal breathing through procedures such as septoplasty, functional rhinoplasty, and or turbinate reduction. Functional nasal procedures are often performed concurrently while reshaping the nose with a cosmetic rhinoplasty. Even if you are undergoing a rhinoplasty for purely cosmetic purposes, your nasal breathing can be affected by surgery. Dr. Bhrany takes care to optimize your nasal breathing and function while still achieving your aesthetic goals. Immediately after surgery, there will be swelling that will occur inside the nose for up to a year post-surgery. This often results in some minor trouble breathing early on but typically resolves within one to three months.

• Is Rhinoplasty a permanent procedure?

  Rhinoplasty is permanent in the sense that as long as your facial features are fully developed, then your nose won’t change shape on its own. That being said, rhinoplasty is also reversible, and less satisfying results can be corrected through revision rhinoplasty if necessary.

• Can I still smoke before my Rhinoplasty?

  It is highly recommended that all smoking be stopped at least 4 weeks before your Rhinoplasty procedure. Carbon monoxide introduced during smoking affects our tissue and the nicotine found in tobacco products can cause blood vessels to restrict, limiting the amount of oxygen that can get to the rest of our body. Because of these very serious complications, some plastic surgeons will refuse to perform surgery on patients who smoke. Others will require patients to commit to giving up smoking for several weeks before surgery.

• Is Rhinoplasty covered by my insurance?

  Cosmetic Rhinoplasty procedures are not covered by most insurance plans. But any associated nasal breathing difficulty can be corrected at the same setting as a cosmetic rhinoplasty with a functional nasal procedure such as a septoplasty, nasal valve repair, or inferior turbinate reduction which would be covered by most insurance plans. Dr. Bhrany and our Patient Care Coordinator work with you to help identify the best approach for your needs and to have portions of your surgery covered by your insurance if they qualify.