6 Things to Know Before Getting Rhinoplasty

Before typing “best rhinoplasty surgeon in Chicago” into a search engine, it’s helpful first to research the procedure and gather some essential information about what’s involved with cosmetic nose surgery—often called a “nose job.” In this blog post, we’ll explain 6 things you should know before choosing a plastic surgeon to perform rhinoplasty.

1. Have reasonable expectations: It’s normal for women and men considering rhinoplasty to bring “wish photos” with them to their consultations. It’s a helpful tool that patients use to communicate the goals they have for their rhinoplasty results. But it’s important to understand that there is no perfect nose, and rhinoplasty won’t create the nose of your favorite celebrity.
2. Recovery is often less painful than expected: That’s not to say you won’t experience some discomfort during the first several days after your surgery. But patients who expect to rely on prescription pain medication may discover that they don’t really need it. The discomfort is typically the result of feeling extremely congested, which can linger for 2 to 3 weeks. After that, patients still may feel stuffy for several more weeks. Also, the techniques we use help minimize post-op discomfort and reduce recovery time. If you’ve heard horror stories about having nasal packing removed, no need to worry—we don’t use nasal packing.
3. What about nonsurgical rhinoplasty?: Using cosmetic injectables to change the shape of the nose is becoming more popular, primarily because it costs less than surgical rhinoplasty. There is a place for nonsurgical rhinoplasty as long as patients understand its limitations. A nonsurgical nose job involves the strategic injection of dermal fillers to correct specific aesthetic issues, such as small humps, bumps, or slight asymmetry. But it cannot change the size of the nose, and the results are temporary. Periodic touch-up treatments are needed to maintain the same appearance.
4. Rhinoplasty and septoplasty are not the same: Some patients who have difficulty breathing may require surgery to straighten a deviated septum—an operation called septoplasty. The technique used is different from cosmetic nose surgery, and a septoplasty may be covered by health insurance. In some cases, cosmetic changes can be made at the same time as a septoplasty, but insurance only covers the medically necessary portion of the operation.
5. It’s normal to experience a letdown on the first reveal: You’ve likely thought about rhinoplasty for months or even years and spent a considerable amount of time finding a surgeon and scheduling the procedure. The excitement surrounding the experience builds up to the moment the results are initially revealed when the nasal splint and bandages are removed. Prepare to not be wowed. Lingering swelling and bruising camouflage the outcome, and it takes several months for the final results to become truly apparent.
6. Cost shouldn’t dictate your choice of surgeon: We understand that most patients don’t have unlimited budgets and that the cost of rhinoplasty is a factor when choosing a plastic surgeon. It should not be the primary reason for your choice, however, especially for a cosmetic procedure as complex as rhinoplasty. We see many patients for revision rhinoplasty surgery who are unhappy with the results of procedures performed by other surgeons. We recommend thoroughly researching the training, experience, and prior track record of surgeons before making a choice.

You can see for yourself the results we’ve produced by looking at our gallery of before-and-after photos. If you’ve been considering rhinoplasty in the Chicago area and are ready to choose a plastic surgeon, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call our office at (312) 788-2560 to schedule an appointment.