What Are “Realistic Expectations” With Rhinoplasty?

Plastic surgeons say it about almost every procedure: patients need realistic expectations about their results. 

If you have a good idea of what you can expect from surgery such as rhinoplasty, you are more likely to be happy with the results you get from the procedure. Having realistic expectations goes beyond the appearance of your nose, though. It can also refer to what you expect to happen before, during and after the surgery. 

Understanding what changes can be made during rhinoplasty and what you’ll need to do to prepare for and recover from the procedure can help you avoid disappointment. 

What Changes Can Be Made to the Nose?

Knowing how a surgeon can and can’t change your nose during rhinoplasty can give you a better sense of whether or not what you’re hoping to get from the surgery is in line with reality. 

Surgical rhinoplasty can change many aspects of the nose. It can make a nose smaller or larger. It can change the angle of the tip of the nose or make a bulbous tip look less round. If you have a hump or bump on your nose, rhinoplasty can smooth it out.

During an initial consultation, you’ll talk to a facial plastic surgeon and let them know what you like and don’t like about your nose. The more detail you can provide to your surgeon, the better they’ll be able to determine if rhinoplasty will help you reach your goals. 

For example, you might want narrower nostrils or a droopy tip lifted. A surgeon should be able to tell you exactly what they’ll do during rhinoplasty to accomplish your goals and whether or not they’ll be able to make the physical changes you want. 

What Can You Expect During and After Rhinoplasty?

It also helps to understand what rhinoplasty will require of you, both during the procedure and after it’s over. For example, you might want to talk to the surgeon about your anesthesia options for the surgery. Dr. Naderi performs rhinoplasty under general anesthesia, which keeps you still and comfortable and lets him work under the best possible operating conditions. 

Because you will have general anesthesia, you’ll want to know how to prepare for it and what you can expect to feel as it wears off. If you have concerns about the anesthesia, you can discuss them with your surgeon at your consultation.

The surgery itself takes about 2 hours, but recovery takes longer. Plan on about a week off work, during which you’ll need to avoid most of your daily activities, and expect the nasal cast to stay on for 5 to 10 days. 

Even once you go back to work, you might not feel 100% back to normal. Usually, there are some activities that you’ll need to continue to avoid for a few more weeks after the initial surgery. For example, you’ll be asked to avoid exercise, including swimming, for about a month after rhinoplasty. Knowing what you’ll be able to do, what you need to avoid, and for how long, can help you decide if rhinoplasty realistically fits into your life at the moment.

How Can You Tell if Your Expectations Are Realistic?

Even once you understand what rhinoplasty can change about your nose and what you can expect from the surgery and recovery process, it can still be difficult to say if you have realistic expectations for the procedure.

One way to determine if your expectations are realistic is to ask yourself what you hope to get from the surgery. In some cases, people (often subconsciously) look at rhinoplasty as a magic bullet, a cure-all procedure that will solve all of their problems. 

Rhinoplasty can change the size and shape of your nose and help you feel more confident about your appearance, but it won’t change your whole life. Rhinoplasty won’t necessarily lead to you getting a promotion or help you launch a career in Hollywood.  

What if You Aren’t Happy With Your Results?

In some cases, even if you have realistic expectations for your rhinoplasty, the results might not turn out as you had expected. There are many reasons people end up dissatisfied with their results. If you’re not happy, you do have options.

First, give it time. Your nose needs plenty of time to heal, and some swelling can linger for months after surgery. If a year has gone by and you’re still feeling unhappy, you might consider a revision procedure to try to improve the appearance of your nose. If you have realistic expectations and choose a skilled surgeon to perform your procedure, however, you are unlikely to need a revision. 

If you’re not sure if what you want from rhinoplasty is realistic or if you’d like more information on the surgery and what it can and can’t do, your best option is to schedule a consultation with a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon.

Dr. Naderi is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with 20+ years of experience and a strong surgical focus on rhinoplasty, including revision rhinoplasty. If you would like to learn more about rhinoplasty at the Naderi Center, call 703-481-0002 (Reston, VA) or 301-222-2020 (Chevy Chase, MD). You can also contact us online for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can rhinoplasty realistically change about my nose?

Rhinoplasty can make a nose smaller or larger, smooth a hump, refine a bulbous tip, lift a droopy tip, change the angle of the tip and narrow the nostrils. At your consultation, Dr. Naderi will tell you which of the changes you want are possible for your nose.

How long does it take to see final rhinoplasty results?

Some swelling can linger for months, so the final shape takes time to show. Dr. Naderi asks patients to wait at least a year after surgery before considering a revision.

How much time off work do I need after rhinoplasty?

Most patients need about a week off work. The nasal cast stays on for 5 to 10 days, and exercise, including swimming, waits about a month.

Is rhinoplasty done under general anesthesia?

Yes. Dr. Naderi performs rhinoplasty under general anesthesia, so you stay still and comfortable and he can work under the best operating conditions. The surgery itself takes about 2 hours.

What if I’m not happy with my rhinoplasty results?

First give your nose time to heal, since swelling can take months to settle. If you are still unhappy after a year, a revision rhinoplasty may be able to improve the result.