If you are unhappy with the size, shape or asymmetry of your nose, rhinoplasty can help improve your self-esteem and allow you to enjoy a more positive body image. While many people have a general idea about rhinoplasty, they are often surprised to learn some of the elements behind this popular plastic surgery procedure.

Here are some surprising facts that you should keep in mind if you are considering rhinoplasty for cosmetic or medical reasons.

1. Rhinoplasty enjoys a growing popularity

Rhinoplasty remains one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. According to the annual report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 200,000 men and women opted for rhinoplasty in 2016 alone. It is estimated that this number is close to 100,000 per year in Turkey. In fact, rhinoplasty is becoming more and more popular among both women and men for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons are as follows:

• Rising social acceptance of the procedure, increased likelihood of having someone who has had this surgery among your relatives and friends
• Enhanced self-confidence and social and emotional satisfaction after surgery.
• Repairing of visible medical structural damage in the nose that impairs quality of life.
• Improved quality of life and sleep quality after the correction of respiratory problems.

2. Rhinoplasty has been around longer than you think

Although the popularity of rhinoplasty has been on the rise in the last decade, this procedure has been available for more than 2500 years. Undoubtedly, advances in medical technology have significantly modernized today’s rhinoplasty results and recovery.

However, there is surprising evidence that many surgical techniques similar to those used today were also used by physicians in ancient civilizations to repair noses cut or damaged in battle.

3. Surgical techniques are different for men and women

Since men and women have different physical characteristics and generally have different requests, the rhinoplasty (nose job) techniques for men and women are also different. While men tend to go for straighter angles and a more masculine shape, women generally prefer softer lines and a more feminine look. To help you have a healthy, natural and balanced appearance, we tailor the rhinoplasty design according to the needs of each patient.

4. Rhinoplasty is not just cosmetic

Although many people think of rhinoplasty as a purely cosmetic procedure, there are a number of medical reasons that cause most of our patients to consider having this procedure. For instance, a displacement in the middle cartilage wall of the nose (septal deviation) may cause respiratory problems and sleep apnea. Enlarged nasal concha may lead to similar complaints as well. These complaints can be resolved during rhinoplasty. People who have had a trauma that changed their nose aesthetics or function may undergo rhinoplasty to restore the normal shape and function of the nose. Most curvatures in the nose occur due to traumatic causes, but sometimes this cause may date back to an earlier instant when the patient cannot even remember.

5. Your voice will not change

Despite a common myth about rhinoplasty, this procedure will not change your voice as long as you work with a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon. It’s true that rhinoplasty often involves removing or reshaping the soft tissue and bone surrounding your nose, but when done properly, these changes shouldn’t affect your voice. To choose the right plastic surgeon, look at the institutions they are trained at, their qualification certificates, their accreditation and their memberships to respected medical societies as well as their before and after photos.

6. Rhinoplasty is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution

Bringing some photos to your rhinoplasty consultation can help you achieve your goals more clearly, but it’s important to keep in mind that your nose will not look exactly like that of the celebrity or model in the photos.  You will still look like yourself, only reinforced.

Having realistic expectations about your rhinoplasty is one of the first steps before your procedure.  This is something you should discuss with your plastic surgeon during consultation to make sure you want rhinoplasty for the right reasons.

7. Recovery is mild

The recovery period for rhinoplasty is not as extensive as you might think. Although each person will recover at a relatively different pace, most people can return to work and normal daily activities within two weeks after surgery. You will need to have a small cast for 1 week after rhinoplasty, but most plastic surgeons now very rarely use cloth tampons that penetrate deep into the nose and give patients nightmares, making the healing process much more comfortable.

8. You should avoid taking certain medications

As with most other cosmetic procedures, you will need to avoid taking certain medications that thin your blood about 2 weeks before and a few weeks after your rhinoplasty. This is because these drugs can increase the risk of complications during surgery and may also cause bruising.

Some drugs you should avoid during this period are as follows:

• Pain relievers, including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen
• Blood thinners such as coumadin and clexane
• John’s wort and other herbal remedies
• Vitamin E supplement

9. Prepare to sleep with lots of pillows

When you come home after rhinoplasty, you will need to keep your head elevated to minimize fluid buildup and swelling. It is recommended that your head rest on 2 pillows while you sleep, so you may want to prepare a recovery space with lots of fluffy pillows and blankets to make your recovery as comfortable as possible.

10. Revision surgery can correct previous rhinoplasty

If you have had rhinoplasty in the past but are unhappy with your results, you may choose to have revision surgery to correct the problem. Just be sure to carefully select the right plastic surgeon and set realistic goals to help you get the best possible outcome.

11. The goal is to achieve a natural look

During the developmental stage, many patients have misconceptions about rhinoplasty. They are not wrong, because early rhinoplasty has disappointed many patients. The aim of rhinoplasty is not to make you look like someone else or to create a “made” or fake look. Indeed, people prefer this procedure to highlight their natural beauty and change the size, shape or asymmetry of their noses to create a natural look that looks proportional to their facial features.

12. Choosing an experienced plastic surgeon is essential

Although rhinoplasty can produce quite flawless and natural-looking results, this procedure requires advanced surgical techniques and mastery to create a balanced look. Therefore, it is important to carefully select a plastic surgeon who focuses on this type of procedure and has sufficient experience.

13. Results will appear gradually over time

Although most people can resume their normal daily activities within two weeks after rhinoplasty, your ultimate results will not appear overnight. Rather, they will come about gradually over the next few months, and it may take up to 18-24 months on average to see the ultimate result.