American Society of Plastic Surgeons
For Medical Professionals
 

Rhinoplasty

Nose Surgery

Rhinoplasty, sometimes referred to as a "nose job" by patients, enhances facial harmony and the proportions of your nose.

View this content in Español

What are the steps of a rhinoplasty procedure?

Rhinoplasty surgery includes the following steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The incision

Rhinoplasty is performed either using a closed procedure, where incisions are hidden inside the nose, or an open procedure, where an incision is made across the columella, the narrow strip of tissue that separates the nostrils.

Through these incisions, the skin that covers the nasal bones and cartilages is gently raised, allowing access to reshape the structure of the nose.

Open rhinoplasty incision across the columella

Step 3 – Reshaping the nose structure

An overly large nose may be reduced by removing bone or cartilage. Sometimes surgery of the nose may require the addition of cartilage grafts.

Most commonly, cartilage from the septum, the partition in the middle of the nose, is used for this purpose. Occasionally cartilage from the ear or rarely a section of rib cartilage can be used.

Step 4 – Correcting a deviated septum

If the septum is deviated, it can be straightened and the projections inside the nose reduced to improve breathing.

Step 5 – Closing the incision

Once the underlying structure of the nose is sculpted to the desired shape, nasal skin and tissue is redraped and incisions are closed.

Additional incisions may be placed in the natural creases of the nostrils to alter their size.

Step 6 – See the results

For a few days, splints and gauze packing may support the nose as it begins to heal. Get more information about rhinoplasty results.

Rhinoplasty before and after



Logo

Surgeons In Your Area

Shlomo Widder Headshot

Shlomo Widder, MD

8230 Leesburg Pike Suite 630
Vienna, VA 22182-2641

(703) 506-0300

Amir Ghaznavi Headshot

Amir Ghaznavi, MD

13454 Sunrise Valley Dr STE 130
Herndon, VA 20171

(703) 239-3190

Munique Maia Headshot

Munique Maia, MD

8100 Boone Boulevard, Suite 730
Tysons Corner, VA 22182

(703) 574-4500

Fadi Nukta Headshot

Fadi Nukta, MD

20745 Williamsport Pl Suite 100
Ashburn, VA 20147

(703) 574-2588

Phillip Chang Headshot

Phillip Chang, MD

19500 Sandridge Way Suite 350
Lansdowne, VA 20176

(703) 729-5553

Erica Anderson Headshot

Erica Anderson, MD

1850 Town Center Parkway Pavilion II Suite 551
Reston, VA 20190

(703) 481-0002

Navin Singh Headshot

Navin Singh, MD

7601 Lewinsville Rd. Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102

(703) 3454377

Reza Miraliakbari Headshot

Reza Miraliakbari, MD

8501 Arlington Boulevard Suite 310
Fairfax, VA 22031

(703) 645-0077

Logo

Patient Care Center