Am I a Good Candidate for a Nose Contouring?
As is the case with all cosmetic surgery, it is essential that one be in good health and have realistic expectations. The objective should not only be an ideal nose but a nose that achieves harmony with your other facial features.

During the planning stages a number of factors will be considered including, ethnic characteristics, age and whether your skin is thick or thin, oily or dry. It is essential that the candidate have a mature personality and that the nose be fully developed, which happens around 15-16 years of age. In situations that affect breathing, the surgery can be performed at younger ages. Your plastic surgeon may also recommend additional procedures like chin enhancement to achieve a better overall facial appearance.

Making an Informed Decision
Whether the surgical procedure is functional or cosmetic, your choice of a plastic surgeon is very important. Priority should be placed on choosing a surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery and has experience in cosmetic procedures. Your surgeon will explain in detail the risks involved and what you can expect after surgery. Pre-surgery planning with photographs can give you some idea of what the result will be. Your plastic surgeon will then inquire about your general health, the type of anesthesia that will be administered, which hospital the surgery will be performed at and how much it costs.

Surgery
Nose contouring or what in the medical practice is referred to as rhinoplasty is a re-shaping of the nose. Incisions are made on the inside of the nose to reach the cartilage and bones in the nose. Sometimes a 3mm incision is made in the cartilage between the nostrils. Then, the bone and cartilage can be removed or additions made to achieve the desired shape. For example, if the tip of the nose is wide, then cartilage at this point can be removed or the angle between the nose and the upper lip can be altered. At the end of the operation, the new roof of the nose will be covered with soft tissue and the incisions stitched up. In order to maintain the desired shape until the nose has completely healed, a cast or metal mold may be used. A small packing is placed in the nose to be removed as soon as possible.

Rhinoplasty patient, shown before surgery with large nose, nasal hump, enlarged tip and nose that hangs, slightly where it meets the upperlip.	Incisions are made on either side of the nose inside the nostril to provide access to cartilage and bone which can be cut and reshaped to alter the external appearance of the nose.
A nasal hump is removed using a rasp leaving the bridge flat and bones and cartilage spread Bones are then weakened at their base along the dotted line and brought together to form a narrower nasal bridge	To reduce the size of the nasal tip, cartilage in the shaded area is removed.
To improve the angle between the nose and upper lip, the nasal tip is elevated by trimming the septum.	A splint of tape and plastic overlay is applied to maintain the new shape o the bone and cartilage.
The postoperative patient with smaller nose a staight nasal bridge, smaller, better defined nasa tip and an improved angle between nose and upper lip.

Post-Surgery
The mold used to maintain the newly acquired shape will remain in place for 6-7 days. You will feel some swelling in your face the day after surgery. Pain in the nose is rare but even so pain-relievers may be recommended. You will experience some swelling and bruising especially around your eyes and a cold compress will help relieve this.

It is very important that you carefully follow the instructions given by your plastic surgeon. You should hold your head up for the first few days after the operation. You should cut back on exercise or activities that might result in a blow to the nose. If you are using heavy glasses, then it is important that this weight does not rest on the bridge of your nose.

Post-surgery follow-up and observation plays an important role in healing. There will be two check-ups in the first week following surgery. Check-ups will continue once a month for the first three months and then once at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months. Of course, you should notify your surgeon immediately if anything abnormal occurs.

When performed by a skilled and experienced physician, customer satisfaction is very high but it is always possible to do minor touch-ups should that be desired. Patients who have had a regrettable experience should not despair. It is always possible to achieve a better result with cosmetic nose contouring.

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