Rhinoplasty surgery is the process of changing the outer appearance of the nose. The aim of the operation should be to achieve a natural appearance as well as reaching to an aesthetically satisfactory result for both the doctor and the rhinoplasty candidate. Since septum deviation is also present in a significant number of people who apply for rhinoplasty, it is a natural expectation that these surgeries provide functional improvement.

After which age the rhinoplasty should be performed?
In general, 16 years of age and older is suitable. However, this surgery can be performed at an earlier age due to severe disorders and traumas.

Preoperative evaluation
In order to achieve a successful result, the rhinoplasty surgeon should take a detailed story and understand the patient's problems and wishes well. It should be detailed what features of the nose you do not like and what you want to have as a result of the surgery.

The interview should be repeated twice if possible, and if the expectations of the person do not match what the doctor can do, the surgery should be discontinued. The presence of anxiety disorder and depression is not a definite obstacle for rhinoplasty. However, it would be appropriate to treat it before surgery. Dysmorphic personality disorder (the person's dissatisfaction with his/her own body) will be the cause of postoperative unhappiness for both the patient and the surgeon, so these people are not suitable for surgery.

Physical examination starts with the observation of the outside of the nose and the detection of existing external problems by touching by hand. The patient should be shown the defects detected in front of the mirror and the solutions should be explained. Then, the nasal cavities are examined in detail, including endoscopic evaluation. Imaging methods are not required except in cases where anatomical abnormalities are observed in the nose.

After the examination, photoshoots should be taken from six angles. In an accurate photo pose, the hairline, chin, and ears should be located within the shooting frame. Photos should be angled from the front, from the bottom, from both sides, from both sides. In addition, poses can be added from above while laughing and especially on curved noses.

What should be considered in the preparation for surgery?
It is important that the candidate for rhinoplasty shares all the medications he/she uses with his/her doctor. If it is under control with medication, high blood pressure or diabetes is not an obstacle to surgery. If blood thinners are used, they should be discontinued or replaced in consultation with the following doctor. Smoking is a negative factor for both the surgery and the postoperative recovery process. It is the doctor's choice not to operate on regular smokers.

It should be waited for a week in upper respiratory tract infections such as colds and flu. If there is herpes or aphtha in the mouth, it should be waited until it is deflated. Because these situations are an indicator of low immunity.

6-8 hours of fasting before surgery is sufficient. Shower can be taken in the evening before the surgery, and makeup on the face should be avoided when coming to the surgery room.

What Should be Considered After the Surgery?
After the surgery, there is a hard support plate made of different materials on the nose. In this way, measures are taken against swelling and blood congestion under the skin. During the awakening phase, care should be taken that the patient does not take his/her hand to his/her nose. When the patient is taken from the recovery room to his/her own room, the head should be tilted up thirty degrees, on his/her back, and ice should be applied on the face. Today, mask-shaped gels are also an alternative for cold application to the face. Cold application has no effect after 48 hours.

Antibiotic use is generally preferred for 5-7 days after surgery. It is normal to have pain in the first days and responds to painkillers. On the first day of surgery, juicy foods and soup should be preferred, and foods that require chewing should be avoided. It should be kept in mind that alcohol and smoking will have negative effects on recovery and increase the risk of complications in the post-surgical period.

Nasal dorsum skin remains closed for a long time due to binding, and there are changes due to this. After the bandage is opened, the skin should be cleaned with moisturizing solution and creams until it looks normal.

Do not lie face down for three weeks after the surgery, do not carry heavy loads for a month, do not do heavy physical exercises. However, five or seven days after the surgery, air travel can be done in consultation with your doctor. All kinds of glasses should not be used for eight or twelve weeks, and the corrective lenses should be preferred.

Post-surgery tissue healing lasts between six months and one year, while it varies from person to person. Functional evaluation should be done in the third month and aesthetic evaluation should be done in the sixth month.

Note: The above information was compiled from the book "Current Nose and Sinus Surgery", of which editorship was conducted by Prof. Dr. Selim Sermed Erbek. It is for purpose of informing the patients and patients should consult an Otorhinolaryngologist for diagnosis and treatment details.