Rhinoplasty is basically plastic surgery designed to reshape and position the nose. It is a very safe and very popular procedure that can create long-lasting satisfaction and increased self confidence. You may be a good candidate for this surgery if your want to adjust the size or shape of your nose, including reshaping the tip, increase the height of the bridge, and reducing the proportional size to match your face.

You may not be an ideal candidate for rhinoplasty if you have unrealistic expectations about the boundaries and results of this procedure. Surgeons can only work with what you have-they cannot create something from nothing.

Preparation for this type of plastic surgery includes discussing your medical history with your surgeon, as well as having a physical examination performed to determine your general health. Your surgeon will also take a series of photographs of your nose from many different perspectives in order to pinpoint exactly what you want to change and to have "before" shots to compare to the "after" ones.

The procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on how extensive the surgery will be. Most often is carried out in an outpatient facility, meaning that there is no overnight hospital stay required.

The plastic surgeon will make incisions inside the nostrils once the anesthesia kicks in, working to shave down or build up the bone, and reshaping the cartilage at the tip as desired. The entire process can take up to three hours, but the simplest nose plastic surgeries can be done in as little as one hour.

After the rhinoplasty is complete, there will be some bruising and plenty of swelling. You will be instructed to rest with your head above the level of your chest in order to reduce bleeding and swelling. Your nose will be packed with gauze at the end of the surgery to help support the new shape as it heals. The gauze is typically removed anywhere from one to seven days post plastic surgery. You will also have a nose splint to protect your nose from injury for the first week or so.

You will probably be able to return to work after the first week, although your nose may still be swollen and very tender. You should hold off on strenuous exercise for several weeks after rhinoplasty. You should also refrain from putting on eyeglasses or sunglasses for entire month after the surgery.

Although the swelling and bruising will subside significantly within the first several weeks or months after your procedure, in some cases you may not be able to see the final results of your rhinoplasty until a full year post-op. Satisfaction with nose surgery is very high which is why it is one of the cosmetic surgeries rising so quickly in popularity.