How to Plan for a Rhinoplasty

You’ve never been happy about the way your nose looks. You’ve finally gotten to a point in your life when you feel that the time is right for rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, to change the appearance of your nose. Even if you’ve been thinking about rhinoplasty for years, it’s not a procedure you want to rush into.

It requires a bit of planning and preparation before the day of the surgery, as well as some planning and preparation for the recovery period after it. Here’s what you can do in the weeks and months leading up to your nose surgery to help it go smoothly and to help ensure you’re satisfied with the process from beginning to end.

Step 1: Schedule a Consultation With a Facial Plastic Surgeon

The first thing to do when planning rhinoplasty is to choose a surgeon to perform the procedure. There are a few things you want to look for when picking out a facial plastic surgeon.

First of all, you want to find someone who has plenty of experience performing rhinoplasties. Nasal surgery is a complex procedure. You’re trusting your looks and confidence to the surgeon who’s going to perform your nose job — you want to make sure you choose someone who knows what they are doing.

How can you tell if a facial plastic surgeon is a good pick? For one thing, they should be board certified in facial plastic surgery. For another thing, they should be able to show you ample evidence of their work and experience. Rhinoplasty surgeons who are worth their salt will have plenty of before and after photos of past patients to show you. They might even be able to show you pictures of patients who have noses or nasal concerns similar to yours and how rhinoplasty was able to help them.

Once you’ve found a surgeon who looks like a good match, schedule a consultation with them. The consultation is an opportunity for you to meet the surgeon in person, ask them questions relating to rhinoplasty and see if you like them.

During the consultation, the surgeon will also be evaluating you. They’re likely to ask about your past medical history, about your reasons for wanting rhinoplasty and what you hope to get from the surgery.

Step 2: Choose a Date for Your Rhinoplasty

If the surgeon checks out and if you decide to go ahead with the surgery, the next step is to pick a date for the procedure.

Ideally, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for the surgery and to rest up and recover afterward. Popular times for rhinoplasty tend to be during the months of August and December.

Some things to consider when choosing a date:

• Do you have any big events coming up? You want to give your nose plenty of time to heal and time for swelling to go down.
• Will you have people around to help you out during your recovery period? You might want to pick a time when the kids are in school, rather than at home most of the time and a time when your partner or spouse can provide plenty of support.
• Do you want to have rhinoplasty before an important event? Your surgeon can help you pick the ideal date so that your new nose will be ready and healed.

Step 3: Prep Your Home and Schedule for the Surgery

Once you’ve chosen a date, it’s time to start getting your home ready for the recovery period after your surgery. You’ll also want to clear your schedule and make arrangements for child care and other commitments. For example, if you have pets, you might consider hiring a pet sitter or boarding them during the first week or so after your surgery.

If you need to take time off from work, make sure you put your request in and have it approved before the big day. It’s often a good idea to request more time off than you think you will need. You can always go back to work early if you want.

Preparing your home for your recovery can include stocking your fridge and freezer with prepared, healthy meals or arranging to have a housekeeper or cook come by during your recovery to keep your home neat and to make meals for you.

Step 4: Get (and Follow) Pre-Op Instructions From Your Surgeon

After the consultation and once you’ve set a date, your surgeon is likely to give you a list of instructions to follow to help you get ready for surgery. It’s important that you follow their instructions closely, to help improve your surgical results and lower the risk of complications.

Some of the instructions your surgeon is likely to give you include:

• Avoid certain medications and supplements (let your surgeon know about any vitamins, supplements or meds you take during the consultation).
• Quit smoking and avoid tobacco products for a few weeks after surgery.
• Find someone to drive you to and from the surgery center.
• Fill any prescriptions your surgeon has given you before the rhinoplasty.
• Start fasting at midnight the night before your surgery.

Schedule Your Rhinoplasty Consultation With Dr. Becker Today

Dr. Daniel Becker, rhinoplasty expert from New Jersey, is the founder of the Becker Rhinoplasty Center. He’s been named a “Top Doctor” in Rhinoplasty five times by Philadelphia Magazine and was top-rated by US News and World Report. If you’ve been thinking about rhinoplasty for a while and are ready to take the next step, contact Dr. Becker to schedule your consultation today.