The Nose Surgery Procedure

Nose Surgery

Procedure Description

Your nose surgery - What to expect during the procedure

Where will my nose surgery be performed?

Nose surgery is usually performed in a hospital or surgicenter. Surgicenters, or outpatient surgery centers, are used when patients are in and out of the facility the same day. In some cases, procedures are performed in the doctor's office. (Some plastic surgeons have fully equipped surgery suites in their offices or in the same building as their office.)

If your medical insurance is paying for the cost of your surgery, the insurance company's policies may dictate where your nose surgery is performed.

Incision & Surgery

Incisions for rhinoplasty and septoplasty are usually made on the inside of the nose. The incision provides access to the bone and cartilage, while maintaining the delicate mucosal lining of the nose. The internal incision also prevents visible scarring.

Some surgeons utilize an "open" technique, where a small incision is make across the base of the nose known as the "columella." The columella is the vertical strip of tissue that separates the nostrils. This "open" procedure may result in a small scar on the underside of the nose. The scar is usually very fine and will fade over time.

After the incision, the mucosal lining of the nose is then elevated, and the surgeon can work on reshaping the bone and septum. Septal cartilage and bone is trimmed to improve the deviation of the septum. The deviated portion of the septum may be partially removed. A portion of the septum must be kept in order to maintain the outside appearance of the nose.

Depending on the complexity of the operation, the surgery should be complete in about two hours.