Rhinoplasty in Thousand Oaks,
Serving Los Angeles and Ventura County

Tell your surgeon about any medical problems you have, and any problems you may have had with surgery in the past. You should mention any previous nose surgery or nasal injury you may have had in the past, as well as any difficulty breathing or allergy symptoms. A history of bleeding problems, nausea with surgery and high blood pressure are all important to disclose to your surgeon because these are risk factors for post-surgical bleeding. Inform him what medications you take-both prescription and non-prescription (including herbs and dietary supplements). You will be told which medications to stop and which to take before surgery. Blood-thinning medication, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and Alleve must be stopped for 7 days before surgery. Finally, you must strictly follow the instructions about when to start fasting before surgery (usually at midnight). If you get sick or have any health issues in the days before surgery, please notify the office at once in case we have to postpone your operation.

The operation itself takes 2-4 hours depending on how extensive your deformity is. Most procedures are performed in the operating room. On the morning of surgery, your surgeon will answer any last-minute questions you may have and discuss the plan. He will tell you what to expect after surgery, and what type of splints you may require.

Some nasal reshaping procedures require using cartilage from another source (either the back of your ear or from your rib). If this is necessary, your surgeon will mark the incisions for harvesting the cartilage. These incisions can usually be hidden nicely in normal skin creases.

Rhinoplasty can be performed under “twilight” anesthesia or general anesthesia. Twilight anesthesia consists of intravenous sedation and pain medication that keeps you relaxed and sleepy during the surgery. In addition, the surgeon uses local anesthesia to numb the nose. General anesthesia involves going completely to sleep with a breathing tube in your throat. There is a slightly higher risk of nausea and vomiting after general anesthesia, however, both techniques are extremely safe. Your surgeon will discuss the anesthetic options with you before surgery.

A rhinoplasty procedure can be divided into a cosmetic portion and a functional portion. The functional aspect involves improving nasal breathing. Typically, this means modifying the nasal septum in some manner, termed a septoplasty. Some insurance companies may cover the septoplasty, but they will usually not cover the cosmetic rhinoplasty. This means that a portion of the costs will be paid for by insurance. There may still be a co-pay required. Coverage varies from carrier to carrier, and our insurance specialist will work closely with your insurance company to obtain coverage of your procedure.

In most cases, there will be a small splint on the outside of the nose. This splint should be kept dry and will be removed after a week. If a septoplasty is also performed, you may also have splints inside of your nose. These are usually removed after a few days.

Yes, nose reshaping can be done safely as an outpatient, and most patients will be able to go home the same day. Some patients may prefer to spend a night in the hospital if they have young children at home or live alone and do not have any help at home.

Pain from nose reshaping is usually minimal. It is the worst in the first 24 hours, but then it rapidly improves. It is impossible to predict a person’s pain level. If you have done well with surgery in the past, you will likely be fine after this surgery. Many patients have adequate pain control with extra-strength Tylenol. Our surgeons have a lot of experience treating pain, and have published scientific articles and written book chapters about anesthetics and pain control. They will do everything possible to minimize your pain, including using pain pumps after surgery and utilizing all the newest pain medication.

Swelling and bruising are normal signs of the healing process. They occur after any surgery to varying degrees. They are very common after rhinoplasty, especially if any work is done on the nasal bones. Swelling peaks at about 48 hours, and then slowly decreases. By the end of the first few weeks, a majority of the swelling is gone. By 6-8 weeks, most of the swelling has diminished. It can take 6 months and even longer for all the swelling to subside. Bruising is worse the day after surgery and then gets better. It is usually gone by two weeks. Liberal use of ice after surgery can help with swelling and bruising.

You can shower the day after surgery, but you should keep the splint dry until it is removed. You should not blow your nose, sneeze through your nose or bend over for the first few days after surgery. The majority of patients feel good enough to return to most activities after a few days. Strenuous activities such jogging, aerobics, weight-training, sit-ups, and sex should be avoided until 2 weeks after surgery.

Traveling after surgery (air travel, long distance car trips, train rides, etc) should not be done before you have had your first postoperative visit. Typically, this occurs 5-7 days after surgery for suture and splint removal. Patients who are at high risk for developing a blood clot should not travel until instructed by their surgeon. Short car trips under 60 minutes can be done before the first visit. A good rule of thumb is when you are off the stronger pain medication and can get up without assistance you are ready to go for a short drive. You should not drive the car yourself, however, until your surgeon gives you clearance for this.

This, of course, depends on the kind of work you do. Most people go back to work after a week. Sedentary jobs, such as computer work or talking on the phone can begin even sooner. If you have a strenuous job that involves a lot of lifting or physical activity, you may have to wait two weeks until you are ready for work. Please review the restrictions for further guidelines about getting back to work.

External scars from nose reshaping are not always necessary. The scars usually heal extremely well and are rarely visible at conversational distance. Scarring, however, is an unpredictable part of any surgery. It is impossible to cut through the full thickness of the skin and not have a scar. Our surgeons have published numerous scientific papers about the scarring process and wound healing, and will do everything possible to minimize scarring. To a large extent, however, scarring is determined by your genetics. If you are prone to hypertrophic (wide, raised) scars or keloids, make sure to inform your surgeon ahead of time. Our surgeons will use all the available techniques to minimize your scars based on their extensive research experience on hypertrophic scarring.

Your scars will be firm and pink for at least six weeks. After six weeks, scars are very strong and can withstand any activity. Then they may remain the same size for several months, or even appear to widen. After several months, your scars will begin to fade, although they will never disappear completely. It takes about six months for a scar to completely heal.

The Kryger Institute welcomes calls from patients. If you have any concerns at any time, please feel free to call our office. If it is an emergency, the answering service is available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. There is always a plastic surgeon on call. Your surgeon will discuss all the risks and potential complications with you before surgery. You will receive detailed instructions about situations that warrant a call to the office.