A recent study published on Healio highlighted one of the best features of rhinoplasty: it has the ability to improve a patient’s nose both from a cosmetic and functional standpoint. Rhinoplasty, also known as nose reshaping surgery, has been around for decades and was once thought to be only for patients who wanted to change how their nose looked. Today, however, a significant portion of rhinoplasty patients opt to have the surgery so that the function of their nose can be restored to a healthy state.
How Rhinoplasty Reshapes Your Nose
Your nose consists of both bone and cartilage, which allow it to be stable and flexible at the same time. In rhinoplasty surgery, the bone and cartilage can be reduced, repositioned, or reshaped to change how they are structured. This is turn helps change how the nose operates on the inside and appears on the outside. Some rhinoplasty patients only require functional corrections, others only need cosmetic fixes, and some need both. Whatever your nose needs, rhinoplasty is an excellent choice for surgery.
How Rhinoplasty Improves Nasal Function
The function of your nose can be impacted by external or internal problems, though usually the primary issue comes from inside the nose. Poor nasal function can also be the result of trauma, usually from an injury or accident, or from your genetic coding.
The most common problems with the function of the nose are a result of a deviated septum, which is the cartilage that separates the left and right sides of your nose. When the septum is straight and strong, it helps channel air through your nasal passages and right down to your lungs. It also acts as a foundation to the rest of your nasal cartilage by anchoring to the nasal bones. However, if the septum is not straight or strong, the flow of air becomes hindered which can make it harder for your to breathe normally. This can affect your ability to exercise or sleep, leading to a decrease in your overall health.
Other common nasal function problems include enlarged turbinates (shelves of bone responsible for warming and filtering the air as you breathe), a collapsed nasal valve (regulates the rate of air flow and maintains proper air filtration), or the growth of nasal polyps (masses of cells that can grow inside your nasal passages and block air flow). Rhinoplasty can help all these problems so that you can breathe properly and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
How Rhinoplasty Improves Nasal Appearance
Many people are unhappy with how their nose looks because it draws negative attention to their face. The nose is the most central feature and any oddity can throw off how the rest of the features appear. This is one of the reasons why rhinoplasty is among the top five cosmetic procedures for both men and women across the world.
Cosmetic changes to the nose are more varied because every patient’s nose looks a little different depending on their age, gender, race, and genetic coding. However, when rhinoplasty patients are looking to change how their nose looks, generally that involves altering the bridge, tip, or alar base.
The bridge of the nose should ideally be straight, smooth, and well-defined without overpowering the rest of the patient’s facial features. A bridge that is too high makes the nose look overly prominent while a bridge that is too low causes the nose to blend in with the rest of the face. When the bridge has bumps or dents, the irregularities draw too much attention to the nose.
The tip of the nose can have similar effects on the way the nose appears. If the tip points up too far, the nostrils are more visible and gives the person a more pig-like nose. If the tip points down too far, the nose can appear hooked or slightly droopy. The shape of the tip is important, too. A overly round or pointy tip draws all the attention to the end of the nose.
The alar base helps determine the width and shape of the nostrils and the nose as a whole. If the base is too wide, the nose appears flatter and less defined. The nostrils are also wider and prone to flaring. If the base is too narrow, the nose can seem overly pointed and stick out more from the face.
The Ideal Nose
There’s no such thing as a cookie cutter nose; every person has a different face and requires a different nose. However, it is possible to have a nose that is both characteristic in its own right while still maintaining a proper balance with the rest of the face. You want a nose that looks natural and complements your appearance, plus one that functions properly so you can breathe easily and stay healthy.
A skilled rhinoplasty surgeon can help you achieve your ideal nose using functional and/or cosmetic rhinoplasty. Dr. Todd Hobgood in Scottsdale, AZ has over twelve years of experience with rhinoplasty surgery and has helped hundreds of patients improve the function and appearance of their noses. To schedule a rhinoplasty consultation with Dr. Hobgood, call (480) 214-9955 or reach him via email through the Contact Us page on our website.
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