Top 10 Things to Discuss During Your Rhinoplasty Consultation

In order to be a suitable candidate for rhinoplasty, there are a few things you need to consider. There are also some things you should know before your meeting with your nose job surgeon.

It is crucial that you are fully open and honest with the surgeon about everything. Your doctor will ask about any past operations, medicines you are currently taking or have previously taken, existing drug or anesthesia allergies, consumption of alcohol, nicotine, or other substances, nutrition, etc. It is up to you to give your surgeon truthful and reliable info. A less-than-ideal result or even worse might be the consequence of you lying about any of these.

If your face has now stopped growing and you are in good physical health, you could be a good candidate for rhinoplasty. You should ideally not smoke and have attainable goals in mind for your upcoming treatment.

If this fits you, keep reading for more advice on what questions you should ask your surgeon during your rhinoplasty appointment.

1. Education and training

Request that your surgeon kindly shares his credentials such as training, certification, and overall experience. Where did they receive their training, what certifications do they have, and how long have they been practicing rhinoplasty? It is advised to do more research on your surgeon's credentials following your appointment because there are numerous certifications available for plastic surgeons.

2. Experience performing the procedure

Inquire about the number of rhinoplasties and total surgeries your doctor has performed over the course of his career. Ask about your surgeon's success rate, including how many corrections have been necessary and what percentage of patients are satisfied with the results. How many revisions result in satisfied patients? You may also think about finding out how many rhinoplasty treatments they perform on a weekly or monthly basis, as well as what proportion of all surgeries they undertake are rhinoplasty rather than other types. This can help you understand how frequently your surgeon conducts the same procedure and illustrate how well-honed their rhinoplasty skills are.

3. Revision policy

Learn about your surgeon's revision policy if the end result is not what you were hoping for. It's critical to be clear about this since one surgeon could provide a free revision rhinoplasty if you're not completely satisfied with the results for various reasons, but another surgeon would only offer revisions under limited circumstances. Ask about the turnaround time for revisions as well. How much time must pass following your procedure before you may request a revision?

4. Topics directly related to you

You should discuss with your surgeon how the ethnicity of the patient influenced the outcome of the previous surgeries performed by a specialist. Is your surgeon more interested in men's or women's nose jobs, or do they have similar success and experience with both genders? If you want to have more cosmetic surgeries, inquire with your surgeon if the time is ideal for a nose job and how your current rhinoplasty may affect any future procedures.

5. Rhinoplasty techniques

Ask about some of the techniques your surgeon uses during rhinoplasty treatments. Specifically, ask whether they employ less invasive methods to lessen scarring. The choice between an open and closed rhinoplasty and the method your surgeon will employ for your treatment are other things to discuss with your doctor and investigate on your own. Both open and closed rhinoplasty are surgical procedures that are used to reshape the nasal tip.

While closed rhinoplasty entails all incisions being made inside the nose, open rhinoplasty procedures are done through an incision along the columella, which is the soft tissue between your nostrils. In general, each approach has its advantages and downsides. Some noses are better suited to closed procedures than others and vice versa. The optimal approach for your nose will be used during your treatment based on your specific anatomy, and your surgeon should be confident using both.

6. Expected results

Discuss openly what to anticipate from your surgery and any complications. As was already mentioned, it is crucial that you have realistic expectations for how your treatment will turn out. Your doctor has to hear all of your expectations in order to validate their plausibility or to correct those that may not be quite realistic or even achievable at all. Before deciding to proceed with the treatment, pay close attention to what your surgeon has to say and modify your expectations accordingly.

Also, ask about the potential consequences of your procedure's failure and its likelihood. Serious problems are extremely rare, but minor problems do occasionally occur. The unique structure of your face and your medical history may increase the risk or have a negative impact on the end result. Before having your procedure, be honest with your surgeon, pay careful attention to what they say, and make sure you are completely at ease with any potential issues.

7. Recovery process

Ask detailed questions about how your nose job will heal. Will the healing process hurt? What kinds of drugs will you be taking? How much time will you have to miss from work or school? What kinds of exercises must you put off, and for how long? Should you refrain from flying or traveling? How will the nose job healing process impact your daily activities? Can you wear contact lenses or glasses right away after the procedure? A recovery schedule and what to anticipate in the hours, days, and weeks following your surgery must be carefully outlined by your surgeon. If you choose to undergo a rhinoplasty, be sure to carefully adhere to your surgeon's recommendations to get the best results.

8. Before and after photos

Ask your surgeon to walk you through the before-and-after photos. Viewing before and after photos of the surgeries will teach you a lot about rhinoplasty while also revealing more about your surgeon, such as how enthusiastic and patient-focused they are about their work. Make sure to ask them for examples of noses that are equivalent to your own in terms of both similarities to your current nose and similarity to the results you might expect.

9. Testimonials

It will be comforting for you to hear what previous rhinoplasty patients who have worked with your surgeon have to say because it gives you concrete evidence of that surgeon's skills. Request written testimonials from your surgeon, ideally with before and after photos. Request permission to speak with one or two patients directly to learn more about their experience undergoing the procedure. It is uncommon for a skilled surgeon not to have at least one or two previous patients who are willing to speak with a current one. Any surgeon who doesn't provide at least one patient with whom you can speak should be avoided.

10. Financing options and cost

It's critical to know the overall costs of your future treatment. Make sure that your surgeon is explicit about what is and is not included in their quote, such as secondary procedures, diagnostic testing, post-operative exams, and so on.