The nose occupies the central part of the face and is the most prominent component in the face. Hence, it has an overbearing influence on the balance and beauty of a face. A nose that is out of proportion can seriously affect facial beauty.
“The art and science of altering the appearance of the nose to enhance facial aesthetics” are called Rhinoplasty. The surface appearance of the nose is the result of certain lines, proportions and ‘light play’ (shadows & reflections resulting due to incident light). This appearance is linked to underlying anatomic structures i.e. the bone & cartilages that form the framework of the nose. Altering this framework changes the surface appearance of the nose.
Planning a Rhinoplasty starts with a detailed assessment of surface aesthetics and functional assessment of the nose.
During the consultation, a detailed history of the patient is taken. An effort is made to understand the aesthetic goals of the patient. This is followed by an assessment of nasal anatomy and function. Finally, aesthetic goals are set and changes to make during a Rhinoplasty are listed.
The patient is generally assessed clinically and by laboratory investigations for fitness for surgery. A large majority of the procedures are performed under general anesthesia, i.e. the patient is unconscious and unaware of the procedure being done. Once the anesthetic is administered, the surgeon starts by exposing the nasal framework and making the required changes to it.
