The gossip columns both online and in the tabloids tantalize readers with tales of nose jobs; who had them and when. However, nose jobs are probably more common than you might think. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nose reshaping is the second most common facial surgery and in 2009 alone, Rhinoplasty was performed on more than 250,000 people. Why is the nose job one of the most common procedures? It may have to do with the prominence of the nose in relation to facial symmetry.
Because the face is generally the first thing that other people see the nose plays an important part in appearance.
Rhinoplasty is performed to change an undesirable shape, correct a birth defect, or repair an injury. The nose job, while common, is still a delicate operation that requires careful planning and precise technique. It is considered by many in the medical field to be one of the most complex operations in cosmetic surgery. Medically, a nose job can correct a deviated septum or alleviate a myriad of other breathing problems. In the case of medical necessity, insurance will usually cover all or part of the procedure costs. Very often, the nose can be aesthetically improved in conjunction with a medically necessary procedure. Therefore, it may qualify for insurance coverage.
Because a quarter of a million procedures are performed annually, there is a good chance that you may have had a nose job done in the past. And, like any other service, some patients are unhappy with their results. Fortunately there is a procedure that is specifically designed to repair a poorly done nose job. It is called a revision Rhinoplasty. As the name says, it revises a previously done nose job that may have been inadequately performed or the patient was discouraged by the results. The revision procedure can be tricky because the surgeon must undo previous work while simultaneously accomplishing the revision.
Nose jobs are an extremely common procedure within the realm of plastic surgery and, as discussed, there are many types. Whether you are considering an aesthetic or medically necessary rhinoplasty, it might be a comfort to know that there are hundreds of thousands of people just like you across the nation thinking about the same thing!
