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Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery that reshapes the nose. It is one of the most common procedures done by plastic surgeons, with nearly a half million rhinoplasties performed in the United States every year. The primary objective of this surgery, when it is done for cosmetic purposes, is to bring symmetry to the patient’s face.

The nose is the prominent facial feature. When it is out of proportion or has other unattractive features the face appears to be out of balance. Restoring symmetry to the face through rhinoplasty can improve the profile, eliminate bumps, humps or depressions on the bridge of the nose, reduce the tip of the nose, reshape the nostrils and alter the angle of the nose.

During the procedure the surgeon will make incisions inside the nose to provide access to the bone and cartilage that will be sculpted. In some cases, it is necessary to make an incision on the band of skin that separates the nostrils. The skin is pulled back and sculpting begins. The cartilage on the tip of the nose may be sculpted to reshape or reduce size or the angle of the nose may be altered to correct a distortion. It is also common to reduce the width at the bridge of the nose and alter the size and shape of the nostrils. Not all of the procedures can be done on every patient.

Once the surgeon has finished nose reshaping , the skin is draped back over the cartilage and bone and sutured closed. A splint will be used to help keep the new shape in place while the nose heals. Nasal supports that allow the patient to breathe through the nose may also be placed in the nostrils to keep the septum stable during the healing process. The presence of visible scarring will depend on the type of rhinoplasty performed.