Introduction

While other plastic surgery techniques are more generally performed to simply improve the appearance of a particular body part, rhinoplasty, or a nose job, can actually improve the function of the nose and improve a person's ability to breathe. However, aesthetics is probably the most common reason why rhinoplasty is performed today, and with the advancements in nasal refinement techniques it is now possible to shape your nose similar to your favorite actor or actress' nose. While nose jobs are safer and more common then they were several decades ago, there are still risks involved and limitations to what rhinoplasty can accomplish.

Do You Really Need a Nose Job?

There are three basic reasons why people elect to have rhinoplasty. The first reason is that they have a structural defect that is preventing them from breathing properly. This defect could have been caused by a genetic malformation or because of a traumatic injury to the nose that broke, cracked, or shifted the internal cartilage of the nose and blocked the air passage. If you have a structural problem that is preventing you from breathing properly, then surgery may be a necessary health treatment. To determine if nasal surgery is right for your condition you will need to talk with your doctor to see if there are alternative ways to correct your problem or if your only option for improving your breathing is to have surgery.

The second reason for electing to have rhinoplasty is because of a deformation of the internal and/or external structures of the nose. These deformations can be caused by genetic mutations, severe trauma to the face, burning, cancer, or exposure to toxic substances. A deformation anywhere on the body will impact a person's self image, their self-esteem, and their ability to fit into society. To help improve the physical appearance of a person who has been deformed by some acting agent, a skilled plastic surgeon can be enlisted to help remove damaged tissue, or excessive tissue, and then sculpt a new, more normal appearing nose with stronger more attractive internal nasal structures. While rhinoplasty may not solve all emotional issues that a person who has lived with a deformity has, it will help to give them the opportunity to experience a more normal life by reducing or eliminating the physical barriers that had previous been the source of their emotional and/or physical pain.

The final reason why people elect to have rhinoplasty is simply to change the way their nose looks. Motivation for this type of surgery is often based on the person's desire to refine their nose to reflect current trends in beauty. For example, women may get a nose job so that they look more like a movie star, television star, or popular musician. The expectations of this category of rhinoplasty candidates really need to be evaluated and addressed before surgery is scheduled to ensure that they don't have unrealistic expectations of what the surgeon will be able to do, and to ensure that the candidate is psychologically stable enough to handle the surgery and their subsequent transformation. People with obsessions, body image disorders, and who are addicted to plastic surgery may in fact be turned down for a procedure because it will either reinforce the psychologically damaging behavior, or it will result in the physical harm of the patient by increasing the chance that the nasal structures will collapse, or because it will result in the deformation of the patient. It is critically important to remember when considering plastic surgery that individual safety, health, and emotional well being are all key issues that should be factored into any decision regarding elective surgery.