Dr. Zahi Abou Chacra graduated from McGill University School of Medicine and University of Montreal in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Zahi Abou Chacra, MD is double board-certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He also works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Montreal. In the following article, Zahi Abou Chacra delves into the realms of aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty, shedding light on the essential criteria that guides patients towards these transformative procedures.
Thinking about getting a nose job? The same question has been
asked for over 2,500 years.
When 6th century BC Indian physician Sushruta wrote what’s considered one of the earliest books on surgery and medicine, the “Sushruta Samhita,” it included instructions on nasal reconstructions.
Zahi Abou Chacra explains that the purpose and appeal of rhinoplasty surgery has never vanished. It has remained highly popular both as a cosmetic option for one’s appearance or out of medical necessity, such as alleviating breathing issues or fixing serious nasal damage.
One of the first modern descriptions of rhinoplasty seemed to cover both main motivations for surgery. In 1887, Michigan doctor John Orlando Roe addressed rhinoplasty surgery in his paper “Correction of the pug deformity.”
Today, rhinoplasty is the most common of all facial plastic surgeries, with about 220,000 procedures performed each year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. But it’s not for everyone. Here’s what to keep in mind when considering rhinoplasty.
Dr. Zahi Abou Chacra Discusses What Actually Happens During Rhinoplasty
Generally speaking, rhinoplasty is surgery that changes the shape of the nose. It is commonly performed to improve a patient’s breathing, fix an injury, address a birth defect, or alter its appearance, often to reflect the taste and desire of the patient.
During rhinoplasty, the cartilage, and bone of the nose are surgically altered.
Good Candidates for Rhinoplasty
Dr. Zahi Abou Chacra says that there are many different types of rhinoplasty procedures, so it’s important to consult with a knowledgeable surgeon about one’s interest in the surgery as well as post-surgical expectations. As with all cosmetic surgeries, some patients are better candidates than others when it comes to rhinoplasty.
Consulting with a qualified rhinoplasty specialist is the best way to determine if rhinoplasty is a viable option in the first place, as well as to get a good understanding of what will take place during, and following surgery.
Zahi Abou Chacra, MD explains that facial plastic surgeons typically agree that a
good candidate for rhinoplasty is someone who is considered physically healthy, and psychologically prepared to undergo a cosmetic surgery. Dr. Zahi Abou Chacra generally operates on female patients from the age of 16 and male patients as old as 18.
Facial plastic surgeons agree that patients with realistic aesthetic goals surrounding rhinoplasty generally experience a higher level of patient satisfaction post-operatively.
Rhinoplasty surgeons also consider an individual’s medical history, including a list of all supplements and medications presently being used. Good candidates for rhinoplasty are also those who are not pregnant or nursing. Most of this screening process is meant to avoid complications with anesthesia. Certain tests, such as blood panels or other, may be requested to determine candidacy for rhinoplasty. A physical exam is also necessary to determine if someone is a good candidate for cosmetic or functional rhinoplasty.
Though the evaluation that takes place prior to a rhinoplasty surgery is broken down into many steps, the healing process is usually rather quick and easy. Rhinoplasty patients tend to return to school, work, and other regular day-to-day activities in the first 7-10 days following surgery.
Risks include, but are not limited to, bleeding post-operatively, infection, and some temporary symptoms, such as edema, or swelling, which improve and dissipate over the course of the first few weeks following surgery.
How Rhinoplasty Can Help
Rhinoplasty isn’t just about changing the appearance of the nose, though this remains one of the top motivators for the procedure.
Zahi Abou Chacra says that rhinoplasties can correct nasal asymmetry (though most faces are asymmetrical to some degree) or help improve breathing. It can reshape nostrils one feels are too wide or large, or a tip of the nose that is either “hooked,” “drooping,” or too upturned. Rhinoplasty can also help patients achieve enhanced facial balance and change a nose’s profile if there are depressions or noticeable humps along the bridge.
Rhinoplasties are particularly useful in correcting a deviated septum that is obstructing one’s airway. A deviated septum is a common cause of impaired breathing. Rhinoplasty can adjust the overall structure of the nose to create better alignment, thus correcting a patient’s breathing passages to allow for better airflow.
Risks
Zahi Abou Chacra, MD explains that any surgery comes with potential risks, ranging from relatively minor, to more important.
When it comes to Rhinoplasty, the success rate is very high. Though risks and complications vary in severity, much of these are mitigated by the knowledge, skill and experience of the operating surgeon and a patient’s adherence to pre- and post-operative care.
By exercising diligence in the selection of what we consider to be good candidates for rhinoplasty surgery, Dr. Zahi Abou Chacra says, we reduce the likelihood for intra-operative, as well as post-operative complications.
Severe complications occur very rarely. Infections are usually easily treated with antibiotics, and any swelling, bruising or bleeding usually disappear on their own within a week or two following surgery.
