The rhinoplasty procedure is started by cutting open the nose either along the front or along the sides, depending on what sort of modifications are being made. The skin is pulled back and the cartilage is exposed. If the patient wants a smaller nose, the surgeon will file away at the cartilage until it is down to a more desirable shape. If the patient wants a nose that is less wide, the surgeon will usually cut out a pie-slice shaped segment of cartilage from each side, along with a small ribbon of skin. The patient may want a straight nose made out of his or her concave nose. The doctor will add some sort of synthetic material to round out the parts that are lacking in cartilage.

After the desired modifications have been made, the doctor applies the necessary ointments to get the cartilage to start healing up into one solid piece again. Then the nose is stitched up extremely carefully to avoid scarring, and the patient is as good as new. It seems like a miracle procedure, but there are several reasons why it might not be right for you. First of all, you will be paying thousands of dollars for something that is not actually necessary. If you can come to terms with your nose the way it is, that is money you don’t have to spend. Second, there is a high rate of permanent scarring. If a stitch is just slightly wrong, the scar tissue could build up for years to come.

If you still think that rhinoplasty is good for you, talk to your local plastic surgeon. See if you are eligible for the procedure, and start finding out more about the specifics of what you will need. Plastic surgery is usually a very long process, and it is good to start it right away.