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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Photo showing the before-and-after results of rhinoplasty Results of rhinoplasty
Illustration of the nasal bone and cartilage Locations of the nasal bone and cartilage

Rhinoplasty (RI-no-plas-tee), also referred to as nose surgery, is a surgical procedure that can shorten or lengthen your nose, change its shape or contour, narrow the nostrils, or lift and define the tip.

When planning rhinoplasty, your surgeon considers your features, the skin on your nose and what you would like changed. The upper portion of the nose is bone, and the lower portion is cartilage. Rhinoplasty can modify bone, cartilage or both. Talk with your surgeon about what rhinoplasty can achieve for you.

Why it's done
References
  1. Tardy ME Jr, et al. Rhinoplasty. In: Flint PW, et al. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..00037-9&isbn=978-0-323-05283-2&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..00037-9&uniqId=234039683-2#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..00037-9. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
  2. Ramirez AL, et al. Rhinoplasty. In: Lalwani AK, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2833146. Accessed Jan. 20, 2011.
  3. Becker DG, et al. Reducing complications in rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. 2006;39:475i.
  4. Nose surgery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Patients_and_Consumers/Procedures/Cosmetic_Procedures/Nose_Surgery_.html. Accessed Jan. 2, 2011.
  5. Anesthesia and you. American Society of Anesthesiologists. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/Who-Is-An-Anesthesiologist/Anesthesia-for-Same-Day-or-Outpatient-Surgery.aspx. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
  6. Harsha BC. Complications of rhinoplasty. Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America. 2009;21:81
  7. Kim DW, et al. Functional rhinoplasty. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America. 2009;17:115.
MY00425 March 1, 2011

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