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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Rhinoplasty (RI-no-plas-tee), also referred to as nose surgery, is a surgical procedure that can shorten or lengthen the nose, change its shape or contour, narrow 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
- Tardy ME Jr, et al. Rhinoplasty. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113181920-3/0/1263/414.html?tocnode=49542906&fromURL=414.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50048-4_1754. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Ramirez AL, et al. Rhinoplasty. In: Lalwani AK, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2833146. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Becker DG, et al. Reducing complications in rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. 2006;39:475i.
- Nose surgery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/Rhinoplasty.cfm. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
- Anesthesia and you. American Society of Anesthesiologists. http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation/anesandyou.htm. Accessed Dec. 15, 2008.
