If you’re thinking about any type of plastic surgery procedure, odds are that you have a number of questions. In the case of most procedures, the more you know about what happens during surgery and what to expect afterwards, the better off you will be.

One surgery that people tend to have a number of questions about is rhinoplasty. No matter where you are in the process of considering plastic surgery, or in this case facial plastic surgery, the sooner you have your questions answered, the better.

What Is Your Experience With the Surgery?

You not only want to learn about the surgery itself, you also want to get a grasp of the surgeon’s experience performing the procedure and his or her experience as a surgeon in general. One important thing to ask about is the surgeon’s experience and training. Board certification, which means the doctor has completed a certain level of education and hands-on training, is a must.

You also want to find a surgeon who performs rhinoplasty on a regular basis and who has ample experience with the surgery. Ask to see pictures of past patients and to speak to past rhinoplasty patients to get an idea of whether or not they were happy not only with the way their surgery turned out, but also with the way they were treated in the surgeon’s office.

Since even the best surgeon’s skills can get rusty with lack of practice, you might also want to ask when the doctor last performed rhinoplasty. Ideally, you want a surgeon who performs the procedure on a weekly basis, if not more often.

How Is It Performed?

Typically, there are two ways to perform rhinoplasty. An open procedure involves making an incision on the small piece of skin between the nostrils, so that the inside of the nose is opened up while the surgeon works. During a closed procedure, the surgeon works within the confines of the nostrils. The main advantage of a closed rhinoplasty is that there is no visible scar on the outside of the nose.

While an open surgery does create a scar, it is usually small and not very noticeable. An open surgery typically also offers the surgeon greater access to the interior of the nose. Whether an open or closed rhinoplasty is performed depends on several factors, such as how much the patient wants to change his or her nose and which procedure the surgeon is most comfortable with.

How Long Will Recovery Take?

Many patients want to know how long the recovery process is after surgery and when they can expect to see the final results. It’s important to understand that the results from a rhinoplasty won’t be immediately evident. In some cases, a patient might look worse before he or she looks better.

For example, a patient might have bruising under the eyes for several days after the surgery, as well as swelling. While the most dramatic swelling will go down after a few days, it is possible for a person to have some slight, residual swelling for up to a year after the rhinoplasty.

You can think of recovery from rhinoplasty as a multi-pronged process. Most people are able to go back to daily activities, such as working in an office or running simple errands, after a week or two. In many cases, people are able to start working out again after about four weeks. But, some activities, particularly those that can injure the still healing nose, should be avoided for even longer. In general, it can take up to a year for a patient to see the final results from a rhinoplasty.

Is This the Right Option for Me?

Rhinoplasty isn’t the right option for everyone, even for people who are very unhappy with their nose. Part of discussing the surgery with a surgeon is finding out if it is the right pick for you. Your overall health or habits might mean that rhinoplasty isn’t a good option at the moment. Your expectations for the surgery can also play a part in deciding whether it’s a good pick for you.

For example, if you want the surgery to make you look like a celebrity, a surgeon might be hesitant to go forward, since there’s a high chance the procedure won’t completely change your appearance or make you look like a famous person. But, if you want the procedure because you want a slightly slimmer nose or if you want to remove a bump from the bridge of your nose, a surgeon will most likely determine that your expectations are reasonable.

You might have more questions about rhinoplasty that are worth bringing up with a surgeon. When you’re considering plastic surgery, it’s worth asking your surgeon any questions you think of, so that you go into the procedure as well informed as possible.

No matter what questions you have, Ohio plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Smith is happy to answer them. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Smith at two practices in the state. For an appointment at the Gahanna, Ohio office, call 614-245-4263. Call 614-678-7180 to schedule an appointment at his practice in Columbus, Ohio.