Patients undergo rhinoplasty procedures for medical or aesthetic reasons. For example, some want to address nasal issues like airway obstruction, congenital nose defects, or nose injury, while others want to improve their nose looks for added confidence.
If you’re planning to have this procedure but are hesitant about what it entails, this guide will help you find answers to rhinoplasty FAQS: What is rhinoplasty? How do you know if you’re a suitable candidate? How much does a nose job cost?
Table of Contents
How Long Does a Rhinoplasty Take to Heal?
What is a Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that alters the size or shape of the nose. It is performed by a certified cosmetic surgeon who begins the process by making a small incision in the base of the nose, particularly in the soft space between the nostrils called the columella.
Modifications are then made in the nasal cartilage through the incision, which is closed surgically with sutures after.
While rhinoplasty has become a standard cosmetic procedure, not everyone can have it. Requirements include:
- Having no serious medical issues
- Being a non-smoker
- Full facial growth (at least 14 years old in women and 16 years old in men)
- Realistic expectations
While non-surgical rhinoplasty procedures cost less and have short downtime, the results are not as permanent as surgical rhinoplasty and last only around 12-18 months.
Rhinoplasty Cost
In Canada, surgical rhinoplasty costs range from $5,000 to $15,000, or even up to $25,000, depending on variables like geographical area, type of procedure, the medical team, and range of service inclusions in the cost.
Costs usually include the surgeon and the medical facility fees, medical tests, anesthesia, medication prescriptions, and other post-surgery materials.
Rhinoplasty is not covered by health insurance providers in Canada except if the procedure is done to correct nasal problems resulting from illness or injury. In such cases, the incurred cost is reimbursed by the insurance company if proper medical proof is presented.
Knowing more about rhinoplasty cost can help you plan how and when you can avail of it.
Price Range in Canada
In large cities like Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary, rhinoplasty cost ranges from $7,500 to $10,000. However, provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, and Ottawa have a high cost of living, including cosmetic surgery costs.
Consider financing your rhinoplasty procedure with a company like Beautifi, that can help cover the large upfront cost of your procedure. We offer terms ranging from 6 months to 6 years, we make sure that the fixed monthly payments are affordable and within your budget.
In less expensive provinces like Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, and Saskatchewan, the procedure can cost you as low as $5,000 or less, depending on the surgical complexity and the medical facility.
How Long Does a Rhinoplasty Take to Heal?
The procedure takes around 2 hours, but the downtime takes at least a week or two before the swelling, bruises, and discomfort start to subside. Note that it would take a few months before you can resume strenuous activities and contact sports. Allot ample healing time before returning to work or your active routine.
During the first week, your nose area will be covered with gauze or splinted on the sides. It’s normal to experience some bleeding and drainage in the gauze. At the close of the first week, your surgeon will remove the splint, and much of your discomfort will taper off, but you will still be advised against strenuous activity.
After a month, you will feel much more recovered and see the visible result in your nose. You may resume most physical activities but abstain from contact sports and eyewear.
You will begin to see and feel less of the swelling in the following months and see it gone by the 6th month onwards, the average recovery period for most patients.
After a year, you shall be fully healed and able to see the final result.
Nose Correction Types
Patients have different nose issues and desired outcomes, and the surgeon will determine the right procedure type for your case.
Some nose issues require an extensive procedure, while other cases only need minimal modification and a less invasive approach. For example, a simple tweak on the tip can already significantly impact the patient’s facial symmetry. Aside from the usual augmentation to give the nose a raised bridge, here are some enhancement types that patients want for their nose modification.
Hump Reduction
Some people have a noticeable bump on their nose bridge called the dorsal hump and want to soften its look. A rhinoplasty procedure can reduce it for a more even and symmetrical look.
Alarplasty
Narrowing down a broad nose base is also possible with rhinoplasty. Also called alar base reduction, it is usually combined with augmentation and is done using different incision techniques. These include removing wedges of the alar or the wings of the nostrils to trim them, sill excisions or narrowing the base of the alar, or the weir technique, which refines the wedge created to align the curves and create suitable contour.
Tip Refinement
Usually done to refine bulbous, blunt, or hook-like tips, this procedure only works on the tip and does not touch the bridge and upper sinus. This is not as extensive as the other types and only requires two or three tiny incisions on the tip to reshape the cartilage. Recovery time is also less.
Important Reminders
Before you head to a clinic and get your nose reworked, here are some of the things you must know first:
The total cost of the procedure. Can you afford it? What possible means you can meet the cost without putting you in a tight financial spot? While most insurances do not cover cosmetic procedures, there are ways to obtain financing for plastic surgery.
Your eligibility at present. Are you generally well and of the required age? You might need to wait a few more years or make some health and lifestyle changes before you go under the knife.
The credentials of the surgeon. Ask or research the doctor’s years of practice, client feedback, and level of medical expertise.
Your particular needs and expected results. What specific nose enhancement do you need? Discuss your expectations with the surgeon to avoid any issues during or after the procedure.
The safety and services in the facility. Choose a reputable facility that has strict protocols on procedural safety and hygiene.
Your physical and psychological readiness. Are you doing it for the right reason? If you are currently stressed or confused, give yourself time to think it over before having it done.
Downtime considerations. Can you afford to have the downtime period? Optimum results require proper healing time. Are you able to take a long break from work? Are you a nursing mom? Again, your circumstances matter because it could take a while to recover fully.
Self-care and Personal Growth
Whether you’re doing it for aesthetic or medical reasons, your objective should come from a place of self-care and self-improvement. Changing your appearance, no matter how subtle, can still profoundly affect your life, and it should be a positive one.
While success and satisfaction rates are high, it still requires a good level of awareness, maturity, and responsibility to enjoy the long-term benefits of rhinoplasty fully.
A rhinoplasty may help you boost confidence, but it’s best to have realistic expectations. Don’t hinge your worth or personal growth on just one aspect of your being.
Remember, the goal is to improve yourself, not prove yourself.