5 Tips To Know If You’re Having A Nose Job

If you are a person with African heritage and want to enhance your nose while still preserving your identity, heritage, and cosmetic goals, a good option may be an African American rhinoplasty. New Jersey’s Dr. Carlos Burnett regularly meets with patients who want to know how to prepare for this form of life-changing cosmetic surgery, so he has developed a list of helpful tips.

The nose occupies a central area of the face and has a significant impact on overall facial harmony. Rhinoplasty improves facial harmony and the proportions of the nose. Enhancing the nose in subtle ways can greatly boost your confidence. Patients are often curious about how they should prepare for this form of cosmetic surgery.

Continue reading to find out what you should know in advance of having a nose job. 

1. It Can Take Up to a Year for Results to Settle 

Although the results from nose surgery are very long-lasting, it will take a while for the full impact from this treatment to show. Patience is important, since it can takes months or longer for the final results to become fully visible. The initial swelling from rhinoplasty will go down within a few weeks but your nose will gradually change in subtle ways and become more refined over the following year. 

2. The Discomfort Usually Isn’t as Bad as You Might Assume

Everyone handles pain differently, but the discomfort usually isn’t too bad for rhinoplasty. With the techniques that are used today and the post-op medications provided, many patients discover that the discomfort isn’t as bad as they might initially think it will be. Patients commonly feel weak, tired, and groggy while recovering. Most people say the pain is mild to moderate at most. The bruising and swelling you experience may you look worse than you actually feel during the early stages of recovery. 

3. Not All Surgeons Are Equal

Another thing to keep in mind is how important it is to choose the right surgeon for you. African American rhinoplasty is a complex procedure that requires specific skills and expertise, just like any other form of facial plastic surgery. There are many choices to be made when you’re having rhinoplasty. It’s important to do research so you can make informed decisions. It’s also important to choose a surgeon you’re comfortable with. Choose a doctor who’s not merely good, but who is excellent at what they do. Look at their before-and-after photos to get a better idea of their abilities. Make sure to look for a surgeon who is board-certified and has all the right certifications. 

4. It Sometimes Takes a While for You to Adjust 

It can sometimes take time for you to be comfortable with your changed appearance after rhinoplasty, but this is normal, and there’s no reason to be alarmed. It may feel weird at first to see your nose going through changes. The shape may change slightly as the nose contour becomes more defined. You may spend a lot more time looking in the mirror and analyzing your face after this surgery. Once the swelling subsides, your nose will look more in proportion with the rest of the face. 

5. The Results Will Likely Be Subtle 

Chances are good that lots of patients may not be open to telling others that they’ve had a nose job, especially since there’s still sometimes a stigma surrounding cosmetic surgery. A nose job won’t completely change your face. It’s possible to achieve very natural looking and soft results. One of the advantages of rhinoplasty is that the results won’t be too noticeable, and when it’s done properly, it may be essentially impossible for others to tell whether you’ve had plastic surgery at all. Most people may not even realize there has been any change unless you tell them. 

Want to learn more about what to expect from a African American rhinoplasty and other nose surgeries? Contact New Jersey’s Burnett Plastic Surgery. Call 908.233.0200 or fill out a contact form to request a consultation with Dr. Carlos Burnett if you would like to discuss rhinoplasty.