Getting a nose job is something many patients dream of for years. So, it’s natural to be excited in the days leading up to the rhinoplasty surgery. Most patients are delighted with their nose job results, and the procedure can make you feel better about your appearance.
However, you should also consider the possible side effects and complications listed below, including whether a nose job can change your voice.
Common Nose Job Risks And Side Effects
Most risks and side effects associated with nose jobs are minor and temporary. But you should know in advance what you can expect during and after the procedure:
Discomfort
Rhinoplasty can cause discomfort, but most of it passes after a few days, and your doctor will provide pain medication. You should be able to switch to over-the-counter pain medication after four or five days.
Possibly the most uncomfortable aspect of the initial recovery is clogged sinuses. Your nose will be swollen and packed with gauze temporarily. However, most of the swelling will dissipate in a few weeks, and the surgeon will remove the gauze after the first week.
Swelling
Your nose will swell considerably for a few weeks after a nose job. The surgeon altered cartilage, bone, and delicate nasal tissues, which causes swelling as the body heals.
Most swelling will disappear after two weeks, but you can use ice packs to help. Also, rest and sleep with your head elevated for the first month to reduce swelling.
Bruising
You should expect bruising in the nose and area areas for seven to 10 days. But in older patients, the bruising can last longer. Remember, having black eyes after rhinoplasty is typical, but they will disappear after a few weeks.
Numbness
As with breast augmentation, liposuction, and a facelift, you may have temporary numbness and tingling. This is because of the trauma that surgery caused, and the nerves need time to relocate and heal.
Most nose job patients notice temporary numbness in the upper lip. This can last weeks or months, but you should regain full sensation eventually.
Infection
Infection is a risk after any plastic surgery. So it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions about keeping the surgical site and incisions clean. Also, take the surgeon’s antibiotics, and most infection risks can be minimized.
Bleeding
The blood vessels in the nose will be healing after surgery, so you could have nasal bleeding. It should resolve after two or three days, but talk to your surgeon if it persists.
Nose Jobs and Voice Changes
Patients who have had rhinoplasty might notice subtle changes to their voice, according to a 2014 study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The study found that voice changes in patients who had nose jobs were perceptible to patients and medical experts but didn’t usually cause issues with speaking abilities.
Clinical researchers studied voice changes in 27 patients who had rhinoplasty at two Iranian hospitals where the procedure was popular. There were 22 women and five men patients who averaged 24 years of age.
After the procedure, patients completed a questionnaire to check on perceived issues with their voices. Then, recordings were made of their voices before and after surgery to be listened to by trained professionals who didn’t know if they were listening to before or after versions.
Their completed questionnaires showed some degradation in voice quality, especially in emotional and physical subscales. This may have reflected their perceptions of their voice and how they responded emotionally.
Trained listeners noticed some subtle changes in voice quality, especially in hyponasality. This refers to the sound of a voice when insufficient air is going through the nose, such as with a person with congestion.
The research suggests slight changes in voice quality after a nose job; subtle changes are perceptible to experts. Patients may also hear slight changes themselves, but they usually adapt, which doesn’t affect their lives.
Patients who are professional singers or performers should talk to their surgeon about how rhinoplasty could affect their voices.
If you rely on your voice for performances, you should check that your plastic surgeon is well qualified and trained for rhinoplasty. It also is helpful to check reviews online from past patients and look at before-and-after photos of your surgeon’s nose jobs.
Good Candidates For Nose Jobs
Most people are good candidates for nose jobs if there is something about their nose they want to correct. But these are criteria for ideal rhinoplasty patients:
- In good overall health with no conditions that could complicate anesthesia or healing
- Non-smoker – smoking interferes with the healing process
- Realistic expectations – the surgeon will want to be sure you are realistic about what a nose job can do for you
- Over the age of 18 – the nose is still developing before 18, so most surgeons won’t perform the operation
Rhinoplasty goes well for most patients, but there are risks, including subtle changes to your voice. Your plastic surgeon can provide more information about this issue to make the most informed decision.
Request A Rhinoplasty Consultation
Thinking about rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is pleased to provide plastic surgery procedures to his Beverly Hills patients. He will discuss your aesthetic goals during your consultation and help you decide if rhinoplasty is right for you.
References
Voice May Change After Nose Job. (2014). Accessed at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140128153820.htm
Voice May Change After Rhinoplasty. (2015). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/voice-may-change-after-rhinoplasty
Nose Job Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/rhinoplasty/about/pac-20384532
