Wide nostrils can affect your self-image and can take away from other facial features. Nostril reduction surgery can help.
Rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures out there, but many people opt for simply getting nostril reduction surgery instead. If you have wide nostrils, getting nostril reduction surgery can be a great way to improve the appearance of the nose subtly and in a minimally invasive way.
Here’s everything that you need to know about nostril reduction surgery.
What Is Nostril Reduction Surgery?
Nostril reduction surgery, also known as alarplasty, is a surgical procedure that is used to make the nostrils more visually appealing. It’s a type of rhinoplasty that helps to improve the aesthetic appearance of the nostrils.
The nose surgery reduces excessive wideness to ensure that the patient is happy with the way that they look and that their nostrils are proportionate to the face. It reduces the look of nasal “flaring” and can help the nostrils look more symmetrical.
Typically, an alarplasty procedure will make overly wide nostrils more narrow but may also be used to increase the nostrils’ width as well. It might also be used to correct functional issues.
Candidates for alarplasty procedures will typically be unhappy with the aesthetic look of their nostrils and their proportion to the rest of the face.
Benefits of Alarplasty
There are many benefits of getting nostril rhinoplasty surgery. Here are some of the benefits that you should know about:
- Narrows nostrils to improve proportions
- Reduces asymmetry between nostrils
- Boosts self-esteem
- Improves breathing and reduces nasal obstructions
Unlike a typical rhinoplasty procedure, the results of nostril reduction surgery may be less noticeable and often won’t drastically alter the appearance. However, the benefits can be similar and can help to improve the overall appearance of the face and improve confidence in those who get the procedure.
What to Expect From the Procedure
There are some important things that you should understand about getting a nostril reduction procedure. Here’s what you should know.
Before the Procedure
Before getting nostril reduction surgery, you’ll need to think carefully about your decision. Be sure that it’s the best option for you. Getting any kind of surgery is not a light decision to make, so you need to think about the benefits and risks carefully beforehand.
You may choose to get wide nostril rhinoplasty if you find that your nose is “flared” and your nostrils seem to stand out a bit too much.
As a prerequisite to the surgery, you’ll need to be sure that you’re in good health. You should also have recovered from any other nose surgeries that you have had previously.
Also, keep in mind that smokers can experience extra difficulty recovering from alarplasty. Make sure that you stop smoking for a minimum of two weeks before and after the surgery is performed.
Getting the Procedure
Once you decide to get nostril production surgery, you need to know what to expect.
While nostril reduction surgery is a type of rhinoplasty procedure, it’s less invasive overall. You’ll usually just get a local anesthetic rather than general anesthesia if you’ll be getting an alarplasty.
To perform the procedure, the doctor will examine your face and decide how much reduction is needed. They’ll draw lines on the nose with a marker and will make incisions.
You’ll also get sutures to make sure that the changes are stable. There will also be a bandage and you’ll get pain relief medication as well. You’ll need to take care of your nose afterward to avoid infection.
After the surgery, you’ll need to have someone take you home from the doctor’s office.
The Recovery Process
The recovery period for nostril reduction surgery isn’t too extensive, but some waiting time will be necessary. The nose will end up being swollen for about 1-2 weeks after you get the procedure done.
There might be a small amount of swelling for up to 1 month after the procedure has been performed. Some swelling may linger for as long as 6 months, but the majority of it will be gone within 1 month. Typically, you’ll get the stitches removed after about 1 week.
Your doctor will give you plenty of guidance on how to care for your nose after the procedure to ensure that you recover quickly and have the easiest time during the follow-up period.
When Will You See Results?
After a nostril reduction procedure has been performed, you can notice results very quickly. Typically, you should be able to notice the results of the procedure as soon as the bandages have been removed, which will likely occur about 1 week after the surgery.
In some cases, there may still be a bit of swelling at this point, but much of it will be gone already at this 1-week mark. The specifics of your body’s healing capabilities and the skill of your doctor may affect this a bit.
While a minimal amount of swelling will linger for several months, you’ll likely be feeling pretty comfortable and confident with your new look after 1 to 2 weeks have passed.
Understanding Nostril Reduction Surgery
If you want to feel better about the appearance of your nose and develop more self-esteem, then getting nostril reduction surgery may be a good option to consider. However, there are a lot of things to think about when deciding to get surgery, so be sure that you know what to expect. Speak with a doctor to make sure that it’s a good choice for your needs.
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