• The first step towards rhinoplasty surgery is to schedule a consultation with the surgeon of your choice. During the consultation they will discuss the concerns you have regarding your nose and explore your expectations and goals for surgery.
• It is important to inform your surgeon of your full medical history including all medications, allergies and previous surgeries and other procedures on your nose. This is particularly important with regards to previous filler injections or threads in your nose.
• If you smoke this would be an opportune time to stop. Smoking adversely affects healing and increases the risk of complications. It is also important not to restart after surgery especially during the initially healing phase.
• Avoid alcohol in the days leading up to surgery.
• Avoid sun exposure and topical creams to the skin of the nose.
• Following the procedure and general anaesthetic you will not be able to drive. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. It is also important to arrange for someone dependable to stay with you for the first night after surgery.
• Make sure that you have everything you need when you come home after surgery – this included comfortable, extra pillows, ice packs etc.
• In the lead up surgery, it is important to stop taking certain medications if safe to do so. These medications include but are not limited to:
• Blood thinners
• Anti-inflammatory medication (Aspirin, Ibuprofen etc.)
• Certain vitamins and herbal remedies.

Absolutely. Dr Oosthuizen always aims to achieve a result that appears as natural as possible. This is achieved by considering the other facial proportions and features to ensure a balanced result. The aim is to achieve a beautiful, natural nose that blends and fits with the rest of the facial features and does not distract from it.

There will be some pain and discomfort following surgery, however most patients rate their pain between a 0 – 4 out of ten the day after surgery. You will receive pain medication including anti-inflammatory medication to take after going home to ensure that you are comfortable.

Yes, Rhinoplasty is often combined with:

• Septoplasty surgery – to straighten the midline partition of the nose, this is known as a septorhinoplasty.
• Turbinoplasty / Turbinate reduction – to reduce the size and bulk of the turbinates (bulges on the inside of the nose to improve airflow through the nose.
• Sinus Surgery – to alleviated symptoms associated with chronic sinus disease.

Rhinoplasty surgery is a complex and technically challenging procedure that can alter both the appearance and function of the nose. It is essential to have realistic expectations of what can be achieved with rhinoplasty surgery. During the pre-surgery consultation process the extent of the procedure, risks, anticipated recovery as well as limitation of surgery will be discussed at length.

Ultimately however there are some limitations to what can be achieved with rhinoplasty surgery.

Some of these factors include:

• The underlying anatomy and structure of the nose (nasal cartilage and bone).
• The thickness of the skin – some individuals have thicker skin which limits the degree of definition that is achievable after surgery.
• Rhinoplasty surgery cannot change the entire appearance of the face. It is however vital to take the other facial proportions into account when planning rhinoplasty surgery to ensure that the final result is balanced and appears natural.
• It is possible that there may be minor areas of asymmetry or minor imperfections once the swelling following surgery has fully subsided.
• Rhinoplasty surgery cannot stop the process of aging. Following surgery, over time, the nose will continue to age at the same rate as the rest of the facial features.