Before scheduling a rhinoplasty, you should meet with your surgeon to discuss important factors that will determine whether or not the surgery will be successful. Interviews generally include:
Your medical history. The most important questions your doctor will ask you are about your motivation for surgery and your goals. Your doctor will also ask about your medical history — including nasal congestion, surgery, and any medications you're taking. If you have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, you may not be eligible for rhinoplasty.
Physical examination. Your doctor will do a thorough physical exam, including any lab tests, such as blood tests. He will also check the inside and outside of your face and nose.A physical exam helps your doctor determine what changes you need to make and how physical characteristics such as the thickness of the skin or the strength of the cartilage at the tip of your nose affect your results. A physical exam is also crucial in determining how rhinoplasty is affecting your breathing.
Pictures. Someone in the doctor's office will take pictures of your nose from multiple angles. Your surgeon may use a computer program to modify the images to show you expected results. Your doctor will use these images for pre- and post-evaluation, as a reference during surgery and for long-term review. Most importantly, these images allow you to have a specific discussion of your surgical goals.
Discuss your expectations. You and your doctor should talk about your motivations and expectations. He will explain to you what rhinoplasty can and cannot do and what the results might be. It's normal to feel a little insecure when discussing your appearance, but it's important to be honest with your surgeon about your surgical desires and goals.If you have a small chin, your doctor may talk to you about surgery to enlarge your chin. This is because a small chin can create the illusion of a large nose. Chin surgery is not required in these cases, but it may improve the balance of your facial appearance.
After you schedule your surgery, if you had outpatient surgery, you'll need to arrange for someone to take you home.
For the first few days after anesthesia, you may experience memory loss, slow reactions, and confusion. So arrange for a family member or friend to stay with you for a night or two to help you with your personal care tasks while you recover from surgery.