It is not uncommon for patients to perceive a rhinoplasty as a relatively painful procedure. After all, there may be considerable reshaping of the nose required and then … those bones may have to be broken. Ouch! If you have watched any YouTube videos or seen programs explicitly showing the fracturing of the nasal bones, it appears to be pretty brutal. It’s just gotta hurt!
Fortunately, that is usually not the case. A rhinoplasty that just requires cartilaginous work or rasping of an irregularity without the need for breaking of the nasal bones is associated with relatively minor discomfort. If the nasal bones need to be fractured in order to narrow the nose, though there is a significant increase in the extent of swelling, there is often only a minimal increase of pain. For most patients, oxycodone (Percocet®) is more than adequate and is often taken for a very brief period of time.
If you would like additional information on a rhinoplasty, chin enlargement, eyelid surgery or any other aesthetic procedure that I perform or to schedule a complimentary consultation, you can contact my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona