Nose jobs, technically known as rhinoplasties, are among the most popular elective medical procedures in the world. The number of people getting a nose job each year is going up. Why? And who really needs a nose job?
There are two types of nose jobs, cosmetic and reconstructive.
Cosmetic nose jobs are the kind of nose job most people think of when the subject comes up. They are truly elective procedures. A cosmetic nose job changes the outward shape of the nose, usually without affecting the internal structure. This kind of nose job is often accomplished with non-surgical techniques, injecting a soft-tissue-filler medium that will change the contours of the nose, without making it smaller or bigger.
Reconstructive nose jobs are done for a combination of medical and aesthetic reasons. This kind of nose job requires at least some rebuilding of the interior structure of the nose, and sometimes the facial bones around the nose. Removing skin cancer and repairing the damage caused by it, correcting the effects of a broken nose or fixing a deviated septum to treat difficulty breathing are all examples of reconstructive nose jobs. Usually, the goal of a reconstructive nose job is to either return the nose to the way it would have been before an injury or illness, or to correct a congenital defect.
As a general rule, someone who needs reconstructive rhinoplasty won’t have a chance to wonder if they need it or not. Their primary care physician will point out the problem and refer them to a plastic surgeon to begin exploring ways to correct the problem. Sometimes a person who has been advised to get a reconstructive nose job will choose not to for various reasons, but from a medical perspective, if the topic is reconstructive, then it’s a good idea.
Cosmetic nose jobs, on the other hand, can be a matter of a great deal of debate and self-inquiry. Most doctors will advise to be sure that an elective procedure is truly what a patient wants before proceeding, because even the mildest surgery has risks. One of the most common risks of a nose job is needing to do it over. Somewhere between 5 and 20% of nose jobs require a revision nose job to correct what went wrong the first time.
However, the risks associated with getting a nose job really are minimal, and for some people the benefits will far outweigh the slight risks. People who have an unusual or unattractive nose may find it affecting both the way other people treat them, and their self-esteem. For these people, a nose job may allow them to regain their self-esteem and confidence in dealing with other people. There are also people who work in careers, such as acting, where having the best appearance possible can be crucial to getting or staying employed.
That said, not all problems with appearance are physical, and someone who continues to believe they are ugly or unattractive regardless of what others may say or after a successful nose job may benefit from seeking out a mental health professional and being evaluated for body dismorphic disorder.
