Rhinoplasty Facts for Kids

Rhinoplasty can reshape the nose, like fixing a bump.

Rhinoplasty, often called a nose job, is a type of plastic surgery that changes the shape of the nose. The word "rhinoplasty" comes from Greek words meaning "nose" and "to shape."

People have rhinoplasty for two main reasons:

Reconstructive surgery: This helps fix the nose after an injury, or to correct problems someone was born with. It can also help with breathing problems, like a deviated septum.
Cosmetic surgery: This is done to change how the nose looks. For example, someone might want to remove a bump, make their nostrils narrower, or change the angle between their nose and mouth.

What is a Nose Job?
- Why Do People Get a Nose Job?
- How Does a Nose Job Work?
Nose Anatomy: What's Inside Your Nose?
Healing After a Nose Job
Images for kids
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What is a Nose Job?

A nose job is a surgical procedure that can change the size, shape, and angle of your nose. It can make your nose bigger or smaller, change the shape of the tip or bridge, or narrow the nostrils.

Why Do People Get a Nose Job?

People choose rhinoplasty for many reasons. Some want to improve their breathing if they have a problem like a deviated septum. This means the wall inside the nose that separates the nostrils is crooked, making it hard to breathe.

Others want to change the way their nose looks. They might feel their nose is too big, too small, or has a shape they don't like. Sometimes, a nose job is needed to fix the nose after an accident or injury.

How Does a Nose Job Work?

During a nose job, a surgeon works on the bone and cartilage that give the nose its shape. They can remove some bone or cartilage, or add tissue to change the nose's appearance. The skin over the nose is then reshaped over the new structure.

There are two main ways surgeons perform rhinoplasty:

Open Rhinoplasty: The surgeon makes a small cut on the skin between the nostrils. This allows them to lift the skin and see the bones and cartilage clearly.
Closed Rhinoplasty: The surgeon makes cuts inside the nostrils. This means there are no visible cuts on the outside of the nose.

After the surgery, a splint or cast is often placed on the nose to help it keep its new shape while it heals. Swelling and bruising are common for a few weeks after the procedure.

Nose Anatomy: What's Inside Your Nose?

To understand rhinoplasty, it helps to know a little about the nose's parts. Your nose is more than just the part you see on your face!

Bones and Cartilage

The upper part of your nose is made of bone. The lower part, including the tip and nostrils, is made of cartilage. Cartilage is a strong, flexible tissue. These bones and cartilages give your nose its unique shape.

Breathing Passages

Inside your nose are passages that help you breathe. Air enters through your nostrils and goes into your nasal cavities. These cavities are lined with a special tissue called squamous epithelium. They also have structures called turbinates, which help warm and moisten the air you breathe.

Muscles and Nerves

Small muscles, like the procerus muscle, help with facial expressions around your nose. Nerves, such as the trigeminal nerve, give your nose sensation, allowing you to feel touch or temperature.

Healing After a Nose Job

After a nose job, it's important to follow the surgeon's instructions carefully.

You will likely have a splint or cast on your nose for about a week. This helps protect the new shape.
There will be some swelling and bruising, especially around your eyes, which might look like "panda eyes." This is normal and will fade over time.
It can take several months for all the swelling to go down and for the final shape of your nose to appear.

Images for kids

An ancient Egyptian medical text, the Edwin Smith Papyrus, shows early knowledge of injuries.
An artificial nose from the 17th-18th century, used before modern rhinoplasty was common.
A close-up view of squamous epithelium, a type of tissue found inside the nose.
The procerus muscle, a small muscle in the nose area.
A diagram showing the different parts of the nose that surgeons consider during rhinoplasty.
The common carotid artery, a major blood vessel near the nose.
The trigeminal nerve, which provides feeling to the nose and face.
Inside the nose, showing the turbinates that help filter air.
The bones and cartilage that make up the nasal septum, the wall dividing the nostrils.
A child with a cleft lip and palate, which can be corrected with surgery like rhinoplasty.
The bones around the eye, showing how they relate to the nasal bone.
A guide for a surgeon's cut during open rhinoplasty.
A side view of the nasal cartilages and bone.
A view of the side wall inside the nasal cavity.
A melanoma lesion on the nose, a type of skin cancer that might require reconstruction.
The nasalis muscle, which helps move the nose.
A diagram showing how skin is divided for removing cancerous lesions before reconstruction.
The actor W.C. Fields, who had rhinophyma, a condition that can affect the nose's shape.
An illustration of how bone is cut to narrow the nose during surgery.
An illustration showing the nasal bones, which are reshaped in a nose job.
A patient three days after a nose job, wearing a splint.
Before surgery, showing guidelines for accurate cuts.
After surgery, the nose is taped to prepare for a splint.
A metal splint helps the nose heal and protects it.
The final step: the nose is taped, splinted, and dressed after surgery.
Tools called rasps, used by surgeons to smooth and shape bone.
An osteotome (bone chisel) and surgical hammer, used for sculpting bones.