Q. Collection of Rhinoplasty Q&A

Hello. I’m Director Seo Chan-eol of AB Plastic Surgery.

Today, I’ve gathered questions people often have about rhinoplasty and will explain rhinoplasty clearly and accurately.

1. Is sagging after rhinoplasty unavoidable? I’m curious why it happens.

After nose surgery, “the height or angle of the nasal tip dropping” is often described as “sagging.”

During rhinoplasty, the nasal tip is raised and fixed with methods such as a columellar strut or a septal extension graft. At this time, if some resorption occurs due to the “material used” and the “skin tension,”

this fixation becomes lower, which can cause sagging.

In the end, if the nasal tip is supported at an appropriate height that does not put too much pressure on the skin, using sturdy material such as autologous rib cartilage,

the likelihood of this sagging can be reduced.

2. How long after rhinoplasty can I start exercising?

After rhinoplasty, when the internal wounds have healed to some extent and it is the second week when the stitches are removed, light exercise such as walking is possible.

However, exercises that send blood rushing to the head, strenuous exercise, or exercise that could impact the nose are better started about a month later.

Also, if autologous rib cartilage was used during surgery, the external oblique muscle in the abdomen is cut or separated to access it, so

considering the time needed for that muscle to heal and stabilize, it is also better to start exercising about a month later.

3. I don’t have time to go to the hospital after rhinoplasty. Can I remove the splint by myself?

We do not recommend removing the splint by yourself after rhinoplasty.

When removing the splint, the inside has not fully healed yet, so you must be extremely careful not to disturb the structure.

In addition, the stitches on the columellar wound must be removed at that time, and you also need to check whether the inside and outside of the nose are healing well and whether there are any concerns such as inflammation.

Therefore, even if you cannot make the one-week appointment, we recommend visiting the clinic by using evening or Saturday consultations nearby if needed.

4. Do I have to remove old nasal filler before rhinoplasty?

For the desired nasal shape, it is best to remove the filler as much as possible before proceeding with surgery.

Rhinoplasty is a personalized surgery, and depending on the height of the nasal bridge and glabella, the height and shape of the nasal tip, and the degree of deviation,

the materials used and the surgical methods are planned slightly differently.

If filler remains, regardless of whether it is dissolvable, even if it has not spread broadly from side to side along the bridge of the nose,

it can affect the postoperative result because the height and contour of the nose are altered.

I hope this was helpful for those considering rhinoplasty, and I’ll wrap up here.