Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: What’s the Difference?

Rhinoplasties are one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the United States. In fact, surgeons carry out around 220,000 of these procedures each year.

So if you are thinking about getting rhinoplasty you’re in good company! But did you know that there are two different types of rhinoplasties? 

Both open and closed rhinoplasties have their pros and cons, so how do you choose the right procedure for you? Read on to find out everything you need to know to help you decide between an open vs closed rhinoplasty.

What Is Rhinoplasty? 

Rhinoplasty is another name for cosmetic surgery of your nose (commonly known as a nose job).

This surgical procedure involves lifting the skin on the nose and altering the shape of your cartilage and bone. This changes the overall appearance of your nose. 

This can help to improve the symmetry of your face and resolve conditions that might affect your daily comfort, such as deviated septums.

Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: What’s the Difference? 

The main difference between an open vs closed rhinoplasty is how the surgeon accesses your nose. 

In a closed procedure, they make two incisions on either side of the nose, lift the skin slightly, and then work below it. In contrast, in an open rhinoplasty procedure, the surgeon makes an extra incision at the base of your nose. This allows them to lift the skin away from your nose completely.

So which type of rhinoplasty is better? Let’s learn more about the pros and cons of these rhinoplasty types.

Closed vs Open Rhinoplasty: How Does It Help Your Surgeon? 

When it comes to nose surgery, an open rhinoplasty offers your surgeon much better visibility. This is because they can see the whole nose that they are working on.

As a result, open rhinoplasties allow surgeons to make very precise and detailed alterations to your nose. This is key to delivering high-quality results. 

So if you want a lot of work done on your nose then your surgeon will probably recommend an open rhinoplasty.

Closed vs Open Rhinoplasty: Which Has a Better Recovery Time? 

When it comes to recovery time, a closed rhinoplasty offers results more quickly. This is because limiting the number of incisions reduces the risk of swelling or scarring. 

In comparison, an open rhinoplasty is much more likely to swell while you are recovering. The incision at the base of your nose can also leave a very small scar. Over time this will go down and your scar will become virtually invisible. 

However, you will have to live with these signs for a while after your surgery. So it is worth discussing this with your surgeon beforehand and scheduling your surgery at a time that works for you.

Get Help With Your Rhinoplasty Today

When deciding between an open vs closed rhinoplasty you need to think carefully about the work you want.

Fast results are all well and good. However, a closed rhinoplasty might be riskier or offer poor quality results on complicated procedures. If you can, it is usually better to opt for an open procedure and schedule a longer recovery period.

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