What to Know About Nose Surgery

by | Apr 4, 2026 | Uncategorized

Your nose plays a big role in how you breathe, perform, and feel. Rhinoplasty, often called a “nose job,” can do more than refine your appearance. It can help you breathe easier, boost confidence, and bring balance to your features.

Love Your Look

Cosmetic rhinoplasty focuses on how your nose complements the rest of your face. Whether you’re hoping to smooth a bump, refine the tip, or modify the width, your surgeon will work with you to design natural-looking results that enhance, not change, who you are. Goals include improving symmetry, adjusting nostril size or bridge width, or changing the profile.

Breathe Easier

Functional rhinoplasty can correct issues such as chronic stuffy nose or nasal obstruction by addressing structural causes inside the nose. For example, when the wall that separates the two sides of the nose, the septum, is bent or crooked, it can cause a blockage. Other issues that could be addressed are:

  • Enlargement of the structures inside the nose
  • Narrow nostrils or nasal valve collapse
  • Weakened cartilage in the nostrils or in the tip of the nose
  • Broken nose that causes poor breathing or nasal deformity

Many patients choose to combine functional and cosmetic improvements for both form and function in one procedure.

What to Expect

Rhinoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure performed under anesthesia. Depending on your needs, your surgeon may use a closed or open approach to reshape cartilage and bone and address any internal blockages. After surgery, most people wear a splint on top of their nose and stents in their nostrils for about a week. Sutures are also removed at that time. Bruising fades within two weeks, and swelling takes up to a year to resolve. Many patients are back to work, the gym, or the trail within 14 days.

Is Rhinoplasty Right for You?

If you’re curious about how rhinoplasty could improve your breathing or confidence, a consultation with a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon is the best first step. Together, you’ll create a personalized plan that fits your goals.

Kathleen Holoyda, MD is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon offering aesthetic, cosmetic, and reconstructive procedures in Lake Tahoe. To schedule a consultation from her offices in South Lake Tahoe and Incline Village, call 530.543.5799 or visit BartonHealth.org to learn more.