Nose surgery is usually a highly customized procedure. The time involved and the techniques utilized may vary according to your particular case, the results you desire, and the preferences of the surgeon. In general, however, rhinoplasty (RYE-no-plast-ee) takes between one and two hours. If you have more than one problem to be corrected, the procedure may take longer. During most complex rhinoplasties, general anesthesia is used, which means you sleep through the operation. If so, tubes are usually installed to help blood from the nose drain properly while you're asleep. When local anesthesia is used, you remain awake but relaxed, and drainage tubes aren't needed. The doctor may work through incisions inside your nose, or by making a small cut across the vertical piece of tissue between your nostrils in what's known as an 'open' procedure. The skin of the nose is then drawn back to reveal the bone and cartilage framework underneath. These structures are then reshaped by cutting, filing, trimming with surgical scissors, or other methods. After these adjustments, the skin is drawn back into place and sutured (SOO-churd), and splints and packing material may be applied to stabilize the nose until it heals.
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