Your nose, the feature that sits directly at the center of your face. It's a physical attribute that can either complement and bring your facial features into harmony, or on the opposite side of the spectrum, it can completely detract and divert attention away from otherwise attractive features. A nose that is too large, bumpy or bulbous tends to overwhelm other features like beautiful eyes or nice lips, simply because the nose is at center stage of the face and something people can't help but notice.

If you have found yourself dissatisfied with the appearance of your nose throughout the years, then you may be a good candidate for rhinoplasty, or more commoly known as a nose job. However, before making a final decision regarding rhinoplasty, you need to really consider if this is something you want to do. We are without a doubt our own harshest critics and after all, have spent years looking at our own reflections in the mirror. Therefore, it stands to reason that that bump or upturned tip that seems so glaringly obvious to us could be completely invisible to others. However, the final decision is up to you, and if you are truly dissatisfied with the look of your nose and feel that it significantly affects your self-confidence or quality of life, then rhinoplasty could likely benefit you as an individual.

Before even considering rhinoplasty, it is very important to understand your motivations for wanting to undergo the procedure. If you are impelled to undergo this change for anyone other than yourself then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. The surgery should only be done according to your personal goals and influenced none whatsoever by what your boyfriend, agent or whoever thinks. For this reason, rhinoplasty candidates are thoroughly evaluated and addressed prior to scheduling surgery to ensure they have realistic expectations with what the plastic surgeon will be able to do. The patient must be emotionally stable and prepared to handle such an important transformation. For this reason, individuals with obsessions, body image disorders and addiction to plastic surgery are often turned down so as not to perpetuate the psychologically damaging behavior.

There are a number of factors that go into the decision of whether or not an individual is a good candidate for nasal surgery. In addition to psychological health, the patient must also be in good enough physical health to handle the stresses of surgery. Conditions like heart disease, cancer, infections and other conditions that reduce the body's ability to heal or deal with physical stress will also reduce the likelihood that rhinoplasty can be performed.

The actual surgery itself really all depends on your individual needs as a patient. Many patients only desire small revisions such as smoothing out a hump on the bridge of the nose or reducing an over pronounced tip. Surgeries of this nature are normally not as complex and take around an hour or two and usually require only local anesthesia. However, more complicated rhinoplasty procedures such as reconstructive surgeries can last up to 8 hours and will require general anesthesia.

During the actual surgery itself, an incision is made either inside the nostril or on the underside of the nose, again, dependent on what type of rhinoplasty procedure you're having. Once the incision is made, the skin is separated from the internal structure of the nose. Using surgical instruments such as chisels, scalpels and other scissor-like instruments, your plastic surgeon will begin to shape and refine the internal structure of the nose to best achieve the profile and nasal contour you requested in your consultation. Often, the nasal bones at the top of the nose closer to the eyes will need to be moved closer to each other to achieve a narrower look. While other procedures will only require removal and refinement of cartilage, which is known as tiplasty.

Rhinoplasty is a very common facial procedure nowadays that can make a profound difference in a patient's appearance and more importantly their self-esteem. Surprisingly, most patients report very minimal pain associated with recovery from rhinoplasty, comparing it to feeling more like being congested and having a cold. Just like with any other surgery, you can likely expect some bruising and swelling the days after surgery. Patients typically will have to wear a lightweight cast on the nose for a week after surgery. Once the cast is removed most bruising has diminished and any remaining bruising should be easily masked with makeup.

The majority of patients that undergo rhinoplasty are very pleased with the results. Even the slightest change to the nose structure can produce aesthetically pleasing results. More often than not, these procedures can be completed without friends or family even noticing. They usually notice something is a little different, but attribute it to something like a new hairstyle or different makeup.

If you are considering having plastic surgery performed in San Francisco, it is important that you find a good surgeon who has an extensive background and training performing specialized surgeries like rhinoplasty.