As the New Year approaches, many of us will reflect on the past and plan for a brighter year ahead. This often involves making New Year’s resolutions, which tend to revolve around self-improvement topics like losing weight or quitting smoking. But as statistics show, and many of us have experienced personally, most people abandon their resolutions by the end of January.
If you are tired of this yearly habit, why not consider making something more permanent, like rhinoplasty, part of your resolutions list? While this may sound like an unusual choice, here’s why rhinoplasty may be your perfect New Year’s procedure.
Why We Make Year’s Resolutions
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is as old as civilization. Ancient Babylonians were among the first to make resolutions some 4,000 years ago. However, their New Year began in March instead of January, and resolutions often involved promises to rulers and deities.
In modern times, resolutions usually involve promises to ourselves and our nearest and dearest. The most common themes today are starting good habits and quitting bad ones, especially those related to health, like losing weight, exercising more or reducing screen time. Modern-day resolutions also include promises to make changes in one’s finances, employment, relationships and hobbies. In each of these scenarios, the common goal is to make one’s life better.
But where does this drive come from?
The arrival of the New Year tends to make people reevaluate their lives and bring a sense of hope and renewal. If you have been bothered by the appearance of your nose for some time, or have been struggling with functional issues, rhinoplasty could be exactly the type of renewal you’re looking for.
Should Rhinoplasty Be on Your New Year’s Resolutions List?
Have you always felt unhappy with the shape and size of your nose? Has this affected your self-esteem and prevented you from achieving other long-term goals? Then this procedure may give you the confidence boost you need for a fresh start in the new year.
Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose to a more pleasing appearance while preserving the structural integrity and breathing functionality of the nose. You may be interested in this procedure if you are bothered by:
- Bumps or indentations in your nasal bridge
- An overly wide or narrow nasal bridge
- A long, bulbous, pointed or drooping nasal tip
- Wide or flared nostrils
- An overall large or small nose
- A wide or narrow base of the nose
- Nasal asymmetry
- Imbalanced facial features
Like other plastic surgery procedures, rhinoplasty’s primary purpose is to enhance a patient’s appearance, but many people feel that it also improves their well-being by making them feel more confident and comfortable in social situations.
Of course, it is critical to have realistic expectations and relatively good mental health before undergoing any cosmetic surgery. Studies show that patients with poor mental health and unrealistic expectations tend to be dissatisfied with their plastic surgery results. On the other hand, patients with realistic expectations and good mental health tend to be happy with the change in appearance.
What You Should Know About Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, popularly referred to as a “nose job,” is surgery performed to change the size, shape and function of the nose.
Medical reasons for rhinoplasty include a deviated septum and other anatomical anomalies that make it difficult for a patient to breathe through the nose. However, most rhinoplasties are performed for cosmetic reasons. The usual reasons for getting a nose job are to reduce a nasal hump, make the nose appear smaller, refine the nasal tip and create better symmetry.
A rhinoplasty is performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia and involves making small incisions using one of two techniques (open vs. closed rhinoplasty). From there, the surgeon either reshapes or remove the nasal cartilage and repositions the bones of the nose. After surgery, patients wear splints and a cast for a week and avoid contact sports for up to six weeks. The full results are visible after a year when the swelling completely subsides.
Because the nose is such a focal point of the face, it can have a big impact on your appearance. A nose that is misshapen or not in harmony with your other features can distract from your natural beauty. Rhinoplasty aims to help create more facial harmony by correcting cosmetic issues like a dorsal hump, bulbous tip or downturned nose.
Why This Time of Year Is Perfect for Rhinoplasty
If you’ve been thinking about getting rhinoplasty for a while, the turn of the year may be the best time to start, and here is why:
More Time to Recover
Rhinoplasty requires a downtime period of at least one full week away from work and other responsibilities. The holidays are when many of us take time off, which can be a good opportunity to get this type of procedure without disrupting your usual work schedule, and have a more comfortable and stress-free recovery. Plus, you can think of it as a gift to yourself.
Winter Weather
There can be quite a bit of swelling after a rhinoplasty. Cold temperatures can help keep swelling and bruising to a minimum by constricting blood vessels. Additionally, less sunlight during the winter months means a reduced risk of poor scarring and hyperpigmentation after surgery using the open technique.
Taking It Slow
The colder months are when most of us like to spend our free time indoors and resting, which is exactly what you need to do to recover after a rhinoplasty.
Preparation for Summer
Swelling after rhinoplasty takes weeks to months to decrease. This also means you won’t see the final results until months later. Getting your surgery now means you’ll have more time before you can get summer-ready with your new features.
Starting the New Year With Rhinoplasty
With the New Year finally here, most of us are taking action towards renewing ourselves. If you’ve been thinking of getting rhinoplasty for a while, consider adding it to your New Year’s resolutions list. When performed by a skilled and experienced surgeon like Dr. Ridenour, rhinoplasty can not only improve the appearance of your nose but also balance out your facial features.
Call our St. Louis office today at 314-878-8600 or schedule your consultation here to take the first step toward a new nose and a new you.
