The nurses will show you how to douche your nose with saline to keep it clean. Keep the plaster dry and wash your face with a sponge or face washer.
In hospital you will have 3 pillows to raise up your head and reduce the swelling. At home you can use your normal pillow. No need to sleep up so high after the 1st night.
If you have a bad neck we suggest you bring a travel pillow to help avoid neck strain in the Recovery ward when you are sitting up but drowsy.
Ice helps in the first 12 hours but the benefit after 12 hours is less.
We will remove these 1 week after surgery. It is a good idea to watch Dr Dunlop’s video Removing the Stitches and Plaster before the day so you know what to expect and can see how easy it is. We suggest you put Vaseline on the row of stitches under your nose on the day of your appointment. The Vaseline cleans the stitches so they slide out more comfortably.
We really encourage people to walk 30-60 minutes a day for the first 12 days. Then they can return to the gym. If you exercise too much too soon you might cause bleeding.
When walking use a sun visor rather than sunglasses to reduce the weight on the bridge of the nose.
Most people who wear glasses will want to use their lightest pair or use a piece of cotton wool over the bridge of the nose to support the glasses in the first 3 weeks. After 3 weeks it is usually not uncomfortable to wear glasses.
Bruising may not even happen if we are just working with cartilage changes. Bruising tends to happen if we need to work with bone such as a crooked nose or a very large hump.
If there is bruising it can last around 12 days. Concealer can be used after the first 7 days when the plaster is removed.
We will give you a certificate for 2 weeks off work. It is normal to be very tired in the first week though there is minimal pain.
We will show you photos of other people’s noses. The main swelling goes down in the first few months but it can take up to 2 years to see your final result.
You will need to wait at least 4 months before considering this type of photo. The nose will look better and better over time so it is best to wait.
We recommend you buy Drixine nose spray from the chemist and squirt it in your nose. This medicine will shrink down blood vessels. Bleeding is very uncommon but it tends to come from the front of the nose where the internal splints are positioned.
It is not uncommon to have a watery nose after nose surgery. This can last for years and the cause is unknown.
We recommend at least 4 appointments over an 18-month period. We don’t charge you for these appointments as it is all part of making sure you have the best possible result. We are checking to make sure the cartilage is healthy and uninfected.
We will take photos prior to surgery so we can discuss the planned changes.
We will photograph you at the end of the operation so you know what to expect the nose will look like when the swelling goes down. We then photograph you over the 18 months after surgery so you can see the new nose evolving.
You will ring the nursing staff the afternoon before your operation to check on the arrival time and fasting time.
Wear loose comfortable clothes that will be easy to put on and off when you have a plaster on your nose. As we said above, don’t wear make up and have clean hair. If your hair is long, wear a high pony tail so it is out of the way during the surgery when you are lying on your back.
Most rhinoplasty procedures take 4 to 4 ½ hours. This could be longer if a rib graft is needed.
If you have already undergone a rhinoplasty or septoplasty or have had major trauma to your nose you may need a rib graft. The rib provides cartilage for building blocks to rebuild your new nose. Rib cartilage can come from a donor or from you.
The hospital will give you a saline douche for keeping the nose clean and antibiotic capsules. Most people are also given a few days of medicine to reduce the swelling.
Most people only take pain relief the night of the surgery. We will give you some pain relief tablets to take home but generally Panadol is all that you will need.
Because their nose is blocked most people are aware of a dry throat from the constant mouth breathing. The blockage is relieved the day the splints are removed which is 1 week after surgery.
No. You will be too tired after a long operation. Besides the Government will not cover you for Third Party Insurance.
We suggest you look at the before/after gallery photos on the different websites and examine the reviews. The best way is to speak with someone who has already had a good experience and can provide a recommendation.
We suggest you bring some images of a nose you really admire. We will then discuss if it is a realistic goal for you. It is also a good idea to bring any scans or other information relating to your nose. If you bring a referral, you will be able to have a Medicare rebate.
Medicines that thin the blood and increase bruising and swelling include Aspirin and NSAIDS such as Naprosyn, Naprogesic, Celebrex, Indocid, Ibuprofen, Ponstan and Voltaren. Fish Oil, Vitamin E, Gingko, Echinacea and Manuka Honey all have a similar effect.
We recommend you avoid these medicines 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery to reduce bleeding and bruising.
Don’t wear any makeup or earrings to hospital. If you do, they will be removed to reduce the risk of infection.
When you wake up you will have a plaster on your nose. The plaster must be kept dry for 1 week so you won’t be able to wash your hair. That means it is important to have really clean hair on the day of your rhinoplasty.
You must be 18 years to undergo Rhinoplasty. If you are under 18, you must obtain a report from a psychologist and undergo a 3 month cooling off period.
Yes, greatly. During the rhinoplasty the cartilage in the nose is re-shaped in order to achieve a normal look. Nicotine in cigarettes or vaping will reduce the blood supply to these areas and possibly lead to breaking down of some of the cartilage. This can result in notches, asymmetry and even loss of skin. It is best to avoid nicotine for 1 month pre op and 3 months post op. Even passive smoking is a problem.
At your appointment you will be given a quote for Dr Dunlop but you need 2 other quotes to know the total cost. We will give you the phone number for the anaesthetist and the hospital so you can obtain their quotes as well. You need to check with your health fund that you are covered for rhinoplasty before the surgery. Health funds and Medicare pay very little towards the surgical and anaesthetic fees. They contribute mainly towards the hospital costs such as the theatre fee and overnight stay. Without insurance hospital fees in 2022 are round $7,000. If you choose to go home the day of surgery rather than stay overnight the saving may only be several hundred dollars (2022).
Medicare only supports the cost of surgery if you are under 18 years of age, and you have suffered psychological trauma because of the appearance of your ears. Once you are given a medicare item number you can then apply to your private health fund for further financial support.
The ears are wrapped up in cotton wool and the head is covered with a crepe dressing. The dressing stays on for approximately one week so kids will need this time off school. Adult patients may be able to work from home. It is very important not to put your fingers under the dressing because you could cause an infection. As humans we often have staph and strep germs under our fingernails.
Very few patients need pain relief after the first day but the dressing is hot and sometimes itchy. Antihistamines may be helpful to reduce the sensation of itch.
The dressing is removed with eucalyptus oil after one week. The results can be seen straight away.
For the first month you will need to use a cream to cleanse the skin wound when the skin is slightly moist after your shower or bath.
It is best to have a quiet life while the dressing is on. If you keep your heart rate and blood pressure relatively normal there is a reduced risk of a haematoma or bloodstained ooze. When the bandage is removed it is fine to play sport as long as it is not a form of contact sport. Most kids and adults will need to wait 6 weeks before playing contact sports such as football. The ears will only hurt if you touch them roughly. Swimming is not allowed until the skin wound has healed. This normally takes 3 weeks.
Dr Dunlop will suggest placing a headband over the ears at bedtime for the first month. This protects the ears from bending backwards when you roll over in bed.
Otoplasty surgery will be somewhere between $7000 and $10000 depending on whether you have a Medicare item number and health insurance. The three main components are:
If you don’t have health insurance, you will pay approx. $3570 to $6,000 for the use of the operating theatre, hospital bed and nursing care. This fee is payable to the hospital on the day of admission. If you do not qualify for a Medicare item number, there is no Medicare rebate. No Medicare rebate also means your health insurance will not cover you for all fees associated with the surgeon, anaesthetist, or hospital admission. Medicare only gives item numbers for otoplasty to children up to the age of 18 if they have been teased about their prominent ears.
TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR DUNLOP PLEASE RING 02 9487 7877 OR FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW, PLEASE BRING YOUR DOCTOR'S REFERRAL ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT.
If you would like to organise an initial discussion to discuss your sydney rhinoplasty treatment. Please book a consultation. Call us on (02) 9487 7877. Or fill out the form below.
If you would like to organise an initial discussion to discuss your sydney rhinoplasty treatment. Please request a consultation. Call us on (02) 9487 7877. Or fill out the form below.