Your Rhinoplasty Procedure

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The big day has arrived. No doubt you're excited and most likely a little anxious about undergoing your rhinoplasty procedure. Thanks to modern medicine, surgeons have fine-tuned the process of rhinoplasty, resulting in less discomfort and quicker recovery times. And although it may have been easy to spot "nose jobs" in the past, current trends in rhinoplasty have led to more natural-looking results that blend harmoniously with the rest of your face.

Arriving at the Surgery Center

When you arrive at the surgery center, you'll complete any required administrative paperwork. Part of this paperwork will include "informed consent" forms, which you'll be asked to sign. What is an informed consent form? Prior to surgery, you should receive an explanation of the procedure you're having, any risks, and the expected outcome. The
informed consent form states in detail that you understand everything involved with your surgery. You should read through the consent form carefully before signing it. If you have any questions or need more information, ask your physician.

Surgery Preparation

Once you've completed the necessary forms, the preparations for surgery begin. You'll be given a hospital gown, a hairnet, and perhaps surgical booties or socks to wear. Most surgery centers have a designated area where you can leave your clothing and personal belongings. At this point, a nurse may give a sedative to help you relax.

Meeting with Your Surgeon

At some point during your surgery prep, you can expect to have a brief meeting with the surgeon to go over the procedure. This is your chance to ask any last-minute questions or to make any modifications to the wishes you had previously discussed. As part of the preparation for your surgery, some surgeons use a special surgical marking pen to draw on your nose as a blueprint for changes to be made during surgery. These markings are usually made while you're sitting or standing rather than while you're lying down.

Meeting with the Anesthesiologist

You may also receive a brief visit from the anesthesiologist during the preparations for surgery. He or she will verify that you haven't had anything to eat or drink other than a few sips of water with any necessary medication. Your anesthesiologist will also check that you haven't been taking any of the medications your surgeon instructed you to avoid.

A quick review of your medical history may also be part of this visit. The anesthesiologist may ask you about certain medical conditions, any allergies to food or medications, and whether you or a family member have ever had any allergic reactions to anesthesia. What do food allergies have to do with anesthesia? Some anesthetics contain components of foods, such as eggs, so it's important to inform the anesthesiologist of any food allergies. And although adverse reactions to anesthesia are rare, they can run in families. You should also inform your anesthesiologist about
any allergies to latex.

Even though you've already included this information in your medical history, it's important to review it with the anesthesiologist. This review is done to ensure your safety during your procedure, so be sure to bring up anything you may have forgotten to include in your history. If you have any last-minute questions about anesthesia or pain control
during the procedure, ask the anesthesiologist.

Placement of IV

Surgery prep will continue with the placement of an IV. The IV is usually placed in your arm or in the top of your hand and will be used to administer anesthetics, antibiotics, and other medications. Other than a slight stinging sensation when the IV is first inserted, you shouldn't feel any pain. The IV is usually taped in place with surgical tape to prevent it
from moving.

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