Should You Have A Rhinoplasty To Correct An Old Injury?

Of course getting medical treatment as soon as you are injured in a smart choice. But sometimes, people don't always make the smartest choice, for whatever reason. If you injured your nose years ago, but did not have the injury properly treated at the time, you might now be considering a rhinoplasty to restore your nose to its original shape. But this is not always the right approach. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you contemplate plastic surgery on your nose.

Can you breath freely?

If you have struggled to breath through one or both sides of your nose since the injury, this is a good reason to go through with the rhinoplasty. During the procedure, your surgeon will remove tissues that are impeding on your airway, allowing you to breathe freely once again. If the bone has become misaligned, thus closing off your airways, this will be corrected, too. On the other hand, if you have no trouble breathing, then the procedure will be purely cosmetic -- which means it's a bit more optional.

Will insurance cover the surgery?

Usually, insurance companies will cover the cost of your rhinoplasty if you are having trouble breathing. But if you can breath freely, it won't be covered. There are exceptions, however, so you should reach out to your individual insurance company to verify what is covered and what your out-of-pocket cost will be for the surgery. If your insurance coverage does not cover any portion of the procedure, it could cost you $20,000 or more -- so you may need to put off treatment and save up some funds, first.

Do you have time to recover?

Rhinoplasty recovery can take a few weeks. Depending on the extent of the injury being repaired, you might need to take three days off of work, or you might need to take off a few weeks. Verify your projected recovery time with a doctor before agreeing to the surgery, and make sure you can get that amount of time off. You won't be able to do any serious physical exercise during this time, either, so you'll need to take time off from sports, gardening, and other activities.

Are you generally healthy?

There are a few conditions that can impede your body's healing ability. Diabetes and auto-immune conditions are good examples. If you suffer from any underlying medical condition, have your doctor evaluate you and tell you whether rhinoplasty is a safe choice for you.

Is rhinoplasty a smart choice for you? Talk to your plastic surgeon to learn more.


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