Can I Have A Local Anesthetic For My Rhinoplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested I’m a rhinoplasty.. Please find attached my photographs. What I am interested in is a dorsal hump removal. I am 28 years old, and have no medical conditions. I do not take any medications. 

My questions are as follows:

  1. What is the estimated cost of the procedure?
  2. Would this be done under local or general anesthesia (I prefer local)
  3. Would i wear a cast after the procedure?
  4. How long would the cast stay on for?

A: In answer to your rhinoplasty questions:

1) While dorsal hump removal can be done as the only component of a rhinoplasty, it will make the nose look longer in profile (see attached first image) and can make the tip heavier in appearance. For aesthetic reasons it rarely is ever done by itself as you change one element of the nose it always affects how the rest of the nose looks. A more complete rhinoplasty approach has a better overall aesthetic change. (second set of images)

2) Local anesthesia for most rhinoplasties is not how I usually do the surgery. This turns out to be a painful experience for all involved and usually adversely affects the aesthetic outcome by limiting what the surgeon can do when trying to perform a more complete rhinoplasty surgery.

3) All rhinoplasties due to postoperative swelling and in effort to get the skin to stick back down to the bone/cartilage before scar tissues sets in (and makes the nose thicker) is always used. This can be removed by the patient in 5 to 7 days after surgery.

4) Like all my geographically distant patients, a virtual consultation is the next step in the process.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana