Question: The bridge of my nose looks flattened although I have never had it broken. I would like rhinoplasty to get the bridge reshaped. How long does this procedure last? Is an incision required or can you do all the work from inside the nose?
Answer: Reshaping the bridge of the nose typically involves repositioning of the nasal bones, and this can be done via the “closed” technique where no external incision is made. There is still an internal (inside the nose) incision that is not visible. Many rhinoplasty surgeons still choose to use the “open” approach where a small incision is made on the columella (narrow bridge of skin between the nostrils). This allows better visualization of the nasal anatomy and the scar is not noticeable. The length of time to perform a rhinoplasty depends on the severity of the deformity and what maneuvers will be needed to correct it. It can range anywhere from 2-6 hours.