Nose Jobs Are Nothing New

What would you say if I told you people have been getting nose jobs for thousands of years? You might think I’m pulling your leg or engaging in a bit of hyperbole, but it’s true.  An old text known as the Sushruta Samhita, or Sushruta’s Compendium describes how a famous ancient surgeon from what is now India removed flaps of skin from the forehead or cheek of a patient in order to reconstruct their nose in the sixth century B.C.It is believed that rhinoplasty was developed so early in history because cutting off the nose was a common punishment, but surgery for beauty followed. In the late 16th century, nose jobs became popular in Europe as a syphilis epidemic swept the continent. Syphilis can cause the soft tissue in the nose to deteriorate, so people were eager to hide the effects of the disease, or make sure nobody incorrectly suspected they had it.We still do nose jobs for both medical and non-medical reasons, but our tactics have thankfully improved. Dr. Tobias performs only closed rhinoplasty, which is an innovative new technique that results in less scarring and faster healing times.During a closed rhinoplasty, all incisions are made through the nostrils, inside the nose. The columella, which is the area between the nostrils, is not cut.Once the incisions are made, the skin covering the nasal bones and cartilage is gently lifted in order to allow Dr. Tobias to reshape the nose. He is almost always able to use existing cartilage during the surgery, though depending on the individual case, tissue may be removed or added before skin is re-draped over the nose.Once the rhinoplasty has been completed, the inner nose is stitched closed. No packing or external splint or cast is needed since all the incisions were made inside the nose.All in all, the procedure takes around two hours, which the patient sleeps through under general anesthesia.Because the columella was not cut, there is no visible scarring, the patient is in less pain during recovery, and recovery is generally shorter. There is also less postoperative bruising and swelling, and no external splint or packing is required, so people who want to keep their nose job a secret are able to do so more easily.