Rhinoplasty (also referred to colloquially as a “nose job”) is an operation to alter the shape or size of the nose. Besides the complexity, time and expense involved in such procedures, rhinoplasty also focuses on one of the most noticeable parts of the face.
Patients considering getting a nose job tend to have already weighed their options carefully before going under the knife. Besides the practical implications of cosmetic surgery, addressing the emotional and mental effects it can have is essential to help you make the best choice for your own health and wellbeing.
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Consultation With Your Surgeon
Finding someone who will take the time to give a thorough consultation is vital. One example is Estherian rhinoplasty, whose consultations look into skin type, facial structure and expectations around the surgery in addition to preparing for the experience of the surgery itself as well as afterwards, including during the recovery period.
Some patients may feel pressured by those around them to get a rhinoplasty. In some instances, pressure may even come from the surgeon themselves, especially if they are likely to prioritize profit over patients. For this reason, it’s important to also seek a surgeon who understands their patients’ needs and aims to create a tailored treatment plan.
Diversity vs. Beauty Standards
From elegant Roman noses to softly-rounded Nubian noses, this particular facial feature comes in all shapes and sizes, yet the perceived “ideal” nose shape often leads people to feel insecure about their own appearance.
Increased access to social media in recent years has led many to scrutinize their own faces, often leading to a great deal of unfair self-criticism. In fact, some surgeons even advise patients to avoid image-based social media, since it presents an unrealistic and often hyperrealistic image of the human face, rather than the diversity that exists in reality.
The Emotional Impact
Rather than aiming for the “ideal” nose, the goal of a good rhinoplasty is to seek facial harmony in a way that still looks like you, rather than just another “Instagram face”. There may be the desire to look like another person altogether, to get surgery at a difficult time (post divorce, or after a bereavement, for example), or the expectation that if you get a nose-job, everything in your life will be better.
However, beliefs such as these frequently point to deeper issues that are best discussed with a professional therapist. While not every patient requires mental health support prior to surgery, it can help you to make decisions from a more grounded and confident place, especially if you also deal with image-related issues such as body dysmorphia.
Your Face, Your Choice
For many people, rhinoplasty can be beneficial, resulting in a boost to their confidence and wellbeing. While there have been significant steps made in terms of body diversity in recent years, this also comes up against a significant amount of pressure to appear a certain way.
Ultimately, the key is to shut off the external noise and ask yourself what you truly want, and whether it’s a decision you are making for yourself, or for someone else. A good consultation should help you to make an informed decision so that you can be 100% confident that you are making a decision that is based around your health and wellbeing.