Nikolai Gogol’s “The Nose” is one of the most uniquely iconic short stories in Russian Literature. It is the tale of a man whose nose mysteriously decides to desert him one day to lead a life of its own and explores the alienation, ostracization, and satire of human pettiness and the tsarist Russia’s class system which follows. Within Russia, there are many landmarks and homages to this work, including the great composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s equally-evocative and innovative operatic adaptation.
That’s a lot of attention for one little nose.
Then again, anyone considering rhinoplasty is bound to understand. While you will (hopefully) never experience your nose simply vanishing one day, we can all imagine the horror that comes from being unable to do anything about your nose’s appearance. After all, your nose is one of the first things people will notice when they look at you and, as Gogol’s story so expertly demonstrates, those first impressions can be devastating.
That’s why you’ll want to take note of these reasons for considering this form of nose surgery.
1. Changing the Bridge
Perhaps you think that the bridge of your nose is a bit boney or bulbous. Maybe you have broken your nose and this has resulted in a crooked bridge or deviated septum. If so, you can look into plastic surgery options to have it corrected.
2. Changing the Tip
Then again, maybe you don’t like the size of the tip of your nose. If this is the case, you may consider rhinoplasty to shrink it.
3. Narrowing Your Nostrils
It might be that you can’t stand the size of your nostrils. Here again, rhinoplasty can be a solution, allowing doctors to make your nostrils a bit narrower.
4. Changing the Overall Size
Maybe you’re simply not happy with the shape or functionality of your nose overall. If so, you may choose to opt for a larger-scale rhinoplasty targeting your entire nose. That being said, remember that the larger the scale of the nose surgery, the more delicate things are bound to be. You hardly want your new nose caving in, becoming dented, or otherwise being mangled post-operation.
Consult with your doctor and make sure that you take every precaution pre and post-op to make sure this does not occur.
5. Cosmetic Surgery
Given those narrower focuses, there are two broader, overarching reasons to look into rhinoplasties – cosmetic and reconstructive reasons.
If you are considering the former, it is vital to ensure that you are doing so for the right reasons. Plastic surgery has come a long way in recent decades, and patients are able to reshape their bodies in ways never before thought possible.
Just because you can do this, however, does not mean you should or, indeed, should feel forced to do so. Reshaping your nose into something which “looks better” or more like something you’ve seen in magazines or on celebrities won’t count for much if you can’t stand to look at your reflection.
6. Reconstructive Surgery
If you have indeed been involved in an accident, you may find yourself wanting reconstructive surgery. This differs from cosmetic nasal surgery in several ways.
First, where many of the examples mentioned above are primarily or entirely concerned with the aesthetic appeal of your nose, reconstructive surgery concerns itself with its functionality and is best suited for an ENT rhinoplasty specialist, as opposed to a cosmetic plastic surgeon.
If your nose has been mangled in such a way as to make breathing through it difficult, for example, rhinoplasty with the express aim of addressing this by expanding nostrils and nasal pathways can be of help. If your nose has been disfigured by an accident, these types of rhinoplasties can, rather than augment it, help restore it to its former shape.
Whatever the reason, make sure you are pursuing rhinoplasties for the right reason – namely, for yourself.
*collaborative post
