When you hear the words 'cosmetic surgery' you often think of procedures designed for women. Cosmetic surgery is actually for everyone, however, and some procedures are becoming much more popular with men. One example is 'Rhinoplasty' or nose surgery, which can be performed purely for cosmetic reasons, or also for clearing up health issues like breathing difficulties. There are some differences in the types of rhinoplasty surgery desired by men and women, but overall the process is very similar in patients of both genders.

Rhinoplasty for a man begins with consultation with a qualified surgeon. The surgeon will start by finding out the things the patient dislikes about his nose. The most common male nose complaints are about noses being too large, having dorsal humps, having drooping or bulbous tips, and blocked nasal passages. While it is difficult to describe the 'perfect' one for a man or a woman, cosmetic surgeons will help patients pinpoint shape and size to best complement the rest of their faces. One general rule for men is that the angle formed by the forehead and the nose should be on the smaller side of the normal 115 to 130 degree range.

Once the patient and doctor have discussed the patient's expectations for the nose surgery results, the doctor will also try to find out whether the patient would be a good candidate for rhinoplasty. The qualifying factors typically include being over the age of 16 (the nose may still be growing up to this point) and having realistic and not perfectionist expectations about the outcome of the surgery. Those that may not qualify are the ones who have serious health issues that could make the surgery risky.

After the patient is considered fit for surgery and the desired nose shape and size are determined, the rhinoplasty will be scheduled, usually in an outpatient facility. Sometimes, surgeons will also suggest that other appearance enhancing procedures be done at the same time to save time and make the nose job more effective.

Rhinoplasty is done when the patient is under general or local anesthesia, and the entire surgery can take as little as one hour and as long as three hours to perform. The procedure will then be completed using the open or closed technique. With the open technique, an incision is made across the nostril-separating skin. This makes it easy for the surgeon to get to all the internal nose structures. The closed technique makes it a little more difficult for the surgeon to work with the tissues, but no incision is made on the outer nasal tissues and the healing time is faster.

The surgery continues as the soft tissues are pulled away from the cartilage and bone. The plastic surgeon cuts away and reshapes the bones and cartilage as necessary. The skin is put back in place and a splint is positioned on the nose to hold the new structure in place.

Most men have little or no pain and can manage any tenderness or soreness with painkillers as directed by the surgeon. The natural swelling after the procedure subsides after three or four weeks, but normal activities can be resumed only after few days.

Rhinoplasty may be cosmetic, medically necessary or both, but it is not just for women. Men, as well as women, can find very satisfying and health-restoring effects from rhinoplasty.