If I get a Rhinoplasty when I am overweight, will my nose still look good after weight loss?

Question

I've gained about 30 lbs in only a couple years motherhood has been very stressful for me. I know I should be more worried about weight loss than plastic surgery. The thing is I do have a very large and long nose so I think a rhinoplasty would be good for me. I would love to do this for myself as soon as possible I need to do something for me. What if I lose a lot of weight though down the road? Could losing a lot of weight adversely affect my new nose?

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Will weight-loss affect  results of rhinoplasty? No!I have seen weight fluctuations in my patients over the past 35 years although the rest of the face changes the nose will not other than aging.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Unlike the breasts, abdomen, or other soft tissue areas of the body which are dramatically changed by weight fluctuations, the nose is not.  Weight loss after rhinoplasty will have minimal effect on your result.  I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.Best wishes and good luck.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The dimensions of the nose are rarely influenced with weight gain or loss.Kenneth Hughes, MDBeverly Hills, CA

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

We always ask patients about their health history, including their diet and weight gain/loss. We prefer our patients to have maintained a close weight range for 6 months to 12 months before engaging in surgery. I suggest you move forward with your weight loss strategy before surgery and do your very best to remain at that weight so that your health is consistent when you undergo a surgery that demands the attention of your entire body to heal. During your weight loss and diet period, you should continue to move forward with your Rhinoplasty procedure by learning as much as possible about the surgical procedure and then select the appropriate and highly qualified surgeon to perform it.  I suggest you consult a board certified facial plastic surgeon
to receive the highest quality knowledge, treatment, care and skill available.

A consultation provides you the opportunity to relay your
concerns and desired outcome to the surgeon while the surgeon can assess your
health profile and discuss his/her pertinent advice.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

One's weight is rarely reflected in their nasal shape and size. Thus weight loss would not be expected to make any change in the shape of the nose after rhinoplasty.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It is important to be at your ideal body weight before undergoing elective cosmetic surgery. In our surgery Center, the anesthesia doctors have a upper limit that patient's BMI cannot exceed 35 when placing  them under anesthesia for a rhinoplasty.  In addition, there is no fat in the nose, and a rhinoplasty consists of remodeling cartilage and bone.

Fred Suess, MD (retired) · Answer

Losing a lot of weight would not adversely affect you either physically or appearance wise.  You can count on the results of the rhinoplasty to last, though the shape of your face may change slightly with the weight loss.

Dennis Barek, MD (retired) · Answer

Since the nose has no significant fat stores, there will be no significant change after weight loss.I suggest that for medical reasons, you should get to ideal weight before undergoing elective surgery and anesthesia. Why take unnecessary risks?

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Weight will not significantly change the appearance of your nose. You can answer that yourself; did your nose look different when you were thinner?  However, it is important that you lose the excess weight to improve your health.

RHINOPLASTY PROVIDERS NEAR YOU

If I get a Rhinoplasty when I am overweight, will my nose still look good after weight loss?

Answers (9)

RHINOPLASTY PROVIDERS NEAR YOU