Rhinoplasty for Edmond Patients: The Drive, the Consult, the Aftercare

Why the short drive matters for rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is not a one-visit procedure. There is a consultation, the surgery itself, and then a series of follow-up appointments — splint removal at one week, shape checks over the following months, and a final assessment around one year. Edmond sits about 7 miles from our Oklahoma City practice in a straight line. That proximity makes every post-operative visit simple rather than a production.

Our consults are available virtual or in person, so the first conversation can happen from your living room. Surgery is performed in our AAAHC-accredited surgery center in Oklahoma City, which includes a private overnight guest suite for patients who prefer to stay close after the procedure.

What rhinoplasty actually changes

Rhinoplasty reshapes the bone and cartilage that give the nose its structure so it sits in proportion with the rest of your face. It can make the nose smaller, straighter, or more balanced. When a blocked airway is part of the problem — a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates — that can be corrected in the same operation.

The nose and the chin set each other's proportions. Chin augmentation is one of the most common companions to rhinoplasty. Whether one procedure, the other, or both makes sense is a consultation conversation — not something decided from a photograph alone.

A second surgery to correct a previous nose job is called a revision. It is harder and planned more carefully. Dr. Cuzalina has published on revision rhinoplasty in the peer-reviewed literature, addressing the specific challenges of operating on previously altered cartilage and scar tissue [3].

The surgeons and their published work

Rhinoplasty at this practice is performed by Dr. Angelo Cuzalina and Dr. Chase Nelson. Dr. Cuzalina is a rhinoplasty author, past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and fellowship director. Dr. Nelson is a cosmetic otorhinolaryngologist — an ENT surgeon — fellowship-trained at Tulsa Surgical Arts. Both consult and operate in Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

The depth of published work here is specific. Dr. Cuzalina has authored peer-reviewed chapters on rhinoplasty for cleft lip and palate patients [0][1][2], revision rhinoplasty [3], and has contributed to a dedicated rhinoplasty issue of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America [4]. That academic foundation informs the surgical planning for every patient, including straightforward cosmetic cases.

General anesthesia is administered by a board-certified anesthesia provider. Surgery usually takes two to three hours. Most patients return home the same day with an adult to help.

What the operating room looks like, plainly

You are fully asleep. A small incision is made in the columella — the skin between the nostrils — and just inside the nostrils. The skin is lifted off the underlying cartilage and bone. The framework is then refined: judicious removal and repositioning with sutures. Grafts are often placed for support and contour.

Functional issues such as a deviated septum or turbinate hypertrophy are addressed at the same time. The nasal skin is laid back into place and closed with fine suture. Internal splints are placed, followed by external tape and a protective splint.

Recovery from Edmond: what the weeks look like

The first few days bring a stuffy nose, bruising under the eyes, and mild aching. Keep your head raised. Do not blow your nose. At one week, the splint comes off — that visit is quick. Most bruising fades over the following week. By two weeks, most people return to work or school. Avoid glasses resting on the bridge unless cleared.

At six weeks, the bones are stable and contact sports or heavy lifting can restart. The tip continues to refine for up to a year. Swelling hides the final shape for months, so judgment waits. Every surgery has risks — we review all of them with you in person before you decide anything. If you ever experience signs of a blood clot or breathing emergency, call 911 immediately.

Book a consultation from Edmond

If you are considering rhinoplasty, the next step is a consultation — virtual or in person. We will examine your nose, discuss what you want to change, talk honestly about what surgery can and cannot do, and review every risk. You can reach us at 405-751-0042 or book online. Consult a qualified surgeon before making any decisions about surgery.

Individual results vary. This article is general education, not medical advice.