There are a number of techniques by which a rhino surgeon can help you plan for you rhinoplasty. After examining the shape and structure of your nose and face, they may make sketch of what they plan to do, they may show photographs of people with beautiful noses that can suit you and most commonly, they use computer imaging system.

Computer imaging is a good way to make sure that the goal of the patients and what the rhino surgeon imagines for your new nose will match. The surgeon might be thinking of totally something else than what the patient is thinking so computer imaging will help both the patient and the surgeon agree in their goals.

The surgeon will get a digital picture of your face either by taking your picture using a digital camera or having your picture scanned. When the digital image is already in the computer screen, the surgeon uses a program to manipulate the shape of your nose and create your post-operative profile. Basically, a post-operative profile is a picture of what your nose will look like after the operation. The patient should approve the image first before the surgeon prints it out so that they have a hard copy of the profile.

The rhino surgeon cannot guarantee that the post-operative profile will match perfectly to your new nose but computer imaging helps a lot in giving you an idea of what the rhino surgeon imagines your new nose to be. It may not be 100% copy of the computer image but it with good surgeons, it will be very close to that.