An enhancement to a person’s nose is one of the more popular plastic surgery procedures performed. If you are considering it, you should first know how the nose is comprised.

While breast enhancements are certainly the first thing people think of when plastic surgery is mentioned, nose jobs are almost as popular. If you are unhappy with your nose, it is pretty hard to compartmentalize your unhappiness. As the old saying goes, your nose is front and center. Every time you look in the mirror, there it is. That being said, any consideration of rhinoplasty first requires you to understand the anatomy of the nose.

Despite the relatively small size, your nose is a complex anatomical structure. The first structures are the nasal bones. They are part of the skull. To the surprise of many, they do not extend to the point of your nose. Instead, you can feel them between your eyes with your fingers as well as they fact they only extend about a third of the way down your nose. The remainder of the nose structure is formed by cartilage, a flexible material that is nonetheless strong. When a person breaks their nose, they usually break the cartilage.

The internal space of your nose performs important functions. It allows for the passage of air in and out. At the same time, it is set up to filter the air by providing a mucous barrier along the walls. Oh, and the nose is key for smelling as well!

The entire structure is divided into two passages by the nasal septum. The connection at the very tip of your nose is known by the name columella. It is the vertical structure running from the tip of your nose down to the top of your lip.

Although you might not realize it, your nose can really inhibit you if there is a problem. The most common problems occur with the septum, the wall dividing the nostrils. If your septum is broken or perforated, it can inhibit your breathing and increase snoring. It can also reveal itself on the outer surface of the nose as a lump or crook.

With Rhinoplasty, a surgeon works to reshape your nose. There are many ways to do this, but most involve the modification of the nasal bones and cartilage. In general, a nose job will not involve incisions on the exterior of your nose, meaning there is little scaring risk. Instead, the surgeon will usually operate up through your nasal passages. Refinements are made by removing or adding cartilage.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeon practices.