NASAL SURGERY: (rhinoplasty - shown above)

WHAT IT DOES: Reduces the size and reshapes the nose. May help with breathing.

BEST CANDIDATES: Almost anyone with a nasal hump or mishapen nose.

LENGTH: 1 hour

RECOVERY: Nasal splint for 4 days. Swelling and bruising subsides in 8 to 10 days. Slight swelling may last months.

BACK TO WORK: 1 week

COST: $2,000 — $6,000 (plus $500 fee for Anesthesia)

Surgery of the nose can reduce the overall size, change the shape of the tip, remove a bump from the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils or even change the angle between the nose and the upper lip. Correcting a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates may help to relieve breathing problems.

A bump on the nose can be refined or completely removed. Flared nostrils can be narrowed by bringing the sides closer to the nose. When a prominent nose is made smaller, the nostrils may need to be reduced in size. Crooked and unbalanced noses can be straightened and made more symmetrical. Nasal surgery to reconstruct a deformed or unattractive nose is one of the most common of all cosmetic surgery procedures.

Incisions are made inside the nostrils or at the base of the nose. The surgeon works from inside the nose, carefully reshaping and sculpting the bones and cartilage. Incisions made inside the nose are never seen, while incisions at the nostrils heal to nearly invisible scars.

After surgery, a splint is applied to help maintain the new shape and to protect the nose. Nasal packing may be placed inside the nose for support. This will require you to breathe through your mouth for a couple of days until the packing is removed. The splint usually comes off in less than a week, when the sutures are removed.

You will need to rest in bed for a day or two with your head elevated. Any discomfort you experience can be controlled by pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. Cold compresses placed on your eyes will help to reduce swelling and bruising. Bruising around the eyes peaks in two or three days and then slowly fades, disappearing within a week or two.

EAR SURGERY: (otoplasty)

WHAT IT DOES: Makes prominent ears lay flatter against the head giving a more normal look.

BEST CANDIDATES: Children and adults with prominent protruding ears.

LENGTH: 1 hour

RECOVERY: Must wear a headband for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Limit contact sports for 6 weeks.

BACK TO WORK: 3 to 5 days

COST: $2,160 - $3,600 (plus $500 fee for Anesthesia)

Many men often remember the constant teasing from insensitive classmates about their protruding, prominent or large ears. When you were a child your parents weren't concerned about the teasing or couldn't afford to correct the problem. Ear surgery can make large ears smaller or bring protruding ears closer to the head. Adults are good candidates for this relatively simple cosmetic procedure.

Your surgeon will usually make an incision in the back of the ear. The cartilage is reshaped and bent back towards the head. Sometimes a piece of cartilage is removed to provide for a more natural fold. The head and ears are wrapped with a bulky bandage to help mold and protect the ears. The ears will be sore for a few days. Any discomfort can be controlled by pain medication prescribed by your surgeon.

You will be up and around the same day of surgery. The bulky dressing and sutures are removed in five to seven days. There will be a faint scar on the back of the ear that will fade over time. A lightweight headband is worn during sleep for the first few weeks.