Rhinoplasty

The best nose is the one that lets the eyes shine through. A nose that is in harmony with the face rarely draws attention to itself, but rather lets others focus instead on the eyes, arguably the most beautiful part of anyone’s face. My goal in rhinoplasty, therefore, is to modify an out of proportion nose so that it becomes a balanced and natural part of the face.

Before we embark on surgery, you and I develop a plan as to what we want your nose to look like. When you visit for your consultation, pictures are taken and loaded into a computer with specialized software that allows me to simulate changes to your nose. With these simulations we can arrive at a look that I know is possible and you know you like.

Rhinoplasty can be done to achieve all kinds of changes. A hump can be eliminated or a depression augmented. The bridge and tip can be made narrower or wider. The entire nose can be shortened or lengthened. In addition to the nasal appearance, the nose has a function, and that is as a breathing passage. I take great care in assuring that your new nose, aside from looking better, will breathe better as well. If you have problems with your breathing before surgery, I can usually correct that, and if you breathe fine, I strive to keep you that way.

How it’s done
The nose is made up of cartilage, bone and skin. Cartilage makes up the structure of the softer parts of the nose including the tip and the lower half of the bridge; the upper part of the bridge is bone. You can easily feel the difference pushing on the nose with your fingers. The cartilage and bone is trimmed and sutured during rhinoplasty to provide for a new shape. Skin type also plays an important role in the shape of a nose. Thinner skin allows for more of the detailed work on the bone and cartilage to show after surgery.

I usually perform rhinoplasty in my private surgical suite under "twilight" anesthesia, though we can use general if you prefer. The procedure takes between two and five hours depending on the complexity. The nose is not "packed" and most patients are able to breathe through their nose immediately after surgery, though with stuffiness. The operation can be combined with internal surgery of the nose to improve breathing and that part may be eligible for insurance coverage.

After surgery a small splint is worn on the outside of the nose for one week. When this is removed, generally no further dressing is needed. I am able to perform the majority of rhinoplasties completely through the inside of the nose without any outwardly visible incisions. Pain is usually only an issue the first day or two after rhinoplasty and can be well controlled with medication. Bruising and swelling do occur, however it is usually sufficiently resolved by one week that the average acquaintance doesn’t notice anything.

Before and four months after rhinoplasty