Rhinoplasty

My unique take on obtaining natural results after a rhinoplasty is addressing the adjacent structures at the same time. The cheekbone structure, the medial aspect of your eyes, the brows, the upper and lower lips, and the chin play an important role in the natural appearance of your nose. All components must be carefully measured and taken into account when modifying the nose. Modifications of the nose can change the appearance of some of the components; furthermore, some of the components might need modifications to make the rhinoplasty appear more natural.

The shadows that the light plays on the nose, and how lines are created from the tip of the nose to the brows must be smooth. The nose and upper lip relationship can alter the way the tip of the nose is appreciated, and at times the muscle and ligaments that attach the lip to the base of the nose must be divided. The relationship of the nose and the chin is also critical, and at times the chin needs to be advanced or set back to provide a better appearance to the nose. I pay particular attention to these relationships, and show my patients how they can be altered to provide better results.

Whether you are concerned and bothered by a dorsal hump, your nasal tip, or the overall look of your nose, to correct the problem requires the vision to see the changes that will result to the other anatomical relationships mentioned in order to prevent distortion of those relationships. I use both an endo (internal) and an open approach to the nose, which means that I place the incision inside your nose or outside your nose. Both techniques have their place, and are utilized depending on the problem at hand.

Some of the questions I get asked are about the postoperative recovery. How long will I be swollen and bruised? Can I go back work right away? When will I see my long-term results and how I will ultimately look? In terms of how swollen and bruised, I use steroids the day of surgery, which minimize swelling and bruising from the operation. However, you can expect bruising to last about

10-14 days, and the major most noticeable swelling about 10-14 days.

Most patients return to work after the first postoperative visit, in which the external nasal splint and stitches are removed. Lastly, in terms of the ultimate appearance of your nose, I usually tell my patients that after a year the soft tissues adjust to the changes we made, and how they ultimately adjust is your final appearance. Therefore, you can expect that after one year the way your nose looks is your final result.