Rhinoplasty Is in the Top 3 Most Commonly Performed Procedures

Every year, the statistics for the number of plastic surgery procedures performed in the US are published by the American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Year after year, nose re-shaping or rhinoplasty is in the top three most commonly performed procedures. Noses that don’t fit well with other facial features can be a cause for embarrassment and self-consciousness. Many patients I see who want this procedure tell me they avoid having their photos taken. Rhinoplasty surgery can really improve self-confidence, and it is a straightforward outpatient procedure.

Each patient who desires rhinoplasty surgery has different reasons why they don’t like their nose. Some patients feel their noses are too big, too wide, or too long. Others complain of a hump or a bulbous tip. Regardless of the particular concern, it is important that the surgeon evaluate the health history to ensure that the patient is a good candidate for the procedure. Healthy non-smokers make good candidates. In my practice, I am very selective about those I offer rhinoplasty procedures to. If patients are uncertain what they don’t like about their noses, it can be difficult to make them happy with the outcome. On the other hand, if the patient complains of obvious cosmetic issues, such as a large hump they desire to have removed, they may be a good candidate.

It is important for the surgeon to assess the functional aspects of the nose prior to surgery. If breathing is obstructed due to a deviated septum, an additional procedure called a septoplasty can be performed simultaneously with the cosmetic procedure. In this case, health insurance will occasionally pay a small portion of the fee for the procedure. Good outcomes in rhinoplasty surgery are obtained when balance is created in the face. In other words, the size of the nose should go well with the size of other facial features. A fair number of patients seeking rhinoplasty have small, retrusive chins as well. Consequently, they benefit from having a chin implant placed at the time of surgery on their noses.

As is true with all surgery I perform, I prefer conservative rhinoplasty results. I find noses that do not appear to be operated on to be more attractive. I do not prefer to use cartilage grafts in the tip, because I find them obvious. I also do not prefer pinched tips or overly small noses. Providing a proportionate well-shaped nose should be the goal.

I use doctors who are board certified in anesthesia to drift the patient off to sleep. I operate in an outpatient surgicenter that is certified as a specialty hospital. In my opinion, this is the safest way to undergo this procedure. The procedure takes approximately two hours and is done as an outpatient. A small incision is made on the under-surface of the nose to allow visualization of the nasal bones and cartilages. The bones are trimmed, and the cartilages are trimmed and shaped. The incision is closed with sutures and an external aluminum splint is applied. Nasal packing is very rarely required.

Most patients report very little discomfort other than feeling stuffy, like they have a cold. Stitches are removed at five to seven days following surgery, and the splint is removed at ten days post-operatively. Many patients return to work even while the splint is in place. Bruising and swelling are variable, depending on the amount of work that needed to be done. Most patients are quite happy with the visible improvements when the splint comes off. Patients are not allowed to exercise or lift for three weeks following the procedure. The swelling dissipates slowly over months, and the final result should not be judged for a year or longer after the procedure.

Scottsdale rhinoplasty patients are some of the happiest patients in my practice. With the straightforward approach I use, revision surgery is extremely uncommon, and patient satisfaction is very high. Because the recovery is well tolerated, most patients tell me they wish they would have pursued the surgery sooner. As with any plastic surgery, make sure you seek out a surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Categorized in: Rhinoplasty