Rhinoplasty, or surgery to reshape the nose, is one of the most common of all
plastic surgery procedures. Rhinoplasty can reduce or the size of your nose,
change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils,
or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. It may also correct
a birth defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing problems.
Commonly asked questions:
Am I a good candidate for a rhinoplasty?
What are the risks of surgery?
Where will my surgery be performed?
What type of anesthesia is used?
What does my surgery involve?
When can I return to my usual activities?
How will I look?
Nose surgery is the one of the most popular surgical cosmetic procedures in
the US. If you're self-conscious about your nose, you may be a good candidate.
Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose for aesthetic and corrective purposes. Whether
the issue is birth defect, injury, or age-related changes, rhinoplasty can
help provide balance and proportion to your nose and face. Surgery can either
be performed on the entire nose, or just on the tip.
When rhinoplasty is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are
infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of
complications, including infection, nosebleed, or difficulty inhaling . You can
reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon's instructions both before
and after surgery.
When rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose, there is no visible scarring
at all; this is the technique Dr. Palmer uses. When an "open" technique is used,
or when the procedure calls for the narrowing of flared nostrils, the small scars
on the base of the nose are usually not visible.
In about one case out of ten, a second procedure may be required-for example, to
correct a minor deformity. Such cases are unpredictable and happen even to
patients of the most skilled surgeons. The corrective surgery is usually minor.
Most of our patients prefer to have their surgery performed in our fully
certified office surgical facility. Some patients prefer to have their surgery
in the hospital or outpatient surgery center. We can easily accommodate these
requests.
Dr. Palmer performs virtually all of his office surgery under an IV sedation
anesthetic administered buy a certified anesthesia provider.
Due to his expertise in pain control, his patients do not need general anesthesia.
There is no pain, discomfort, or awareness during surgery. Some smaller cases can
be done under local anesthesia.
Rhinoplasty usually takes an hour or two, though complicated procedures may take
longer. During surgery the skin of the nose is separated from its supporting
framework of bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape.
The nature of the sculpting will depend on your problem and your surgeon's
preferred technique. Finally, the skin is redraped over the new framework.
When the surgery is complete, a splint will be applied to help your nose maintain
its new shape. Nasal packs or soft plastic splints also may be placed in your
nostrils to stabilize the septum, the dividing wall between the air passages.
Most rhinoplasty patients are up and about within a day, and able to return to
school or sedentary work within 6 days or so following surgery.
Avoid strenuous activity (jogging, swimming, bending, and sexual relations-any
activity that increases your blood pressure) for two to three weeks. Avoid
hitting or rubbing your nose, or getting it sunburned, for eight weeks. Be
gentle when washing your face and hair or using cosmetics.
Immediately after surgery, there will be some mild swelling. Often, the
patients have bruising around the eyes that lasts about a week. The splint
will stay on for 6 days. You will notice major improvements in the nose
immediately after the splint is removed, and the nose will continue to improve
in appearance for 6-12 months. Dr. Palmer will make every effort to ensure
you don’t look like you had a nose job. He will make you look natural, and
shape your nose to fit your face.
|
|
Call Us: (954) 989-5001
E-Mail Dr. Palmer
Photo Gallery