Top Five Rhinoplasty Questions Answered

When considering aesthetic facial plastic surgery, it is very important to feel comfortable with and knowledgeable about the nuances of the procedure. Rhinoplasty is one of the most common, as well as demanding, facial procedures. Many people have questions about rhinoplasty, so I thought it would be helpful to answer five of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure.

1. Can rhinoplasty completely alter the shape of my nose?

Rhinoplasty is known to help solve common aesthetic issues, including the nose being proportionally too large, a drooping tip, an unwanted bump on the bridge, or a nose that is noticeably off-center. All these problems and more can be addressed with rhinoplasty.

It is quite common for a patient to desire a complete reshaping. Factors that come into play here are skin thickness, cartilage at the tip of the nose, and your desired look. In most cases, it is entirely possible to completely alter the shape of your nose. It is important to not underestimate the power of subtlety, though. Be sure to have an in-depth discussion with a doctor who specializes in facial plastic surgery, to help design an ideal look for you.

2. What is an Endonasal Rhinoplasty?

Endonasal rhinoplasty is performed using only internal incisions, which decreases the amount of time you will be in the post-operation recovery area (most patients are able to leave within the first hour). I only perform endonasal rhinoplasty, as opposed to open rhinoplasty, which involves external incisions on the nose. I believe that a rapid recovery is an overwhelming benefit to the endonasal method of rhinoplasty. To further expedite recovery time, I also use lightwave frequency treatment, a technology developed by NASA.

3. What is lightwave frequency treatment?

Lightwave frequency treatment directs 660nm light towards very specific areas of the body (in this case, the nose) to stimulate healing activity within cells. This quickens the rate at which the cells will grow and rebuild. There is no risk involved in exposure to 660nm red light. The treatment is painless and can be quite relaxing. It serves to reduce your recovery time and get you on the road to your new look.

4. What is recovery from rhinoplasty like?

At the end of procedure, an external silicone splint will be applied, which will be removed about six days after the procedure, in my office. While it is not the final result, you will look good enough to see your friends, go out to lunch, and return to work feeling confident about the appearance of your nose.

After removing the splint, you begin the lightwave frequency treatment. In most cases, 25% of the post-surgery swelling will dissipate within the first 10-14 days after the initial treatment, while 50% of swelling will be down after 6-8 weeks, and all of the swelling will dissipate after 6-8 months. As previously mentioned, the majority of patients feel comfortable enough to return to work and resume normal daily activities after the external splint is removed.

5. Should I get rhinoplasty?

If you find yourself discouraged by the appearance of your nose and have given the idea of a change careful thought, surgery may be the next step. As a New York rhinoplasty specialist, I can answer all of your questions during a personal consultation; I encourage you to contact my practice today to set up an appointment.