Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping)

Rhinoplasty Procedure

The nose is a prominent facial feature easily discernible because of its position in the middle of the face. When the nose is out of proportion with other facial features, or affected by an irregularity such as a nasal bump, it can throw off the harmony of the entire face. Dr. Tansavatdi is a highly trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon capable of altering the structure and appearance of the nose with Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery). This surgery is the most challenging of all plastic surgery procedures, requiring significant skill and experience. You should entrust your face to an expert in facial plastic surgery who has extensive training in Rhinoplasty. To ask any questions regarding Rhinoplasty just call our practice at (805) 715-4996 today!

What Can A Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping) Do For Me?

Nose surgery is a highly versatile procedure that addresses a range of cosmetic and reconstructive concerns. Using advanced techniques, Dr. Tansavatdi can straighten a crooked nose, eliminate nasal bumps, change the shape or size of the tip of the nose and/or the nostrils, and correct a deviated septum. Nose surgery offers patients the opportunity to improve their facial profile and treat aesthetic concerns that will make them feel better about their facial appearance. If you want to find out what nose surgery can do for you, please schedule a consultation with one of the best rhinoplasty surgeons, Dr. Tansavatdi. She also performs rhinoplasty for patients in Agoura Hills, Simi Valley, Malibu, Calabasas and Santa Barbara.

Who Is A Candidate For Rhinoplasty?

Dr. Tansavatdi will first examine the anatomy of the nose and its relationship with the rest of the face, and discuss your nasal concerns. She will then carefully screen your medical history to determine whether you are a candidate for surgery.

In order to minimize any potential risks, it is extremely important to disclose all relevant medical information.

If you’d like to talk with Dr. Tansavatdi personally and find out if you’re a good candidate then call (805) 715-4996 today.

How Is Rhinoplasty Performed?

The surgical techniques used to perform rhinoplasty surgery vary from one patient to another and greatly depend on the nature of the problem. For patients who need complex alterations, Dr. Tansavatdi performs an open rhinoplasty with small incisions on the outside of the nose. Open rhinoplasty is more invasive, but allows Dr. Tansavatdi to lift the nasal skin and expose the underlying nasal structures for accurate reshaping. Closed rhinoplasty, on the other hand, involves smaller incisions made within the nostrils. Dr. Tansavatdi will determine which technique is best for you during a surgical consultation.

Rhinoplasty is performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia at an accredited outpatient facility. Patients are free to go home within a few hours following surgery.

Rhinoplasty Recovery

Recovery can take up to two weeks. Swelling, bruising and discomfort are common during this time, but easily managed by keeping the head elevated, applying cold compresses around the eyes and nose, and by closely following postoperative instructions. An external splint, tape, and any sutures placed at the time of surgery are removed in one week. Mild swelling in the nose slowly decreases over several months. The aesthetic results become evident over time and the final outcome is achieved within 8 to 12 months after surgery.

Contact Rhinoplasty Surgeon Dr. Tansavatdi

Dr. Kristina Tansavatdi has extensive training in Rhinoplasty surgery (nose reshaping) which allows her to provide all of her patients with individualized care and treatment. Her ability to deliver remarkable results coupled with her compassion and understanding has resulted in thousands of extremely satisfied patients. A couple of procedures that are looked into when considering Rhinoplasty are Facelift surgery and Browlift (Forehead Lift) surgery. For more information on Rhinoplasty with Dr. Tansavatdi just call (805) 715-4996 today!

Rhinoplasty Postoperative Care Instructions:

FAQs About Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty or nose reshaping is a surgery that is very safe, but requires precision and an eye for detail. You should do your research before proceeding with surgery. The initial consultation with a rhinoplasty surgeon is a very important process in choosing the right surgeon for you; one that understands your perspective on the final appearance you are looking for your nose.

Providing pictures will help guide your surgeon. Additionally, having your surgeon morph the pictures to show you what they expect results to look like will provide an additional level of reassurance that your expectations are realistic and in line with your surgeon.

An experienced surgeon should also be able to balance form and function appropriately to give you a good result while preventing breathing complications that can occur 10-20 years down the road. Therefore, knowing a surgeon’s long-term revision rates is important as well. This is usually hard to obtain unless the surgeon is critical of his or her own results. Find a surgeon that is meticulous and who analyzes his or her own work.

In addition to doing research on surgeons out there, it is important that you have some knowledge of what rhinoplasty surgery entails, the amount of downtime to expect, and what the postoperative healing period will be like.

Below you will find answers to some questions that are commonly asked by patients during consultation that may be helpful for you to know as you make your decision to pursue rhinoplasty surgery.

Is Rhinoplasty Safe?

Rhinoplasty is like any other surgery in that it is very safe from a life/death scenario. The biggest risk is from the side effects of anesthesia, but even this carries less than 1 in 100,000 chance of a life-threatening complication. There is more risk driving your car to the hospital or surgery center than from having anesthesia. Rhinoplasty, however, is a complex delicate procedure that should be done by a credentialed surgeon with experience operating on the nose.

The nose is important for breathing, which is often overlooked by inexperienced surgeons who aim to achieve a beautiful nose with disregard to the late effects on the function of the nose. Thus, if a rhinoplasty procedure is performed poorly one could have more problems with breathing from the nose several years down the line. This fine balance between function and form (cosmesis) is what an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon should weigh and ultimately what you should discuss when researching your options. Safely performing the surgery while minimizing untoward risks should be the goal of your rhinoplasty surgeon.

How Painful is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty surgery requires incisions and meticulous dissection. The amount of pain depends on the amount of dissection and work. Ultimately, the pain varies from case to case and patient to patient. Some patients have a high pain tolerance and are able to return to work in 3 days while others take weeks to recover. Any work on the septum or inside of the nose will contribute to additional pain. Also, any work on the bones will contribute to pain, external bruising and swelling. It is difficult to determine the degree of pain prior to surgery. However, a good rule of thumb is that most people require narcotics for pain control for the first week after surgery and the most intense pain occurs within this time frame.

Is Rhinoplasty Permanent?

Rhinoplasty can involve adding or subtracting to the baseline structure to create the end result. This adding or subtracting is usually in the form of cartilage or bone. After surgery, the body heals around this new underlying framework and structure of the nose to give the final cosmetic appearance. When the body heals after surgery, collagen is laid down with scar formation. The results of rhinoplasty are essentially permanent but the scar formation can continue to transform the nose even 10-15 years after the initial surgery. This can lead to breathing difficulties and even cosmetic deformities. Problems after rhinoplasty can be modified by “revision” surgery.

Unfortunately, revision surgery is always much more difficult than the initial surgery when there was no scarring to deal with and natural pristine structures were present. For example, revision surgery after overresection of the cartilage framework of the nose can require obtaining additional cartilage from elsewhere on the body (ex. Ear or rib) to repair the damage. A rhinoplasty surgeon who also specializes in revision surgery will have the knowledge to prevent these problems from occurring. Therefore, it is always best to have it done correctly the first time and spend extra time researching your options before proceeding with surgery.

Additional Information About Rhinoplasty

Here is some additional information you should know about rhinoplasty:

• The best candidates for rhinoplasty surgery are patients with thin nasal skin, a visible underlying strong cartilage framework, good general health without history of healing problems, and realistic expectations with defined goals.
• The usual downtime after rhinoplasty surgery is two weeks. The cast and tape come off at one week. The bruising and swelling is still noticeable at one week but gone by two weeks. Most people can return to work at two weeks. Acquaintances will barely notice signs of surgery at two weeks, while close friends and family will notice changes. If you are planning to appear at any social event, give yourself four weeks of healing time.
• Every effort is made to conceal scars in both a “closed” and an “open” rhinoplasty approach. An open rhinoplasty allows precise manipulation of the cartilages of the nasal tip but requires a tiny incision at the base of the nose that is usually quite imperceptible. The nasal tip cartilages are quite visible because the nasal skin is raised off the framework for proper manipulation. A closed rhinoplasty approach is done through incisions inside the nose and is a good approach for work on the nasal bridge with minimal or no work on the nasal tip. This approach allows for faster healing and less swelling in the nasal tip.
• Surgical swelling in the nose can take months to resolve. No matter how much I stress this, invariably a patient will get distressed and concerned about the amount of distortion from the swelling. The nose may look like a large ball without distinct structures for sometimes a few months and the final results are not reliable for up to ONE YEAR. This swelling will be even more pronounced in patients with thick skin. The nose may even look asymmetric and it is common to question whether your surgeon performed at his or her best. Be patient. If you chose your surgeon carefully, he or she will guide you through the process and the results will speak for themselves in time.
• There are limitations with rhinoplasty and requesting a particular style may not be attainable by surgery. An honest surgeon will point out these limitations with you.
• Rhinoplasty is not an exact science and is sometimes as much an art as it is skill. Asking for perfection is unrealistic, but asking for a good cosmetic outcome should be attainable by a skilled and experienced surgeon.