Diary of a Nose Job: Custom Rhinoplasty Surgery
I don’t like my nose, can you change it? Yes and plastic surgeons most often want to give you the results that you want. I really think this stems from a profound sense of responsibility regarding patients that are placed in a physician’s care. This responsibility is firmly instilled in residents during plastic surgery training. Within the specialty of elective cosmetic surgery, choice plays a bigger role than surgeries of a more critical emergency nature. In an elective cosmetic setting, both the surgeon and their patient have the luxury of time to consider their options. Rhinoplasty, frequently referred to as “Nose Job” is one such surgery where many options might be considered. Patients frequently bring in pictures saying, “I want my nose to look like this.” While choices are many, several factors dictate whether this nipntuck request represents realistic expectations. It is important to understand the possibilities and limitations presented by the anatomy of a particular nose, the aesthetics of the individual facial structure and desires of the patient. These physical findings represent many of the factors that are involved in designing a nose surgery. No two noses are alike.
Modern rhinoplasty philosophy and techniques do give us a vast number of combinations with regards to a specific nose surgery. We are able to either increase or decrease the size of any part of your nose. For example, a surgeon might increase the height of the bridge of the nose, while decreasing the width of the tip. These techniques comprise my particular surgical plan customized for each patient. However, these techniques are not as precise as sculpting a piece of metal or clay, but this surgery has high patient satisfaction. Before/After photographs will usually give you a sense of the surgeon’s personal skill. Several of my patients have shared their experience with having a rhinoplasty or nose job.
My patient, Lisa, graciously contributed her own rhinoplasty recovery diary to share on our blog. Besides writing a day-to-day account of her healing process, she also agreed to have her rhinoplasty surgery filmed. Click here to read Lisa’s blog and see her After Photo. Watch some film clips of actual surgery.
Next week: Jessie tells her nose story.
Illustration by the Italian Master, Leonardo Davinci
