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Rhinoplasty

(Nose Reshaping Surgery, Nosejob, Plastic Surgery of the Nose)

The nose is the central, most prominent feature of the face and a major influence in defining balance and facial harmony.

When the nose does not complement the face, it may detract from one's overall appearance. Facial attractiveness is elusive without a nose that is in harmony with surrounding facial features. To that end, the goal of cosmetic rhinoplasty is to create a nose which establishes or maintains balance and harmony with the rest of the face.

Rhinoplasty Overview

Introduction
Every year, half a million people who are interested in improving the appearance of their noses seek consultation with facial plastic surgeons. Some are unhappy with the noses they were born with, and some with the way aging has changed their nose. For others, an injury may have distorted the nose, or the goal may be improved breathing. But one thing is clear: nothing has a greater impact on how a person looks than the size and shape of the nose. Because the nose is the most defining characteristic of the face, a slight alteration can greatly improve one's appearance.

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Sample Patient 1

Sample Patient 2

Sample Patient 3

Sample Patient 4

Dr. Pearson's practice offers cosmetic, functional and reconstructive rhinoplasty.

Cosmetic Rhinoplasty is performed to improve the appearance of the nose. Although popular opinion does not consider the nose to be central to facial beauty, the nose's central facial location makes facial beauty elusive without nasal harmony with surrounding facial features. To that end, the goal of cosmetic rhinoplasty is to create a nose which is in balance with the rest of the face.

Cosmetic rhinoplasty may include the removal of a dorsal hump, refinement of the nasal tip, straightening or narrowing of a deviated or widened nose, modification of nasal proportions, as well as countless subtle nasal refinements. A beautiful nose has less to do with subjective preference than with symmetry, proportion and balance. When a nose is in harmony with surrounding facial features, attention is directed away from it and towards the eyes.

Functional Rhinoplasty involves improvement of nasal breathing problems. Functional rhinoplasty may include straightening a deviated nasal septum (septoplasty), turbinate surgery to reposition or reduce the size of the nasal turbinates (turbinoplasty) and surgical repair of incompetent nasal valves. Functional rhinoplasty may be covered partly or entirely by medical insurance.

Reconstructive Rhinoplasty entails surgical treatment of a nasal injury in an effort to bring the nose back to its pre-injury state. If the nasal injury is very recent (within days), it may be possible to correct or improve nasal deviation without surgery. Reconstructive rhinoplasty may be covered partly or entirely by medical insurance.

Dr. Pearson's Philosophy Regarding Cosmetic Rhinoplasty
Dr. Pearson understands that people want to look like themselves, only better - that is, the best version of themselves. The goal of Cosmetic Rhinoplasty is to retain your unique facial features, while simultaneously minimizing those unfavorable characteristics which detract from facial balance.

The goal of Rhinoplasty is not to look different, just better. In particular, one should never look 'done' or 'surgerized.' as a result of plastic surgery. In order to achieve that, the surgeon needs to avoid the tell-tale signs of surgery.

A superior Rhinoplasty result is usually not even perceived as having resulted from surgery. Onlookers usually comment that our patients look refreshed, or especially well-rested as if having recently returned from a vacation without assuming that it involved surgery.

We are grateful to our many patients who have generously contributed their before and after photos so that others may learn. Please view our photo gallery to see samples of Dr. Pearson's work. Pictures may speak more clearly than words what we mean by 'the best version of yourself.'

Why Should You Choose Dr. Pearson to Perform Your Rhinoplasty?
In the field of plastic surgery, rhinoplasty is regarded as the most technically challenging of all operations. Whether rhinoplasty is sought for cosmetic, functional or reconstructive reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. Dr. Pearson is trained in both facial plastic surgery, and ear, nose, throat surgery, which provides you as the patient with the highest level of training and expertise. Furthermore, Dr. Pearson is an expert in the field and has written numerous surgical book chapters and articles covering various aspects of this complex operation.

Which Nasal Attributes Can Rhinoplasty Change or Improve?
Rhinoplasty can change:

• Nasal asymmetry and deviation
• Nose size, in relation to the other facial structures
• Nose width, at the bridge
• Nose profile, with visible humps or depressions on the bridge
• Nasal tip, that is large or bulbous, drooping, or too upturned
• Nostrils that are large, wide or upturned

Candidates for Rhinoplasty Surgery
Some of the indications that you may be a good candidate for rhinoplasty:

• Your nose is off-center or crooked
• Previous injury has made your nose asymmetrical
• Your nose appears too large for your face
• There is a bump on the nasal bridge when viewed in profile
• Your nose seems too wide when viewed from the front
• The nasal tip droops or plunges
• The tip is thickened or enlarged
• Your nostrils are excessively flared

You may be a candidate for Cosmetic Rhinoplasty if you are dissatisfied with the appearance of the size or shape of the nose. If you experience breathing difficulty and the structure of the nose is determined to contribute to this problem, you may be a candidate for Functional Rhinoplasty. If you have recently sustained an injury to your nose which has affected its appearance, you may be a candidate for Reconstructive Rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty Surgery
The nose is a complex three-dimensional structure composed of multiple tissue types including bone, cartilage, skin, mucosa, and muscle. Rhinoplasty entails making surgical changes to the nasal tissues in order to affect the size, shape, and/or function of the nose. In many cases, the goals of rhinoplasty are neither entirely cosmetic, functional or reconstructive but some combination of these.

Possible Non-Surgical Alternative Treatments
For subtle improvements, non invasive methods may be considered to improve the appearance of the nose. For those who do not wish to consider surgery, injectable fillers may be employed by Dr. Pearson to improve nasal appearance. Call us for a consultation to learn if you may be a candidate for a non-surgical nasal treatment.

Recovery after Rhinoplasty Surgery
Following rhinoplasty, you can expect a few days of swelling and soreness which is well controlled with oral pain medications. Any nasal packing is removed after 1 day. Any external nasal sutures are removed after a few days. Internal and external nasal splints are typically removed after 7 days. By then, much of the nasal swelling is resolved and nasal breathing is improving. The nasal bones heal over several weeks. You can resume most normal activities after a couple of days, except for intense exercise, which may be resumed at about 3 weeks. Most people are able to return to work in 7-10 days. Contact sports should be avoided for at least 6 weeks.

Dr. Pearson is a Rhinoplasty specialist and a published author who has written numerous articles and plastic surgery textbook chapters on this topic. Learn more here.

Rhinoplasty: The Experts' Reference

Management of the Aging Nose

 

Master Techniques in Rhinoplasty

The Underprojected Nose / Ptotic Tip

 

Grabb's Encyclopedia of Flaps
Local Mucosal Flaps for Septal Perforation

 

Facial Plastic Surgery
Management of the Aging Nose

 

Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America

Nasal implants

 

Advanced Therapy in Facial and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Nasal Grafts & Implants

Reviews from Dr. Pearson's Rhinoplasty Patients

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>VIEW ADDITIONAL RHINOPLASTY REVIEWS