Surgical or non-surgical rhinoplasty. Do you know your options?
Posted on Tue, Nov 29, 2011
Dr. Stover, I am 41 years old and have always wanted to fix the prominent hump on my nose and make the tip narrower. I have read about so many new ways to change the face non-surgically. Can I fix this without nose surgery?
What is non-surgical rhinoplasty?
While there are some changes that we can make to the nose with injectable fillers alone, typically the only way to address the issues you mention is with nose contouring (rhinoplasty) surgery.
For very slight humps along the bridge of the nose, sometimes placing a small amount of filler such as Restylane or Radiesse above the prominence can mask the hump.
Fillers such as these are more ideal for filling small depressions in the nose. They can also be used to widen the bridge. This type of procedure is what is referred to as a non-surgical rhinoplasty.
The results of non-surgical rhinoplasty are immediate and can be dramatic. However the results are not considered permanent and the injection of fillers will need to be repeated every 6 to 12 months.
Is it true there are no scars with a small hump reduction?
For most patients, however, the best and more straightforward approach is to smooth down the hump by making a small incision inside the nose. This can be done easily and comfortably with IV sedation. The recovery takes about 5 days and is not painful. Surgical tape is kept on the nose during recovery. There may be a slight amount of bruising and swelling under the eyes.
I just want to narrow the tip of the nose.
To narrow the tip of the nose, typically I make a small incision along the undersurface of the nose as well as incisions inside the nose. The cartilages inside the nose are trimmed and sutured to give a more delicate definition to the nose tip. Small sutures are placed inside the nose and to the skin under the nose. Tape is placed at the end of surgery and left on for 3-5 days. Usually IV sedation is required during surgery and there is minimal discomfort afterward. I usually refer to this procedure as a tip-plasty. This is done if no narrowing is needed to the bridge area.
Experience matters when it comes to rhinoplasty.
Sometimes when the bridge and tip are both wide, a more involved rhinoplasty is required. It is important to end up with a pleasing balance to the nose. Any small change to the tip or bridge can create an imbalance and loss of proportion.
To narrow the bridge area, small incisions are made inside the nose and the bones of the nose have to be broken in a very precise manner. Most patients end up requiring surgical contouring of the bridge, tip and inner septum to achieve a balanced long-term pleasing result.
It is important to have a thorough examination and discussion with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon. I have performed hundreds of rhinoplasty procedures over the past 15 years.
We now have the only state-of-the-art Vectra surgical imaging system in Hawaii!
I have recently acquired a revolutionary new imaging system called Vectra that can photograph the face and entire body. It provides me with a precise 3-D digital image of your face or body. The images can be manipulated on the computer screen to show the results of any proposed surgery.
With the only Vectra surgical imaging system in the state of Hawaii, a complimentary consultation in my office can demonstrate how you will look after any type of nose contouring procedure.
