Rhinoplasty is a complex plastic surgery requiring a careful balancing of the nose size and shape with other facial features. The operating surgeon should have an in-depth understanding of the nasal structure and the artistic skills to create beautiful and natural looking results.
Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak provides rhinoplasty to patients in Houston, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Primary Steps in Rhinoplasty
Irrespective of the surgical technique used, the following key steps are a part of any nose reshaping surgery:
Customized Rhinoplasty Plan
The surgeon will develop a customized rhinoplasty surgical plan after assessing the patient’s unique nose structure and understanding their desires from the procedure.
In addition, the surgeon will also consider the patient’s health condition as well as previous facial surgeries (if any). They will try to make the nose surgery as minimally invasive as possible to mitigate risks, pain, and downtime.
Marking the Nose
The surgeon will place a discreet mark underneath the surface of the patient’s nose. Depending on the cosmetic surgery plan, they may also mark other sites such as the chin for chin implants or the nostrils for alar reduction.
Anesthesia
Rhinoplasty surgery is generally performed with the patient under anesthesia. In addition, the patient may be given local anesthesia with adrenaline in the nose to help reduce bleeding and render the surgery safer and easier.
Incision Placement
There are two techniques of incision placement for rhinoplasty. The surgeon may either place the incision through the nose lining (intranasal or closed technique) or through the skin (transcutaneous or open technique).
Tip Refinement
In case the patient’s nasal tip is unshapely or bulbous, the surgeon will reshape these cartilages and suture them together to create a narrower, more defined nose appearance.
Drooping Nasal Tip
Depending on the extent of droopiness, the surgeon may correct a drooping nasal tip by rotating and elevating it. The surgeon employs a combination of elevating the tip of the cartilage and refining the lowest nasal cartilage to correct this condition.
Upturned Nose or Short Nose
An upturned nasal tip requires a counter-rotation in the downward direction to create more nose length and reduce the upturned appearance. In such cases, the patient may require revision rhinoplasty where graft tissue may be required to lower the nasal tip.
Septoplasty
Breathing is the primary function of the nose. But rhinoplasty can narrow the nasal airways creating impediments in proper breathing. The surgeon may create support for the nasal structure with tissue grafts to prevent this condition.
The patient usually undergoes a septoplasty in combination with a rhinoplasty. A deviated septum does not commonly display any symptoms. However, it can cause the nose to appear crooked or even lead to breathing problems in severe cases.
In a rhinoplasty surgery, ensuring that the patient’s ability to breathe remains unaffected is a crucial consideration.
Incision Closure
Dissolvable Stitches
Dissolvable sutures are used to bind the mucosal inner lining.
Stitches/Sutures
The skin beneath the nose is closed via small sutures which the surgeon removes after one week.
Splint
The surgeon fixes a splint on the nasal bridge to maintain the position of the bone as the nose heals in the initial week following the surgery. Furthermore, it helps reduce swelling.
Tape
The surgeon applies fine, skin-colored tape over the splint to provide more support to the nasal shape.
Female cosmetic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak receives patients from Houston, Texas, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.
For more information on procedures and treatments provided by board-certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak please call us to schedule a consultation at 713.322.7265 or click here. Offices in Houston, Texas.
