What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery for the nose. Your Charlotte, NC cosmetic surgeon specializes in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, and teen rhinoplasty. In order to be a candidate for a nose job, you must have a fully developed nose, though individuals as young as 14 may be candidates for teen rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty is for patients who have already had at least one nose job, and are unsatisfied with their results.
The Process Start to Finish
First, your surgeon will consult with you to discuss your aesthetic goals, and examine your nose for its internal and external structure and skin. Your surgeon will also take before photos for comparison to after photos once your surgery is complete and healing. The procedure is performed at the Center for Facial Plastic and Laser Surgery, a state-of-the-art facility in Charlotte, NC. Depending on the techniques used, general anesthesia will probably be used, in which case you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home from the surgical center. Recovery involves 7 to 10 days of moderate bruising, skin numbness, and swelling. After that, minor swelling and some temporary numbness can continue for many months. Your surgeon does not normally use nasal packing. Depending on the type of rhinoplast, sutures are either visible or hidden within the nose and are usually dissolvable.
Techniques
The purpose of cosmetic rhinoplasty is different for each patient. Some patients seek to simply reduce the size of their nose, while others want to increase the size, change the shape in a certain area, create symmetry, or change the overall impression of their face or profile. A nose job is either open or closed. A closed procedure usually involves only the cartilage and bone on the ridge of the nose. An open rhinoplasty includes the cartilage and tissue in the tip of the nose, the area between the nostrils, or the nostrils themselves. Sutures are typically applied between the nostrils and on the creases of the nostrils where they meet the face, depending on the kind of open rhinoplasty done. If extra cartilage is needed, it can be harvested from your ear, and then grafted. This leaves no visible alterations to the ear. Many patients combine rhinoplasty with other procedures that complement one another, like facial implants, face-lifts, and fillers. A chin implant is the most popular procedure done in combination with rhinoplasty because a more pronounced chin can make the nose appear smaller or more proportional overall. Your surgeon, Dr. M. Sean Freeman,has been practicing cosmetic facial plastic surgery since 1988. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology. Dr. Freeman is Charlotte’s best rhinoplasty surgeon and is committed to excellent, patient-specific results.
Contact Dr. Sean Freeman at Only Faces, Charlotte’s most experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and top facial plastic surgeon, to schedule a consultation to find out what procedure is right for you. Call today.