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Rhinoplasty,
or reshaping of the nose, is a cosmetic operation performed
thousands of times a year throughout the country.
During
rhinoplasty, several features of the noise are adjusted to
provide a smoother contour or better profile while maintaining a
natural shape. However, a person may look in the mirror, see a
feature that he or she wants to change such as a wide nasal tip
or a large hump and wonder, "Am I being too vain?" Well in the
year 2000, vanity is no longer an issue as facial plastic
surgery is quite common place, and it is perfectly natural to
desire a change in one's appearance for the better.
In addition, to reshaping of the nose, several other conditions
may exist to warrant surgery on the nose. An excellent reason to
consider nasal surgery is described by the following scenario.
Imagine it is a warm summer morning at the campsite, and you and
your friends are preparing for an adventurous hike into the
mountains. As the hike begins, you feel excited about the
challenge ahead, but as the ascent becomes steeper you notice a
little difficulty breathing through your nose. The terrain is
rough so the hike turns into quite a workout and the nasal
airflow continues to worsen. Your head is now quite heavy
because your nose is now clogged to the point that only mouth
breathing can occur. Finally, you have to sit down for awhile to
catch your breath while others are making fun of "how out of
shape you are."
What you may not know is that a single doctor - a facial plastic
surgeon can treat all of these problems simultaneously.
A facial plastic surgeon is a medical doctor who usually
undergoes intensive training in head and neck surgery, becomes
board certified, and then goes on to specialize in plastic
surgery of only the face, neck and scalp. This specialized
training makes a facial plastic surgeon extremely qualified to
perform the numerous facial plastic procedures such as
rhinoplasty, which has many complexities. |
Rhinoplasty addresses several features
of the nose. A wide nasal tip is often formed by broad cartilage
which can be trimmed and reshaped to produce a more narrow and
refilled tip. A large hump on the nose can be shaved to give a
straight nasal profile. Large nostrils can be reduced and a
crooked nose can be straightened along with other options. A
facial plastic surgeon carefully identifies the areas that need
improvement and formulates an individual plan with the patient.
The patient should always look for this unique treatment by the
surgeon because every nose has a different shape and should
never be treated with a "cookie-cutter" procedure performed on
all noses identically.
Once the plan is formulated, the facial plastic surgeon carries
out the procedure using state of the art techniques. The
rhinoplasty is begun with incisions that cannot be seen after
healing. Then the underlying cartilage and bone is tailored in a
way that not only improves the appearance, but also strengthens
the support structure to resist 1ater aging and drooping, The
postoperative period is usually not painful, and the patient is
often ready to return to their regular duties in 7 to 10 days.
Most importantly, the patient now has a refined, natural
appearing nose.
A good rhinoplasty treats not only the outside of the nose, but
the inside as well. In fact, the inside of the nose may be the
primary problem in many people such as in the preceding
scenario. Non-surgical options are usually tried first in these
people. For instance, avoidance of the offending allergen, may
solve the internal problem altogether. Non-sedating
antihistamines or allergy nasal sprays control symptoms in most
people with allergic rhinitis, which is the most common cause of
nasal congestion. In patients with sinus infections, antibiotics
and decongestants are used along with the treatment for allergic
rhinitis.
If medical treatment does not help, then procedures are
contemplated. Often the cause of nasal congestion may be due to
a deviation of the central partition of the nose termed the
septum. |
Andrew J. Miller, M.D.
This deviated septum can be corrected with an operation
performed entirely within the nose, thereby opening the nasal
passages to free breathing. The nasal septum is often
straightened as a component of a quality rhinoplasty, thus the
procedures blend naturally together. Also, chronic sinus
infections can be relieved by using telescopes to look inside
the nose, drain the sinuses, and enlarge the natural openings so
that the infection does not recur easily.
Any of the above operations, whether inside or outside of the
nose can simultaneously be performed by a facial plastic
surgeon. Therefore, a patient can both improve the appearance of
his or her nose while attaining excellent function inside of the
nose with only a single procedure. Often insurance will
reimburse the patient for operations performed on a properly
documented deviated septum, nasal fracture, or chronic
sinusitis, so check with the surgeon to determine eligibility.
In conclusion, when you are contemplating a nasal surgery, think
about both the inside and the outside of the nose, and contact a
facial plastic surgeon who can not only refine your nasal
appearance, but can make your life more enjoyable by allowing
unobstructed nasal breathing during those long hikes.
Dr. Miller is board certified by the American Board of
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has
offices in Edison, Warren and Marlboro. He can be reached at
(732) 548-3200. |
