A Rhinoplasty is a procedure that benefits patients who want to improve the appearance of their nose as well as their nasal breathing in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach County, Florida. It is performed by Dr. Mardirossian at the Mardirossian Facial Aesthetics fully licensed surgical suite in Jupiter, FL.
What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a procedure to change the shape and the size of the nose to improve its aesthetics and help with nasal breathing. This operation is usually conducted under general anesthesia and involves sculpting the nasal bone and the cartilage. In most cases, the surgery requires refining the nasal tip and thinning the nasal bone. If there are any issues with breathing, these are addressed during the operation. A rhinoplasty involves small incisions at the base of the nose or along the inside of the nasal passage, thereby eliminating any visible scars.
Am I a Candidate for a Rhinoplasty?
We realize that the ultimate goal of the procedure is to meet the desires of the patient. As such, we take the time to listen to your thoughts and concerns and transform them into a treatment strategy that best fits your case. The nose is one of the most prominent features on the face. Not only is it an important airway, but it plays a critical role in balancing the aesthetic of the face.
Dr. Mardirossian takes great care to balance the physiological importance of this facial feature with its role in appearance. This maintains harmony with the rest of the face while still improving the aesthetic appeal. In many cases, a rhinoplasty can be accompanied by cheek or chin procedures to further enhance harmony and facial balance.
What is the Earliest Age at Which a Rhinoplasty Can Be Performed?
Depending on the issue to be addressed and the maturity of the patient’s decision-making, the procedure can be performed on patients as young as 16 years old. Parental support and presence are encouraged during the consult, surgical consent, and perioperative process.
How is a Rhinoplasty Performed? What is the Difference Between a “Closed” and an “Open” Rhinoplasty?
This procedure can be performed either under general anesthesia or under twilight sleep. Open rhinoplasty involves a small incision between the nostrils that continues in the nasal cavities. Through that incision, the entire nasal skeleton is accessible. By working on the bone and the cartilage of the nose, Dr. Mardirossian is able to remove a nose hump; create a gentle scoop where the bone and cartilage of the nasal dorsum were prominent; straighten the nose; refine the dorsum and the tip; and rotate and make the tip more or less prominent, depending on the result and goal defined in our consultation with the patient.
An important goal of Dr. Mardirossian’s rhinoplasty is to improve nasal breathing. In our practice, the open approach is used for all nasal tip work, rhinoplasty that requires dorsal and tip work, nasal reconstructions with calvarial bone graft and rib graft, as well as for major rhinoplasty revisions. The incision between the nostrils is performed in the area where that distance is the smallest and is closed meticulously to guarantee a virtually invisible incision once healed.
Closed rhinoplasty is performed through a small incision that runs on the inside of one of the nostrils. It is used for minor or major dorsal as well as minor revisions. A nasal hump can effectively be removed through this approach with the creation of a straight nose or a scoop. The nasal dorsum can be refined. Through both approaches, we are able to repair septum deviation and therefore improve the breathing of the patient — a procedure referred to as rhinoseptoplasty.
What is Recovery Like After Rhinoplasty?
Swelling generally lasts one to two weeks. You will have a plastic nasal cast for the first seven days after the procedure. This cast provides support as well as protection for the healing tissue and structure. You may be advised to use ice for three to seven days following your procedure to allow for proper wound healing.
Before you leave, you will be given instructions on when to follow up and how to properly care for the incision sites. There may be some bruising around the eyes, accompanied by puffiness and mild soreness. In some cases, minor bleeding from the nose may occur for a day or two. To aid the healing process, cold compresses and saline nasal spray may be applied during the recovery period.
Once the cast and sutures are removed, patients will be shown how to massage the area, which will reduce the swelling and accelerate healing. Most of our patients go back to their everyday activities seven days after the procedure. Strenuous physical activity can be resumed after three weeks. At this point, immediate improvement in the nose can be evident, but it may take six to 12 months before the full extent of the improvement is apparent.
How Long Will My Rhinoplasty Results Last?
The results of rhinoplasty are permanent. Patients find this procedure particularly appealing not only because of its positive effect on their nasal aesthetic and breathing but also for its major contribution to the improved appearance of the entire face.
Contact Mardirossian Facial Aesthetics today to schedule a consultation with Vartan Mardirossian, M.D., F.A.C.S., to see if this procedure is the right solution for you. We offer rhinoplasty to patients in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach County, Florida.
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