Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty (“nose job”) is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the outside of the nose. It can remove a bump, refine the tip, raise or lower the bridge, narrow the nostrils, lift a droop, fix a cleft, correct asymmetry, and in general, improve your profile and facial appearance. While some cosmetic improvements can be made with non-surgical rhinoplasty using injectable fillers and implants, only surgery can reduce the size of an enlarged nose or make a wide nose narrower. In addition, surgical results are permanent!

During rhinoplasty, a facial plastic surgeon who is also an otolaryngologist or ENT (a specialist who cares for the ears, nose, and throat) may also correct any structural defects of the nose. For example, Dr. Yagoda can straighten a deviated septum and reduce turbinates to improve airflow, correct sinus disease, and relieve sleep apnea to enhance restful sleep.  Aesthetic and functional nasal surgery demands not only excellent surgical skills but also impeccable aesthetic judgement.  When done correctly, rhinoplasty will result in a nose that not only looks better, but works better too!

On the other hand, imperfect rhinoplasty surgery can result not only  in undesirable cosmetic changes but also poor nasal and/or sinus function.  Dr. Yagoda sees a number of patients who seek revisions of a previous procedure. Revision rhinoplasty can be challenging because the surgeon must work with the results of a previous procedure, perhaps done by another surgeon, without a “road map” of the prior surgcial course.  This creates a whole new layer of complication and requires unsurpassed surgical skill and aesthetic sensibility.  This is the one surgery where the art of medicine is far more important that its science.  Dr. Yagoda is regarded as the physician other doctors choose when they want the very best.  If you’re dissatisfied with a previous rhinoplasty, you’ll want to put yourself in Dr. Yagoda’s hands....anesthesiologists that work with her have long said, “If you want it done right, she’s the Dr. YA-GO-DA!”

Who Is a Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

Young adults seeking rhinoplasty often ask Dr. Yagoda, “How old do I have to be before I can have this procedure?” From a purely physical standpoint, the answer is, “anytime after puberty.” The nose continues to grow from birth throughout adolescence. After puberty, the nose has reached adult size.  Adults can have rhinoplasty performed at any age to improve their appearance or restore it following an injury.

The Procedure

Rhinoplasty can be performed in an office-based surgical facility or in a hospital, under local anesthetic with IV sedation or under general anesthesia. The procedure takes between 45 minutes and two hours. The exact surgical technique is uniquely tailored for each patient, but most of the time the incisions are made internally and there are no visible scars. In rare instances, an incision is made at the base of the nostrils and carefully hidden.

Recovery

You can return to work in about a week and you’ll be able to use a stationary bike or treadmill by the second week. By the third week, you can return to full activities. Although you’ll see immediate improvement, your nose’s shape and your profile will continue to refine over the next 12 to 18 months.

Risks

Like all surgery, rhinoplasty has risks, including infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Other risks specific to rhinoplasty include structural damage to the nose. Dr. Yagoda will discuss these potential risks as well as the benefits of rhinoplasty in full during your consultation.

To determine if rhinoplasty might be right for you, call our office to schedule your comprehensive consultation with Dr. Yagoda.

Read about Dr. Yagoda's Integrative Post Operative Care Program