Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) and Revision Rhinoplasty: What You Need to Know and How To Choose a Surgeon

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Every year over half a million people will consult a facial plastic surgeon to improve the appearance of their nose, an operation called a Rhinoplasty, or nose plastic surgery. Since the nose is the most ...

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Every year over half a million people will consult a facial plastic surgeon to improve the appearance of their nose, an operation called a Rhinoplasty, or nose plastic surgery. Since the nose is the most defining characteristic of the face, even a slight alteration can greatly improve one's appearance.

The definition of rhinoplasty is shaping the nose. First incisions are made and the skin of the nose is lifted off of the underlying bone and cartilage framework. The majority of incisions are made inside the nose and thus are invisible. Next precise amounts of underlying bone and cartilage are removed or rearranged to provide a newly shaped structure. For example, when there is a large hump on the nose in profile, the excess bone and cartilage is removed resulting in a straighter and flatter appearance. The skin is then redraped over the new framework, and the incisions are closed. With new techniques used today nasal bones do not need to be broken, and nasal packing after surgery is not required.

Doctor Jacono favors creating a natural rhinoplasty result, similar to Ashlee Simpson plastic surgery result. One that is aesthetically balanced to the face. Across the nation, the revision of rhinoplasty surgery is required in 5 to 10% of patients. For specialists who are Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, like Doctor Jacono, the rate is often less than 1 percent. Board Certified facial specialists can be found on the website, www.abfprs.org.

During your consultation any plastic surgeon should perform a thorough
examination of your nose, taking into consideration all factors including skin type, ethnicity, age, degree of deformity, and degree of function of the nasal structures.

Some surgeons like Doctor Jacono use digital photography and computer imaging software to simulate how you will look after surgery.

Doctor Jacono specializes in revision rhinoplasty, using your own body's cartilage and bone for restructuring the nose instead of synthetic implants. Structural cartilage grafts are often required due to collapse of the nasal tip and twisting of the nose from overly aggressive or poorly executed rhinoplasty surgery. Revision rhinoplasty is often performed with cartilage from the nasal septum. When it is not available due to prior surgery, cartilage from the ears or ribs can be used. In the most severe cases calvarial bone from the skull can be harvested and used to re-structure a completely collapsed nose called a "saddle nose."

Rhinoplasty can be performed through an "open" or "closed" approach, with the "open" approach requiring a small incision across the base of the nose. Some surgeon's only perform all rhinoplasty "open" and some perform all "closed." Doctor Jacono performs Rhinoplasty "open" and "closed", and chooses the approach depending upon the goals of the surgery.

Prior to surgery all patients receive a complete physical examination and are started on vitamin supplementation and homeopathic therapies to enhance healing after surgery. Research has shown that surgical results are improved when these regimens are part of your surgical treatment.