Surgical Procedures
Nasal Enhancement
Who is a candidate?
Rhinoplasty is the most commonly performed facial plastic surgery. There are three basic types: purely cosmetic rhinoplasty, purely functional septoplasty to alleviate a breathing problem, or a combination of both, a septorhinoplasty. Any one who desires to improve their nasal breathing or to change the appearance of their nose is a candidate. The only people that are not candidates are young patients that have not finished with facial growth. This is generally around 14-16 for girls and 15-17 for boys. A rhinoplasty must be performed by a well trained surgeon who understands the complexity of nasal refinement. Every nose is so varied from the next and should be tailored just right to fit proportionally to one’s specific face. This is definitely not a cookie cutter procedure.
How is it done?
The incisions are placed all internally or there may be a small incision just under the tip of the nose. If there is a need for extra cartilage, sometimes, this is harvested from the bowl of the ear. This is barely noticeable once it heals. Depending on your desires and what is realistic, the tip may be refined, the bones may be narrowed, the hump may be taken down, the nose shortened, lengthened and the septum straightened.
Recuperation
You will have a cast on the nose and taping underneath it. If there is an incision made externally, those stitches will be removed in 5 days. You may have some mild bruising under the eyes if the bones were broken. The internal stitches will dissolve by themselves. It is best to elevate your head and use cold compresses for 48 to 72 hours. The cast is removed in one week and additional taping may be required especially if there was a lot of tip work. You will notice an immediate difference in your nasal appearance when the cast is removed however the nose may appear swollen for at least a month. This is generally perceptible by you and Dr. Song only. The nose continues to heal for up to a year but these are minor changes especially in the tip. You may resume normal activities in one week.
This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with Dr. Angie U. Song a board certified physician in El Paso, TX. To find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you to contact us at 915-533 FACE (3223) for a private consultation.