I’ve had rhinoplasty 3 times. There are still a few minor things about the appearance that I don’t like but I’d be willing to let them go to avoid having another surgery. Unfortunately I’m also having a lot of trouble breathing. I’d like to get the breathing fixed but I’m concerned that having yet another surgery will make my nose look even worse.
I would have to examine you and see if there is anything that can be done to help you breathe better. It may be something simple and minor like a turbinate reduction or it may be much more involved and require major revision rhinoplasty.
I feel that my nostrils are too large and uneven. Can a rhinoplasty fix this problem? Is it a complicated procedure?
Nostrils may be able to be reduced if it is not simply a very thick nostril skin issue. Thick nostril skin is very difficult to improve. Uneven nostrils can also be improved on most occasions but perfect symmetry is often unrealistic. All rhinoplasty is complex and should be left to plastic or facial plastic surgeons that specialize in nose reshaping.
Does a non-surgical rhinoplasty actually work? What are the benefits and the risks?
Not all nose job patients are candidates for nonsurgical rhinoplasty but for those who are, it works great. Benefits are a better nose without surgery and less downtime but risks are bruising and infection and allergic reaction and scar tissue. However, you need to treat a nonsurgical rhinoplasty like an actual rhinoplasty and see a plastic surgeon that does nose jobs who understands the nose and not let a Dermatologist or family doctor just randomly inject filler into your nose.
I am Asian and hoping to have a rhinoplasty. Would my surgery be different from other ethnicities seeking a nose job?
Each nose is unique. There are some characteristics that are common to each race and ethnicity but ultimately each nose is unique. For example while most Asian rhinoplasty patients need their nose bridges built up with cartilage, some Asian rhinoplasty patients actually have humps similar to Middle Eastern patients and need that reduced. See more here: http://www.rhinoplastyspecialistsurgeon.com/ethnic-rhinoplasty/asian-rhinoplasty/.
I am an African American female looking to have a nose job. I feel that my nose is too wide, but I am also scared that a generic small nose might look out of place on my face. Is there a chance of sort of ‘losing my ethnicity’ by having a rhinoplasty?
If your nose fits your face then you should not “lose your ethnicity.” But more importantly you need to see a plastic surgeon who routinely performs computer imaging so you can somewhat visualize yourself with the new nose and the new changes and do you can decide for yourself if you like your new face or if you think the rhinoplasty changes your ethnicity. I have never had anyone complain of that after their nose job but I have seen Hispanic patients who had aggressive rhinoplasty elsewhere and then complain of looking too Asian with their new noses. See ethnic rhinoplasty before and after photos here.
Can you explain what an alar base reduction is? Does this help with the width of the nose at the base?
Ala are the nostril margins so alar base reduction is the same as nostril narrowing. Alar base reduction is done when the nostrils are wide or flared and often are necessary in African American noses although many other cultures and races need nostril narrowing as well.
I keep hearing how Hispanics tend to have thick skin and that this affects the outcome of rhinoplasty surgery. What other factors are there in Hispanic patients that come into play?
Not all Hispanic patients have thick some. Some have thin oily skin and others have thick sebaceous skin. Many Hispanics have weak lower lateral tip cartilages and underprojected nose tips. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration with a Latina or Latino or Mestizo Rhinoplasty. See below: http://www.rhinoplastyspecialistsurgeon.com/ethnic-rhinoplasty/hispanic/.
I’ve been told that I have a lot of scar tissue in my nose. I’d like to get a revision rhinoplasty procedure. How will it be affected by the scar tissue?
You cannot do any surgery without ending up with scar tissue. Scar tissue develops with any surgery and a nose job is no exception. But too much scar tissue is bad. If your surgeon lifts your nose skin in the wrong plane and if you have very thick skin then you may get more scar tissue. Steroid injections can melt some of the scar tissue thereby avoiding a revision rhinoplasty. Scar tissue makes elevation of the skin and penetration of your nose more time consuming as opposed to a primary rhinoplasty nose which had no scar tissue.
A bulbous nasal tip seems fairly common in many ethnicities. How is this fixed?
The tip cartilages called the Lower Lateral Cartilages would need to get trimmed and/or reshaped in order to refine the bulbous or ball like tip. See the anatomy below:
http://www.rhinoplastyspecialistsurgeon.com/choosing-a-rhinoplasty-specialist-surgeon/nasal-analysis-anatomy-2/
I’m 25 years old and had a rhinoplasty two years ago. I’m still unhappy with the length of my nose, am I eligible for another procedure? Would I be more at risk for a polly beak deformity?
I have had patients come to me who have had 3, 5 or even more previous poorly executed rhinoplasties and a revision rhinoplasty can improve many of the problems with their nose. I also see patients who have had 1 or more previous rhinoplasties elsewhere who are still unhappy with their nose but I talk them OUT of another surgery if I think another revision rhinoplasty will not help them. I would have to see you and examine your nose in order to tell you if you should or should not undergo another rhinoplasty. See photos of revision rhinoplasty at:
http://www.virginiarhinoplasty.com/Photogallery.html#revisionrhino.
