Rhinoplasty

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Reshaping of the nose is a surgical procedure known as rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty can improve the shape and/or function of the nose. The nose can be rotated, shortened, lengthened, straightened, narrowed, or finely adjusted to meet defined aesthetic goals. Beauty of the nose exists across a precise balance among the subunits which make it up. Functional nasal surgery can be performed to help a patient breathe with less obstruction.

Rhinoplasty is arguably the most complex surgical procedure performed in plastic surgery. It requires exactitude, intricate planning, and careful management of tissues to balance the various forces that give the nose its shape and function. Given Dr. Sparano’s previous Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery training, along with his fellowship training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, he is extremely well-trained to handle the most difficult cases in form and function. Dr. Sparano is often consulted even by other plastic surgeons to handle complex aesthetic and functional difficulties that result from overly aggressive previous reduction rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty is one of Dr. Sparano’s most common cosmetic surgical operations. He has a wealth of experience with all aspects of rhinoplasty. At every initial consultation, Dr. Sparano performs complimentary graphic morphing, to allow a patient to visualize anticipated surgical results. This facilitates the discussion between a patient, a family, and Dr. Sparano, as to what the distinct goals of surgery are to be. Dr. Sparano will stress the importance of careful pre-operative communication at all of his pre-procedure consultations.

Dr. Sparano believes every patient considering rhinoplasty should carefully consider the kind of surgeon they are choosing. Patients should consider a surgeon’s understanding of the nose; experience with rhinoplasty; understanding of nasal function and breathing-related disorders; and prior training with regard to aesthetic and functional nasal surgery.

The art of rhinoplasty is to create a balanced beauty of the nose in a way which appears entirely un-operated. This should always be performed using methodology which maximizes a patient’s ability to breathe well, and preserves long-term integrity of the nasal anatomy for a lifetime of enduring results.

Dependent upon the starting-point variables and goals of surgery, Dr. Sparano employs both open rhinoplasty and endonasal rhinoplasty approaches. Rhinoplasty surgery under Dr. Sparano's care almost never requires nasal packing during the post-operative period. Bruising and obvious swelling are usually diminished by day 7. The nose will lose its subtle aspects of swelling gradually over a span of months, and will change in minor fashion even over years.

Rhinoplasty surgery in New Jersey is one of Dr. Sparano's focused areas of specialty. His practice is in Monmouth County, NJ, but he treats patients from various regions of New Jersey, from New York, and from Philadelphia and parts of Pennsylvania. Dr. Sparano delivers an ongoing lecture series for educational purposes, focused on various aspects of cosmetic surgery. A part of that series are talks titled "Rhinoplasty NJ" (or "Rhinoplasty New Jersey"). In the talks, Dr. Sparano shows before and after pictures of patients he's operated on, depicting distinct changes which can be performed to the nose without creating an "operated" appearance. He shows noses which were reduced, refined, shortened, lengthened, rotated, projected, deprojected, and straightened. In "Rhinoplasty NJ," Dr. Sparano also itemizes the steps he takes during rhinoplasty to minimize occurrence of chance variation, and to thereby maximize predictability and control across the healing period. These steps are of critical importance for any surgeon aiming to produce sustained, reproducible successful outcomes. Although the majority of Dr. Sparano's patients requesting rhinoplasty come from New Jersey, each year he treats patients from New York, Pennsylvania, and other regions.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is a good candidate for rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a good operation for physically healthy men and women interested in improving the appearance of their nose. Patients who experience a difficult time breathing may also consider rhinoplasty to reshape portions of the nasal anatomy for better overall breathing. Rhinoplasty should not be performed on children.

How old must someone be to have a rhinoplasty?
A general recommendation is that children be beyond the years of significant facial growth before a rhinoplastybe performed. For girls, this is generally around age 16-years, and for boys around 17-years.

Where is rhinoplasty performed?
Rhinoplasty is generally performed in an outpatient surgical center and most patients return home hours after the procedure is performed.

What type of anesthesia is used for rhinoplasty?
To maximize safety, Dr. Sparano performs all rhinoplasty procedures using general anesthesia.

How long does the surgery take?
The surgical time will vary based upon the complexity of each pre-surgical plan. Simple procedures can be performed in less than one hour, while more complex procedures can take up to four hours. A typical case averages approximately 2 hours to perform.

What is the difference between an “open” and “closed” rhinoplasty?
The primary difference between open and closed rhinoplasty is with regard to the location of the incision used to access the structures of the nose. Closed rhinoplasty involves incisions located inside the nose, while open rhinoplasty involves a small incision on the skin of the underside of the nose between the nostrils. Open rhinoplasty is the preferred approach in most cases, and in all complex cases, as it offers greater exposure and access for careful and intricate manipulation of the tissues.

Is rhinoplasty a painful procedure?
Patients will often describe moderate discomfort over the first 1-2 days. This discomfort is easily controlled with an appropriate medication regimen. Patients can usually transition to Tylenol/acetaminophen therapy after 2 days.

What is recovery like after rhinoplasty?
Swelling and bruising are common during the first week after rhinoplasty. Patients usually feel most comfortable in bed for the first day after surgery. Patients feel progressively better each day afterward. The associated bruising is usually diminished by the 1-week follow-up.

Is nasal packing necessary after rhinoplasty?
Dr. Sparano rarely uses nasal packing for any of his nasal surgeries. It is rarely necessary.

How much time off from work or school should I plan for?
Patients typically are able to return to work or school one week after surgery.

How soon can I exercise after rhinoplasty?
After 2 weeks of recovery, light exercise can be resumed. Strenuous exercise and weightlifting must be avoided for 3weeks. Contact sports and swimming under water should be avoided for six weeks.

When are stitches removed after rhinoplasty?
When non-absorbable sutures are used, they are removed within the first week after surgery.

What can be done if I don't like the results from my rhinoplasty?
After sufficient time for post-operative swelling to take its course (usually about 9-12 months), revision rhinoplasty procedures can usually be performed.

Does insurance ever cover the cost of rhinoplasty?
When rhinoplasty is performed as a cosmetic procedure only, insurance companies are not involved in the associated expenses. When there is a component of nasal obstruction that can be addressed as a portion of the rhinoplasty procedure, some of the expenses may be covered by your insurance company.

 

Rhinoplasty NJ:

Patients searching for a skilled and experienced rhinoplasty surgeon will often use the online search verbiage nose job, nose job NJ, nose job New Jersey, rhinoplasty NJ, rhinoplasty New Jersey, rhinoplasty surgery NJ, or cosmetic surgeon NJ. Whether someone is a "rhinoplasty NJ" / "rhinoplasty New Jersey" patient, versus a regional patient, Dr. Sparano and his Staff make efforts to keep a patient's experience as comfortable as possible, especially when traveling greater distances. As a huge advocate of optimal patient education, Dr. Sparano has written blog entries to cover these topics: rhinoplasty New Jersey, rhinoplasty NJ, rhinoplasty surgery NJ, nose job NJ, nose job New Jersey. Dr. Sparano believes patients should always seek to maximize their research and information regarding their surgeon, and the associated procedure. Dr. Sparano encourages patients to read his rhinoplasty NJ articles, website, other websites, and schedule to discuss intricacies and a customized treatment approach through a free consultation.

Also for clarification, many patients often ask whether the term "nose job" is synonymous with "rhinoplasty." The answer is yes. The term "nose job" was popularized several decades ago. Rhinoplasty refers to the surgical procedure patients are usually indicating when consulting on a "nose job."