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Rhinoplasty is often known as a “surgery of millimeters,” meaning even small adjustments to the nasal tip, bridge, septum, and nostrils can make a big difference to your overall facial appearance. Everyone has their own personal reasons for pursuing nose surgery, but one truth is universal for all patients: the technical precision and aesthetic know-how of a board-certified plastic surgeon is critical to achieving a result that looks natural and fits the unique character of each person’s face.
Dr. Ira Savetsky’s passion for nose surgery led to his completion of a prestigious post-residency fellowship, where he trained with some of the most renowned rhinoplasty surgeons in the world. Rhinoplasty is considered among the most intricate and complex elective surgeries available, but the results of this transformative procedure can be incredibly rewarding when performed correctly.
The procedure can benefit individuals who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their nose or who would like to improve their breathing. Rhinoplasty is capable of a wide range of cosmetic and functional refinements, including:
If you are considering surgery, Dr. Savetsky will be able to give you more insight into whether rhinoplasty (or another face procedure) is the most ideal approach to achieve your goals. These factors will be discussed in a consultation, where Dr. Savetsky will answer all of your questions and obtain an understanding of your needs and cosmetic desires. It’s essential for potential rhinoplasty patients to be in relatively good health and to maintain realistic, positive expectations for what rhinoplasty can achieve.
Rhinoplasty can help a wide range of patients bothered by obstructed breathing and/or the appearance of their nose. A personal consultation will be your first step in discussing your concerns with Dr. Savetsky and learning the most ideal techniques to achieve your goals. In general, individuals interested in nose surgery should be:
At your appointment, Dr. Savetsky will review your medical history and examine your concerns to develop the best possible treatment plan for your needs. In some cases, a dominant nose may be balanced through the use of a chin implant. Subtle augmentation of the chin can also complement the results of rhinoplasty depending on each person’s needs.
As a nationally recognized rhinoplasty surgeon, Dr. Savetsky is well-versed in the anatomic distinctions presented by patients of different ethnicities — particularly with respect to the bones, cartilage, nostril width, tissue thickness, and overall framework of the nose. It’s important to consider these variations when performing rhinoplasty to complete the desired enhancements without sacrificing the natural character of your face. Dr. Savetsky takes an individualized approach with every rhinoplasty procedure to ensure results look harmonious amongst your surrounding features. With a highly skilled and competent aesthetic plastic surgeon, patients of every background can make their nose more symmetrical, proportional, and balanced while still maintaining one’s natural beauty.
Open and closed rhinoplasty are the two main techniques to reshape and refine the nasal tissues. Depending on the enhancements necessary to achieve your goals, Dr. Savetsky may make an incision internally — referred to as a closed rhinoplasty — or across the strip of tissue between the nostrils, which distinguishes the open technique. While some cases of nose recontouring can be performed through closed rhinoplasty, open rhinoplasty generally offers unmatched visibility of the internal structures, as well as a greater degree of surgical control. Dr. Savetsky will review both procedures with you and determine the most optimal approach to ensure a natural-looking, proportionate outcome. It’s not uncommon to incorporate other techniques, such as cartilage grafting, into rhinoplasty to obtain the highest quality of results.
The surgical process varies for each patient, but rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient surgery performed under general anesthesia. The most well-known variations of the procedure are open and closed rhinoplasty, although additional techniques may be performed depending on the nature of the planned corrections and whether the procedure is a patient’s first or secondary nose surgery.
Open rhinoplasty is distinguished by a small, discreet incision made along the natural crease of the columella (the base of the nose’s undersurface). From this incision, Dr. Savetsky can access the bones, cartilage, and soft tissues of the nasal framework to complete the desired enhancements. In contrast, closed rhinoplasty utilizes internal incisions that should not produce any visible scarring. In both cases, Dr. Savetsky strives to make incisions as inconspicuous as possible to help ensure a harmonious, natural-looking outcome.
Healing after rhinoplasty is completed in stages, but the majority of healing should occur within the first few months of the recovery period. Immediately after surgery, reactions like swelling, minor bruising, and tenderness should be expected. While they should subside naturally as your nose begins to heal, over-the-counter medications can help reduce swelling and assuage any discomfort. Dr. Savetsky will provide you with comprehensive aftercare instructions and monitor your progress in post-operative follow-up appointments.
Normal activities can often be resumed after one week, barring exercise and strenuous labor. It’s very important to refrain from exercise until Dr. Savetsky instructs otherwise so as not to exacerbate swelling. It can take up to 12 months for inflammation to completely subside, at which point the final outcome should look subtle, natural, and beautiful.
The procedure changes the nasal framework forever, allowing rhinoplasty patients to enjoy a more balanced and harmonious appearance for a lifetime. The longevity of the outcome is far superior to other temporary methods of nose reshaping, such as liquid rhinoplasty treatments utilizing dermal fillers. For this reason, rhinoplasty is often considered among the most sought after cosmetic surgeries available and can be extremely rewarding when performed by a well-qualified plastic surgeon. As you age, you may notice gradual changes in your appearance as the face naturally matures; however, the results of surgery should remain relatively stable. If you suffer a facial or nasal injury in the future that diminishes airflow or changes the outcome of your initial procedure, revision rhinoplasty is also available to improve both form and function.
While all surgical procedures generally leave scarring to some extent, rhinoplasty incisions are placed very inconspicuously. As a result, scars are usually imperceptible to outside observers once incisions are fully healed. Dr. Savetsky will give you an idea of what you can expect for the shape, size, and location of your incisions. If you received a closed rhinoplasty, there should be no outside scarring. Patients who received an open rhinoplasty appreciate that their incision is placed along the natural crease where the nose meets the upper lip, disguising any post-operative scarring. Ultimately, the best way to encourage the lightening and fading of rhinoplasty scars is to closely follow Dr. Savetsky’s aftercare instructions regarding incision care.
Whether you didn’t get the results you were expecting from another plastic surgeon or you’ve suffered a nose injury since your first procedure, revision rhinoplasty is an option for patients looking to improve the outcome of their previous surgery. The goal of revision rhinoplasty is to address concerns with your primary rhinoplasty while restoring proper form and breathing function. Since revision rhinoplasty involves reconstructing bones, cartilage, and tissue that have already been operated on, the procedure is considered one of the most technically difficult cosmetic surgeries to perform and requires the skill of a well-qualified rhinoplasty surgeon. Open communication is vital when planning revision rhinoplasty, and Dr. Savetsky takes great care to understand your needs, concerns, and goals to enhance the outcome of your first procedure as much as possible.
Similar to nose surgery for women, rhinoplasty and septoplasty for male patients also utilize either the closed or open technique. Although these procedures typically use the same incisions for both men and women, there are considerations between both sexes that may distinguish male plastic surgery from rhinoplasty for a female patient.
On top of the anatomical differences between men and women often observed in facial plastic surgery — such as distinctions in nostril width, nasal bridge height, and the angle of the nasal tip, among other factors — male and female patients typically have separate goals for their desired results. For example, women may have a relatively smaller nasal framework and want to achieve a more refined, subtle enhancement. Men often have broader noses and may desire a more dominant, yet symmetrical and balanced, nasal structure. A good plastic surgeon has the experience to perform rhinoplasty with these considerations in mind, and with respect to the unique character of your face. This is how Dr. Savetsky is able to achieve such stunning and natural-looking outcomes.
During the initial healing process, it’s necessary to practice caution when it comes to blowing your nose. Blowing your nose too forcefully or recklessly can disturb the bones, cartilage, and other nasal tissues, potentially causing bleeding and affecting the improvements achieved with nose recontouring surgery. We advise refraining from blowing your nose for four weeks, and Dr. Savetsky will give you instructions on how to safely clear your nasal passages.
Unnecessary pressure on the nasal bridge should be avoided during the recovery process, so we encourage rhinoplasty patients to switch to contacts, if possible, for four to eight weeks or until Dr. Savetsky advises that you’re able to safely resume wearing glasses. This also applies to sunglasses as well, and Dr. Savetsky will monitor your healing in follow-up appointments.
Rhinoplasty is performed using the same incisions for both male and female patients, but there are distinctions between men and women that may inform your procedure. Since the goal of each nose surgery is to achieve natural-looking results in relation to your unique facial features, the differences in anatomy between both genders will generally affect the surgical techniques utilized. For example, male patients often have thicker nostrils and a wider, broader nose bridge while female patients typically have smaller, more delicate nasal features. These distinctions — in addition to each patient’s individual aesthetic desires — are taken into account to achieve the best possible results.
The majority of swelling from rhinoplasty should subside within the first couple of months after rhinoplasty, but residual inflammation can last as long as six months to one year. Your final results will gradually improve as your nose continues to heal. In many cases, patients can help minimize swelling after rhinoplasty by keeping the head slightly elevated when sleeping and adhering to a healthy diet rich in protein, fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants.
If you have any questions about any aspect of the rhinoplasty procedure, our friendly team members are here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact our NYC practice to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ira Savetsky, or to learn more about our services.