Rhinoplasty Pittsburgh, Pa

The following will give you some additional information on Rhinoplasty Surgery. If you would like to schedule a consultation to talk about this procedure, please contact Sistine Plastic Surgery.

 

About the Rhinoplasty Procedure

The shape and contour of the nose is determined by the bone, cartilage, and the overlying skin. The challenge of rhinoplasty is that there are an infinite number of variations of how the bone, cartilage, and skin can interact to produce each individual’s distinctive nose. The skilled rhinoplasty surgeon must have the experience and training to respond to all of these variations.

Several decades ago, rhinoplasty surgeons often had a very set idea as to how a nose should look. Plastic surgeons would simply execute a similar series of steps to produce a fairly standard look. Dr. Leong does not believe that rhinoplasty should result in a standard or formulaic appearance. Instead, each of Dr. Leong’s Pittsburgh patients is evaluated as an individual. Everyone has unique facial features and the nose should fit in harmoniously with the rest of the face and at the same time sustain functional nasal breathing. Dr. Leong is highly specialized in Nasal Surgery due to the extensive training he received as an Otolaryngologist before becoming a Facial Plastic Surgeon. During surgery, he believes in maintaining as much as the patient’s bone and cartilage as possible, to maintain a natural and aesthetically pleasing result. Too much manipulation of the nasal tissue can lead to an operated and unnatural look. Dr. Leong is often asked to perform revision rhinoplasty surgeries on patients who have had too much bone or cartilage removed from the nose. In this case, he will often use cartilage from the ribs, ears or septum to replenish and reconstruct the nose. This can improve a collapsed appearance and improve functionality.

Rhinoplasty surgery is sometimes performed for strictly functional reasons – in other words, to improve the ability of the patient to breathe through the nose. These patients do not desire any changes in the appearance of their nose and if there is clear evidence of significant difficulty with nasal breathing, the patient’s insurance may cover the cost of the procedure. These surgeries frequently include procedures to straighten the septum and reduce the size of structures inside the nose that can obstruct nasal breathing (the inferior turbinates).

Rhinoplasty Options

Many rhinoplasty surgeons have very strong feelings that rhinoplasty should be done either closed (with all incisions within the nose) or open (with a small incision across the columella – the skin between the nostrils). Dr. Leong has been fully trained to approach the nose using either of these two methods. Rather than religiously adhering to one approach or the other, Dr. Leong feels it is more appropriate to evaluate each patient individually. Because every nose comes in a different shape and size, one patient may have a better result with an opened approach, while another would benefit from a closed approach. One benefit of the closed approach is that that there is no external excision. However this small surgical scar often heals so well that it is barely noticeable.

During your consultation with Dr. Leong, he will take the time required to review all of the details of the surgery. You will have ample opportunity to review a large volume of before and after pictures (in addition to the ones in the before and after section this site). Dr. Leong is also happy to put you in touch with a large number of his previous patients if you would like to discuss their personal rhinoplasty experience. Dr. Leong appreciates how important rhinoplasty surgery is to his patients and wants you to have all of the information to make the best possible decision.

What is a Tip Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty surgery differs from patient to patient based on his or her cosmetic needs and goals. With the guidance of Pittsburgh facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul Leong, patients can opt for either a Full Rhinoplasty or Tip Rhinoplasty. Patients who wish to undergo a Tip Rhinoplasty alone are more concerned with the appearance of their tip. There are a range of characteristics of the nasal tip that might make it objectionable to the patients. For example, some patients may feel that the tip may slope down to sharply. This inclination of the tip can be corrected by “rotating” the nasal tip. The goals of a Tip Rhinoplasty patient differ from those of a Full Rhinoplasty patient in that they are usually only interested in refining the size, shape, or rotation, of their bulbous tip. During your consultation with Dr. Leong, he will discuss in detail your options and whether your focus should be on the tip alone versus the nose in total.

How Will My Rhinoplasty Look as I Age?

Many patients assume that after their rhinoplasty, their nose will look that way forever. This is incorrect. All noses, faces, and bodies age and change over time. One’s nose will not look the same at 60 as it did at 20 regardless of surgery. After rhinoplasty, scar tissue forms under the skin and can take several years to shrink and mature. There is pressure placed on the cartilage and grafts during the “shrink wrapping” process the skin envelope undergoes after surgery which can result in subtle shifting and possible asymmetries. Even though results of a rhinoplasty can last a lifetime, there are many influences that can affect post-operative change that extend far past the operation itself. Some of these factors include but are not limited to sun exposure, weight gain and loss, changes in skin texture, genetics, illness, or minor trauma. These can all affect the shape of the nose and its cartilage and tissue quality over time.

How Cautious Should I Be After Rhinoplasty Surgery?

While it is important to be careful after Rhinoplasty surgery with Dr. Leong in Pittsburgh, it is not usually a cause for concern if a patient lightly bumps their nose during the healing process. Minor taps, bumps, scratches, or pressures to the post-operative nose will not often cause harm or alter the final cosmetic result. Significant impact or force to the nose during the Rhinoplasty healing process should be assessed by a professional as soon as possible. While it is true that the full strength of the nose is not fully established for up to a year after the surgery, Dr. Leong tries to have patients resume their normal exercise and lifestyle activities as quickly as possible. Please consult with Dr. Leong if you have any concerns or questions during the post-op healing phase.

Rhinoplasty Scars

Many of our patients who are considering Rhinoplasty surgery in Pittsburgh have questions about the degree of possible scarring that can occur. During Open Rhinoplasty, the external incision is closed along the columella. The columella is the small strip of skin that runs between the right and left nostril. Happily, this incision heals very inconspicuously if Rhinoplasty surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon. The great majority of Rhinoplasty procedures in the United States are performed with an open technique, and the healing of this scar is virtually never a concern for patients. During closed Rhinoplasty, the incisions are made inside of the nostrils and should be undetectable. The trade off when utilizing a closed Rhinoplasty approach is the reduced ability of the surgeon to visualize the anatomy of the nose. Given this trade-off, each surgeon makes the decision between closed versus open Rhinoplasty based on their own experience and the particular goals for each patient. Dr. Leong is fully comfortable with both approaches to Rhinoplasty and will discuss which approach is most appropriate for you at the time of your consultation.

What should I avoid after Rhinoplasty Surgery?

There are many considerations that need to be taken into account during the healing process of a rhinoplasty. Certain things that one may assume would have no effect on a rhinoplasty recovery, can actually play a substantial role and possibly hinder the results. It is important to try to avoid sneezing through your nose post Rhinoplasty. No one can control when they will sneeze and when they won’t, however, sneezing with your mouth open after undergoing a Rhinoplasty will help prevent blowing air into the tissues of the nose. It is possible that sneezing through your nose within a couple weeks after surgery will cause pressure build up by pushing air into your subcutaneous tissues from the incisions which will then result in a nose bleed. Also, playing a musical instrument is similar to physical activity, therefore, it is not recommended to resume for approximately a month. Blowing into an instrument or exerting an excess amount of energy within weeks after surgery could be harmful to the healing process of the nose. Importantly, the patient can increase the air pressure inside the nose when they use a wind instrument. This could possibly increase nasal secretions getting inside a healing incision and slightly increase the risk of an infection. It is important for patients to start off slow when the time is appropriate to resume physical and normal activity. Patients should be in tuned with their body and build up to their pre-surgery activity level. If something doesn’t feel right, patients must listen to those signs and ease in slower to the activity.

What is the Cost of Rhinoplasty in Pittsburgh?

The cost of Rhinoplasty in Pittsburgh can range from $6,000 to $14,500. Price is generally dependent upon the degree of complexity of each case and the physician’s experience. Each patient has unique anatomy and different goals whether involving cartilage reconstruction, skin grafting, or the amount of tissue needing to be removed. Dr. Leong and his staff will go over all fees involved during your in-depth consultation. For further questions, please contact our Patient Care Coordinator at 412-621-FACE (3223).

Contact Sistine Plastic Surgery

For more information on Rhinoplasty surgery or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Leong to talk more about your options, please contact Sistine Plastic Surgery today.