The Rhinoplasty Recovery Process

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What to Expect When Recovering from Rhinoplasty –

While rhinoplasty – aka a “nose job” – is a serious surgery, it is also very common and safe surgical procedure. When performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Ali, recovery problems are extremely rare and you are ensured beautiful, long-lasting results.

However, following the advice of your plastic surgeon after a rhinoplasty procedure is crucial to ensuring the long-term success of your nasal procedure! The information in this article is general in nature only to give you an idea what a person can typically expect after a nose job surgery. However, every surgery is different – so always discuss your procedure with your surgeon and follow their specific suggestions and recommendations for your rhinoplasty aftercare and recovery.

The First Week After Rhinoplasty Surgery

  1. Immediately after your surgery is completed, you’ll be given a small, aluminum frame to cover your nose. This will ensure your nose is protected adequately during the first week of recovery.
  2. In some situations the physician may need to use nasal packing to stabilize the nose after the procedure. Soft silicone splints can also be used to stabilize the internal structures of the nose during the first week of recovery.
  3. You will experience a bit of discomfort or pain after the surgery, however with the use of long-term anesthetic, discomfort after a rhinoplasty is very minimal. (Note that any significant increase in pain after your procedure is a sign to call your surgeon immediately.)
  4. Swelling will occur after surgery, so you can expect to feel congested for a while after. Your nasal passages may be partially or completely obstructed. However, splints can prevent complete blockage. To ease this congestion, you can take an over-the-counter decongestant with your doctor’s approval.
  5. To reduce swelling, keep your head elevated higher than your heart. Bruising and swelling are usually worse on the second day after your surgery, but will improve after that.
  6. For about 48 hours after your nose job, you will have a drip pad under your nostrils for nasal discharge. This will collect blood or excess liquid – which is normal for the first few days. Be sure to clean the drop pad every time you clean your nasal area.
  7. It is important to keep the area clean and free of blood and other liquids. Dip a Q-tip in hydrogen peroxide and gently clean the inside of your nostrils. You can then use an antibiotic ointment to prevent dried blood, with the permission of your doctor.

1 Week After Rhinoplasty

  1. Any external sutures used will be removed about a week after your surgery. If splints were used, they will be removed when your cast is removed.
  2. Keep the now exposed incision area clean by wiping it very gently with a Q-tip soaked in hydrogen peroxide, and apply an antibiotic ointment to the incision two to three times a day.
  3. After 1 week the pain and discomfort should have subsided substantially.
  4. It is normal to experience a temporary loss of sensation in the tip of your nose, upper front teeth and/or roof of your mouth after a rhinoplasty. Nasal surgery causes a temporary disruption in the nerves in this area. Over the weeks following surgery, all sensation should return to normal.
  5. Just as with numbness, your sense of smell may be altered due to disruption of some nerves during the procedure. You may notice a slight decrease or alteration in both your sense of smell and taste. However, after about a week, this should improve, as well.

What to Avoid After Rhinoplasty

  1. For the first month following your rhinoplasty, you should plan to wear contact lenses instead of glasses. Avoid resting your glasses on the bridge of your nose until your surgeon gives you the okay.
  2. Do not travel by plane for at least two weeks to avoid problems with sinus blockage.
  3. Avoid any activity that can accidentally jar or injury the nose, such as vigorous sex, sports, or athletic activities until your physician gives you the go ahead.
  4. Once the incision has healed, be sure to wear sunblock for 6 months after your surgery to avoid discoloration.

When to Call Your Doctor After Rhinoplasty

If you notice any of the following, it is important to contact your surgeon right away:

  • Fever exceeding 100 degrees
  • Unusual or excessive bleeding from the nose
  • Injury to the nose
  • Significant increase in pain that cannot be managed by prescribed medication

 

Best Rhinoplasty Surgeon – Troy Michigan

Rhinoplasty is a routine procedure, and if you follow all after-care instructions as provided by your surgeon, you should have beautiful, long-lasting results. If you ever have questions or concerns during your recovery period, don’t hesitate to ask your surgeon.

Schedule a Rhinoplasty Consultation with a Troy, MI area Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200

Best Nose Job Techniques: Structural vs. Excisional Rhinoplasty

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Differences Between Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) Techniques – 

Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed hundreds of rhinoplasty surgeries – giving women and men the attractive and natural looking nose they have always wanted. Rhinoplasty surgery is truly part art and part science, in order to create an attractive nose that is still natural looking, as well as “structurally sound.”

In the early years of “nose jobs” the only way surgeons knew how to alter the shape of the nasal tip was the removal of skeletal tissue. This was called an “excisional rhinoplasty” – because cartilage was actually crudely cut away.

The results of these early, aggressive excisional rhinoplasties were not always pretty, and often lead to the nose becoming progressively deformed over time. Many celebrities, such as Michael Jackson and Joan Rivers, altered their appearance for the worse with overly-aggressive excisional rhinoplasty.

In this article we explain the difference between traditional excisional rhinoplasty and new techniques in structural rhinoplasty that can create a more perfect non-surgical-looking, natural-appearing cosmetic outcome.

Excisional Rhinoplasty

While the current trend in rhinoplasty surgery is gradually shifting toward cartilage preservation, many surgeons still practice excisional rhinoplasty with, aggressive cartilage removal (excision). Unfortunately the result can be deformities, some of which may not fully manifest for months, years, or even decades later.

In theory, just enough cartilage is removed to narrow the tip, but adequate cartilage is left to remain stable and prevent future nasal tip deformities. However, the degree of cartilage needed to maintain nasal stability is nearly impossible to determine at the time of surgery. As a result, eventually the remaining cartilage can buckle from skin shrinkage; or get pulled upward due to scar tightening, or both. And these ill effects can worsen over time as cartilage weakens with age.

Structural Rhinoplasty

Fortunately, there is now an effective alternative nose job technique to excisional rhinoplasty. Structural Rhinoplasty preserves skeletal support in order to avoid the complications of too much cartilage removal.

Instead of cutting, removing, and discarding large amounts of nasal cartilage – which can cause a collapse of the nasal framework – structural rhinoplasty utilizes repositioning and reshaping (folding) the tip of the cartilage to achieve a more attractive contour.

Because structural rhinoplasty “folds” rather than cuts off cartilage, it preserves the skeletal integrity. This dramatically improves the accuracy, reliability, and safety of the rhinoplasty.

In some cases, some tissue excision is still unavoidable – for example in removing a nasal bridge “hump”. However, reducing or reshaping the tip can now be accomplished with little or no cartilage removal. And the resulting tip shape is more natural, and much sturdier – with far less risk of airway collapse or progressive deformity over time.

Birmingham’s Best Rhinoplasty & Nose Job Surgeon

A successful rhinoplasty requires a skillful surgeon to artfully reconfigure the nose, while also ensuring that the attractive new nose will withstand wound-healing, disease, and aging – now and over time.

Dr. Ali follows the four R’s of structural rhinoplasty — Retain, Reposition, Reshape and Reinforce — to achieve the gold standard for contemporary nasal surgery.

If you are considering rhinoplasty, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali to discuss your options. He will explain how he can give you the nose you have always wanted – attractive, natural looking – with the safety and long term benefits of structural rhinoplasty.

Schedule a Nose Job Consultation with a Birmingham Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200

The Best Age to Get a Nose Job (Rhinoplasty)

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At What Age Can You Get Rhinoplasty or a Nose Job?

Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed hundreds of rhinoplasty surgeries – giving women and men of all ages the attractive nose they have always wanted. However, as with any surgery, ensuring that you are a good candidate for rhinoplasty is important.

In this article we explain who is and is not a good rhinoplasty patient

How old do you have to be to get rhinoplasty?

From a technical standpoint, rhinoplasty can be performed any time after the nose’s growth is complete. Everybody is different, but nasal growth is typically complete in girls by age 15 and in boys by age 16.

A person’s nose remains child-like until puberty when their adolescent growth spurt generates growth of the nasal skeleton. Usually no later than age 17, skeletal growth is complete and the nose will reaches its final adult shape. Dr. Ali will assess a young patient’s nose and determine if they have finished developing before scheduling a nose job.

However, it is important that a young person is also emotionally mature enough to be a willing and cooperative rhinoplasty patient. Rhinoplasty is a big decision that will affect the person’s appearance for the rest of their life and so they should possess sufficient maturity to make such an important decision.

With today’s emphasis on celebrities, social media and selfies many young people are unnecessarily hard on themselves in the search for perfection. A young person with an attractive and natural nose should not jump into a nose job, just to try to look more like a certain celebrity. Parents can help their teen be realistic about when rhinoplasty is worth the expense and the risk of surgery – and when it really isn’t necessary.

Additionally, healing from a nose job requires that the patient be willing to follow aftercare instructions meticulously, to ensure proper healing and avoid complications. This includes being willing to refrain from exercise or rigorous activities for up to a month.

Rhinoplasty younger than age 16

In some rare cases, rhinoplasty surgery may be performed at younger ages if a child has a severe functional impairment, physical malformation, or other medical condition dictating that rhinoplasty should not wait. For example, a nasal distortion can affect a child’s ability to breathe. In these cases insurance may also cover the procedure.

How old is too old for a nose job?

Some adults have always wanted to change the appearance of their nose – but simply were not in a position to afford surgery until a later point in their life. For many adults, this point arrives after their kids are out of college and have “left the nest”.

Other adults, however, may have had an attractive nose when they were younger which has not aged very gracefully. While the nasal skeleton stops growing after adolescence, the adult nasal shape is far from static and continues to change as we age. Sometimes the results are subtle, but sometimes nasal cartilage becomes thinner and loses its elasticity causing noses to lengthen and/or droop dramatically.

Other older patients seek rhinoplasty not only for cosmetic reasons, but also to help maintain or improve good breathing.

Whatever the reason, Dr. Ali can perform rhinoplasty on adults of all virtually ages – provided they are in good health, maintain a healthy lifestyle and have no complicating factors.

Like any surgery, however, cosmetic rhinoplasty becomes more challenging with age. Ideally rhinoplasty is performed between early adulthood and the forties.  However, many adults in their fifties have had excellent results with rhinoplasty surgery. Beyond age 60, due to decreased healing responses and thinning and less elastic skin, a patient should be carefully assessed to determine if the cosmetic results will still be optimal.

Birmingham’s Best Nose Job Surgeon

If you are considering a nose job, call Birmingham Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ali for a rhinoplasty evaluation and consultation.  He will explain your surgical options for correcting imperfections in your nasal contours – and ensure that you achieve the best possible rhinoplasty results!

Schedule a Nose Job Consultation with a Birmingham Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200

Recovery Time for Rhinoplasty (Nose Jobs)

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How Long is Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) Recovery Time?

Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed hundreds of rhinoplasty surgeries – giving women and men the attractive nose they have always wanted. However, many patients are concerned about, or have questions regarding, the recovery time for rhinoplasty surgery.

In this article we discuss how long rhinoplasty recovery takes, and how quickly you can get back to your normal activities.

Is there pain after rhinoplasty surgery?

Most patients that undergo the rhinoplasty procedure experience a mild pressure above the nose for about two hours after the procedure. From there on after, the patients do not experience any pain. The post-operative period is painless, although pain medication is usually given in case the patient has some discomfort.

What is the recovery like after a nose job?

Many people still erroneously have an outdated idea of rhinoplasty from the “original” nose jobs performed a few decades ago – which often left people looking like they lost a prize fight. Thanks to modern technology, today’s rhinoplasty surgery has a must faster and easier recovery period.

The recovery for rhinoplasty today is actually rather mild. You will be allowed to return home after the procedure. Some surgical swelling and inflammation is unavoidable with any surgery, but a good aftercare routine will minimize the inflammatory effects and swelling and optimize the cosmetic outcome.

You will typically be required to wear a nasal splint for the first 7 to 10 days after your rhinoplasty. After your rhinoplasty, you may have moderate swelling and some bruising around your eyes that could last up to two weeks. Everybody heals differently – and some people have very little swelling and almost no bruising. Others may have a “black eye” effect for a week or two.

Many patients ask Dr. Ali about the old-fashioned and uncomfortable “packing” that used to be associated with nose jobs. In the vast majority of today’s rhinoplasty surgeries “packing” the nasal passages is no longer required.

When can I resume activities after rhinoplasty?

Dr. Ali will advise you know when it is safe for you to return to your daily activities. Rest and relaxation are strongly advised during the first week after surgery to facilitate recovery, as well as minimize bruising and swelling.

In most cases, a patient should also avoid strenuous activity for up to four weeks after your surgery. This is important for a number of reasons. In addition to not wanting to disrupt or shift the nasal bones or cartilage before they heal into place, it is also essential to keep your blood pressure from rising – which can cause nosebleeds and aggravate swelling.

Typically patients can begin easing into gentle or moderate exercise three weeks after having the surgery, waiting four to six weeks to attempt anything vigorous or strenuous.

Patients are generally able to return to work about one week after the rhinoplasty procedure, at most jobs. However, if your jobs requires physical exertion you may need an additional two or three weeks before returning to full work activity.

Can I wear glasses after a nose job?

You can wear your eye glasses on top of your splint or cast during your first week of recovery. However, once the cast is removed you should avoid wearing glasses directly on your nose for up to six weeks after surgery. This includes sunglasses!

This is because the weight of your glasses can shift your healing nasal bones and cartilage before they heal into place.

However, in cases where a controlled bone fracture wasn’t performed during the rhinoplasty, a patient can typically wear glasses at any time. If you wear glasses (or sunglasses) Dr. Ali will advise you specifically when you can resume wearing them.

Birmingham’s Best Nose Job Surgeon

If you are considering a nose job, call Birmingham Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ali for a rhinoplasty evaluation and consultation.  He will explain your surgical options for correcting imperfections in your nasal contours – and ensure that you achieve the best possible rhinoplasty results!

Schedule a Nose Job Consultation with a Birmingham Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200

Medical Benefits of Rhinoplasty

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Rhinoplasty Offers Cosmetic and Medical Benefits

When most people think of a “nose job” they assume it is strictly a cosmetic procedure. But rhinoplasty is much more than just a remedy for living with a nose that leaves you unhappy when looking in the mirror.  When performed by a skilled Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, rhinoplasty can also have a very real and positive medical impact on your life.

Rhinoplasty: More than Just Cosmetic Surgery

“The most obvious impact of a nose job is that it can improve your appearance,” says Birmingham, Michigan plastic surgeon Dr. Ali. “An improved appearance can then lead to improved self-esteem, which can improve your quality of life. If you’ve been self-conscious of your appearance your entire life because of your nose, after surgery is finished, you may find a renewed sense of self and happiness. Because you feel better about yourself, you’ll feel more confident and feel a desire to improve other areas of your life.”

But a rhinoplasty can also help you live a better and healthier life.  A nose job not only improves the look of the nose, it improves its function, too. So if you have breathing problems or even sleeping problems, a rhinoplasty may be the answer for you.

Rhinoplasty for Breathing Problems

People often assume when someone says they have a deviated septum, it’s just a “cover up” for a nose job surgery. But deviated septums are a very real medical condition that can lead to difficulty breathing, seriously impacting a person’s quality of life.  In a patient with a deviated septum, the center piece of cartilage is deviated, or off center. It can occur due to an injury, but is most often genetic. Because the cartilage is off center, it can impede airflow between your nostrils and passageways.

Other patients may have narrowed nasal airways that lead to decreased oxygenation – this is not only uncomfortable but can lead to lethargy, lack of stamina and increased risk of infection. Breathing issues due to narrowed or obstructed airways may also lead to decreased sense of smell, frequent nosebleeds, sleeping problems, hypertension and even heart disease.

For many breathing problems, rhinoplasty surgery is the ideal medical solution – improving your health and your quality of life.

Rhinoplasty for Sleep Issues & Snoring

If you experience sleep issues, your nose and nasal passages (airways) are likely playing a big role in the problem. Loud snoring might be annoying to your partner, but it may also indicate a much more serious health issue for you. Loud snoring may indicate that you have an obstructed airway, which can be dangerous and shouldn’t be ignored. It may indicate a more serious condition, known as “obstructive sleep apnea” or OSA.

OSA is caused by poor nasal airways, and is characterized by stoppages in breathing in the middle of the night that can jolt you awake. Not only does it result in a restless night’s sleep for you, it is also dangerous. While some cases of sleep apnea are caused by throat muscles that relax too much, others cases are caused by a severely deviated septum. In these cases, rhinoplasty performed by a Board Certified surgeon can improve both your breathing, your sleep, your snoring and your overall health.

Rhinoplasty for Sinus Headaches

Rhinoplasty can also offer relief for some sufferers of sinus headaches. If sinuses don’t drain properly, you may think you are just constantly fighting colds, or blame it on allergies. But in reality, if your nasal passageways are not able to properly drain the mucus from your sinuses it can lead to pressure, sinus infections and severe headaches.

A skilled board certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Ali can correct a deviated septum and clear your airways and nasal passageways – providing lifelong relief from sinus pressure and headaches.

Best Birmingham Rhinoplasty Surgeon

“Many people may think a nose job is only performed to make someone look better,” says Dr. Ali. “And truthfully, if that is your reason for surgery, that is more than enough, because when you feel better about the way you look, you’ll also feel better about life. But, for many people, a rhinoplasty can offer relief from serious issues that affect them. The ability to breath and sleep better, and say goodbye to sinus pressure are amazing benefits that can greatly improve your life.”

Schedule a Consultation with a Birmingham, Michigan Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200

What You Need to Know About Nose Jobs and Rhinoplasty

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All About Nose Jobs & Rhinoplasty –

Rhinoplasty – also called nose reshaping surgery or a “nose job” – is the third-most popular plastic surgery in the United States. And while early nose job techniques and technologies were far from perfect – today’s modern nose reshaping procedures result in beautiful, natural looking noses.

The nose is the focal point of our face – giving us character and symmetry – and is a distinguishing characteristic. However, for those dissatisfied with their noses, there are several plastic surgery options available.

What Can a Nose Job “Fix”

For people who are dissatisfied with their current nasal shape, here are some basic structures of the nose that are most often modified:

  • The bridge of the nose: This part of the nose, where glasses sit, can be altered or reshaped to remove any bumps or abnormalities.
  • The tip of the nose : The angle and shape of the tip can both be modified to best suit the patient’s goals.
  • The nasal ala and vestibule: The overall size of the nostrils (nares) can be altered by adding or subtracting from the ala and vestibule externally and internally.
  • The overall nose size or shape: Many people are more concerned with the size or shape of their nose than the particulars listed above, and just want an overall change.

Regardless of the type of surgical rhinoplasty you’re considering, it is critical to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon beforehand to outline your precise goals.

Bringing in photos of the type of nose you’d like is helpful, as is a detailed description. After deciding on the ideal outcome, each patient should talk to his or her surgeon to decide which type of rhinoplasty is better: open or closed.

Open Rhinoplasty

This technique involves an incision on the external space between the nostrils, an area also referred to as the columella. This incision can let the doctor see the overall internal nasal structure. The patient’s own tissue will be used in this procedure for skin grafting. The surgeon will place sutures carefully after reconstructing the nose, allowing for optimal results. Afterwards, the nose will appear a more balanced facial feature and can grow naturally, using the patient’s tissue as a scaffold.

The major benefit of open rhinoplasty is that it requires a small incision that allows the surgeon to see the entire nasal structure during this procedure, enabling the surgeon to creates an outcome that will likely be closely aligned to the patient’s goals.

Read More About Open Rhinoplasty HERE.

Closed Rhinoplasty

This form of rhinoplasty is performed through incisions inside the nose. While it is more difficult for the surgeon to see the internal nasal structures, this technique may leave behind no external scars. It all depends on what type of nose the patient has, as well as the goals she has in mind. Excellent results can be achieved by experienced board certified plastic surgeons like Dr. Ali, who have performed hundreds of rhinoplasties.

Read More About Closed Rhinoplasty HERE.

Detroit Area’s Best Rhinoplasty Surgeon

Whatever your appearance goals are, Dr. Ali will offer you a consultation so you can can understand what the best surgical options are for you so that you can achieve the nose you’ve always dreamed of.

Dr. M. Azhar Ali is a board-certified, Detroit area plastic surgeon who has performed more than 7,000 plastic surgery procedures. He and his team are experienced and knowledgeable aesthetic care professionals, skilled in providing treatments like rhinoplasty. The skilled team at  Dr. Ali’s Plastic Surgery Center offers state-of-the-art technologies and surgical techniques – coupled with comfortable & compassionate care – to all of their valued patients.

Schedule a Nose Job Consultation with a Detroit Area Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200