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Before & After
The nose is an important part of the face, allowing us to breathe easily and affecting the balance and harmony between the facial features. If something about the nose looks “off,” it can have a major negative impact on a person’s appearance. Fortunately, people who are bothered by the appearance of their nose can turn to rhinoplasty, a popular cosmetic surgery procedure that enhances the nose and yields permanent results. Also referred to as a nose job, rhinoplasty is a nose reshaping surgery that can help men and women achieve a nose that looks great with their unique facial aesthetics and helps them feel more confident in their own skin.
Dr. Alberico Sessa M.D., of Sarasota Surgical Arts, is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon who offers rhinoplasty to patients in Sarasota and South Florida. He is dedicated to helping patients improve their quality of life through transformative procedures like rhinoplasty.
There are a number of benefits patients can enjoy following a rhinoplasty procedure. Since the nose is a prominent facial feature, men and women unhappy with its look can enjoy greater confidence and a better quality of life after rhinoplasty surgery.
In addition, rhinoplasty can help patients who have broken their nose following a fall, accident, or sports injury. It can also resolve breathing issues and treat sinus concerns. Rhinoplasty may also restore proper nose function for patients coping with a deviated septum or another structural problem.
Men and women who are in good health and hope to change the size and/or shape of their nose and restore a more balanced aesthetic are often ideal candidates for rhinoplasty. Patients with breathing challenges or certain birth defects may benefit from rhinoplasty as well.
Dr. Sessa has found that most patients decide to undergo a rhinoplasty procedure because their nose is broken, bent, too small, too large, or too wide. In addition, they may have nostrils that appear too small or too wide or a crooked bridge.
Rhinoplasty is not recommended for patients who are under 15 years of age as their noses have not yet completed the development phase. Those under the age of 18 must have parental consent and Dr. Sessa must ensure that the nose is done growing before moving forward with the procedure.
Patients who smoke must be able to quit at least four weeks prior to the procedure for safety reasons and to allow the nose to heal properly after surgery. Patients with certain medical conditions or those taking some prescription medications may be ineligible for elective surgery or may need to wait until their condition is under control to seek rhinoplasty. A consultation is an ideal time for patients to determine whether a rhinoplasty makes sense for their particular nose and aesthetic goals.
We encourage men and women interested in nose surgery to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Sessa at our cosmetic surgery center in Sarasota. The consultation is required both to determine candidacy and for Dr. Sessa to understand why a patient would like a nose job. It can help a patient determine whether a rhinoplasty makes sense for them and educate them further about the procedure and recovery process.
If a patient does schedule a rhinoplasty procedure, Dr. Sessa can design a customized treatment plan and show images of the types of results they can expect. This gives patients realistic expectations and ensures that they choose a nose job for the right reasons. Patients should come to the consultation with an idea of what they’d like to change about their nose and any questions they may have about the procedure.
While many cosmetic surgeries are strictly cosmetic procedures, rhinoplasty can be cosmetic, functional, or a combination of the two. Functional rhinoplasty surgery involves resolving any structural defects that obstruct the patient’s airway. It is specifically performed to improve patients’ breathing, nasal function, and quality of life.
On the other hand, cosmetic rhinoplasty is performed to improve the appearance of a patient’s nose. During a cosmetic rhinoplasty, Dr. Sessa will focus on reshaping the nose to achieve better facial symmetry and balance, according to the patient’s goals. Both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty procedures can be performed at Sarasota Surgical Arts, often as part of the same plastic surgery procedure.
Dr. Sessa requires that all smokers quit several weeks before and after their facial plastic surgery as doing so can significantly reduce their risk of complications. He will review their current medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins to determine which ones to pause prior to the procedure. Additionally, Dr. Sessa will thoroughly examine the patient’s face and photograph it so that they have “before” pictures for comparison purposes.
Dr. Sessa can perform rhinoplasty surgery using a closed or open method. During a closed rhinoplasty, Dr. Sessa will make all incisions inside of the nose. An open rhinoplasty, however, involves making an incision in the columella, which is the strip of tissue that separates the nostrils. Patients can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that incision scars will be nearly undetectable regardless of whether a closed or open rhinoplasty is performed.
Once he makes the incisions, Dr. Sessa may break and reset nasal bones, shape bone, and cartilage, create and place cartilage grafts, or reshape the nasal tip. It’s important to note that since each patient has a different nose and each rhinoplasty has its own unique goals, the way this procedure is performed varies from patient to patient. In most cases, a rhinoplasty takes one to three hours to complete and conducted under general anesthesia.
Following nose surgery, Dr. Sessa will instruct patients to wear a nasal splint to support their nose during the first stage of the healing process. While patients may feel like their nose is stuffy initially, they should have no issues breathing through their mouth. If they notice that their swelling and/or bruising extends to the eye area, they should not be concerned. “Black eyes” are fairly typical after rhinoplasty. Side effects of rhinoplasty can include swelling, bruising, redness, congestion, discomfort, and numbness.
In order to keep the inside of their nose clean and moisturized, patients will be encouraged to use a saline nasal spray. Pain medications may also be prescribed to relieve any pain or discomfort. It usually takes a week for patients to resume work and their daily routines, however, exercise will need to be postponed for several more weeks.
Since rhinoplasty surgery is one of the more invasive procedures a cosmetic surgeon performs, it does come with some risks and complications. These include infection, scarring, swelling, numbness, soreness, skin discoloration, and sinusitis. When a patient chooses a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon, like Dr. Sessa, for their nose job, the likelihood of these risks and complications occurring is significantly reduced.
Since the nose usually stops growing at around age 15 or 16, the ideal age for rhinoplasty is late adolescence and early adulthood. Younger patients with significant structural defects and older patients who understand that they may need a longer recovery period may undergo rhinoplasty as well.
If performed properly, patients should end up with very natural-looking results. The fact that the patient has had a rhinoplasty should not be obvious. After cosmetic or reconstructive surgery with Dr. Sessa, patients can expect results that enhance their facial features.
There are non-surgical fillers available that may improve the appearance of a patient’s nose. However, the results they are offer are subtle and temporary. Patients who seek rhinoplasty for a permanent, drastic change to their nose are usually better off undergoing a surgical procedure. Dr. Sessa can help a patient determine the ideal treatment for their specific needs.
Yes! Rhinoplasty is often one of several procedures patients undergo to boost their confidence. A chin implant, blepharoplasty, mommy makeover, facelift, and liposuction are just a few examples of other surgeries Dr. Sessa performs.
All surgery produces some scarring. Fortunately, most patients are left with rhinoplasty scars that are invisible because they are on the inside of their nostrils. If they undergo an open rhinoplasty, they may have a small scar at the base of their nose. The good news is that this scar typically heals very well and is almost undetectable. Before and after photos can help patients understand what type of scarring they can expect following a nose job.
In some patients, Dr. Sessa may need to reinforce existing cartilage to avoid a drooping nasal tip. While he may use grafts in these patients, he often deems them unnecessary if trying to minimize bumps or narrow the bridge of the nose.
Since Dr. Sessa uses general anesthesia, this typically makes rhinoplasty a painless procedure. While some patients may experience minor pain after surgery, this discomfort is usually stuffiness that results from nasal swelling.
Dr. Sessa may prescribe pain medication to help patients reduce any pain or discomfort. Many rhinoplasty patients at Sarasota Surgical Arts find the recovery process to be fairly easy.
There are four areas that nose surgery may address: the nasal tip, profile, width, and nostrils. Dr. Sessa can usually make a patient’s nose smaller, larger, or narrower. He can give it a more attractive shape without changing the overall size. Dr. Sessa will design a nose that aligns best with a patient’s unique facial features and goals.
Dr. Sessa is board-certified in cosmetic surgery and a member of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. He is known as one of the top cosmetic surgeons in Sarasota and understands how crucial the nose is to a patient’s overall appearance.
The doctor commits to designing customized procedures that restore his patients’ confidence. If you seek rhinoplasty with Dr. Sessa, you can expect individualized attention before, during, and after your procedure.
If you’re self-conscious about your nose, then it may be time to schedule a private consultation at our Sarasota facial plastic surgery center. Feel free to call us at 941-923-1736 or fill out our convenient online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!