Rhinoplasty in Mission Viejo, CA
Taylor R. Pollei, MD
Fellowship Trained Facial Plastic Surgeon offers rhinoplasty in Mission Viejo CA
Nose Surgery
Pollei Facial Plastic Surgery is dedicated to providing the best in rhinoplasty surgery. Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. Many of us aren’t thrilled with the nose we look at every morning in the mirror. It may be wider than we like. The tip could have a bulge. The nostrils might flare a bit. You can live with that nose you don’t like, or you could have Dr. Pollei make the changes you seek and give you a nose you like seeing every morning.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
What is Rhinoplasty?
The goal of nose surgery, clinically termed rhinoplasty, is to improve the aesthetic appearance of the nose, the function of the nose, or both. From correcting a birth defect, repairing an injury, improving breathing, or simply improving a patient’s appearance, Dr. Pollei can help you achieve your desired look. Most nose surgeries involve shaving or building up the cartilage that gives the nose its shape. Dr. Pollei uses various techniques to decrease or increase the size of the nose, or to change unwanted characteristics such as a bump on the bridge. During your consultation, you can see how different changes would affect the look of your nose with our digital software.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for Rhinoplasty?
Candidates for rhinoplasty should be at least 13 years old since it is important that patients have finished their facial growth before proceeding with this surgery. Patients considering rhinoplasty should be in overall good health, should not be smokers, and should have realistic expectations about the outcome.
Most people have this surgery for one or more of these reasons:
Appearance – Due to its prominence, having a nose a person feels isn’t right for his or her face can really impact self-confidence. That’s why aesthetic changes are the main reason patients opt for rhinoplasty. These are common issues people cite:
- The bridge has a bump or depression
- The tip droops
- The tip is bulbous
- The nose is crooked
- The nose seems off center
- The nose isn’t proportional with the rest of the face
- The nostrils are excessively flared
Injury – In California, we often see noses that have been hit by a surfboard. Car wrecks, Turkey Bowl football games, old high school sports injuries. Trauma can leave the nose crooked or misshapen.
Function – Many people have problems efficiently breathing, especially while sleeping. Dr. Pollei can open restricted nasal passages and improve function.
What is the Rhinoplasty Procedure?
Rhinoplasty can be done with two basic methods: open or closed surgery. While the closed method is preferred, due to its lack of a visible scar, the open method allows greater alterations.
Open Rhinoplasty – A small incision is made across the columella, the strip of skin between the nostrils. Dr. Pollei then lifts the skin up and back from the tip of the nose, providing full access to the bone and cartilage that shapes the nose. The open method is valuable when the patient wants to build up or reduce the bridge. When the alterations are complete, the skin is re-draped back over the new structure. The open method leaves a small scar on the columella, but it is inconspicuous and fades with time.
Closed Rhinoplasty – In the closed method, Dr. Pollei makes all incisions within the nose, avoiding any visible scarring. The closed method is effective when the patient seeks to change the overall nose size, and to remedy breathing problems. Once the incisions are made, the soft tissues are separated from the bone and cartilage. When the nose is being made thinner or smaller, the nasal bones will be fractured to allow reduction. When increasing the nose size, Dr. Pollei uses either synthetic material, or cartilage or bone from the patient’s ears or ribs.
How Long Does the Procedure Last?
Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia and takes from 1 to 2 hours.
Discover If You Are a Candidate
What Will My Recovery Be Like After?
Immediately after surgery, the patient’s nose and eyes are usually bruised and swollen. Splints and some packing material will remain inside the nose for a few days. Most patients feel like themselves within a few days and are able to return to regular activities in about a week. During recovery, the rhinoplasty patient should refrain from strenuous exercise and showering, use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and avoid nose blowing, vigorous toothbrushing or any activity that puts pressure on the nose.
When Will I see My Full Results?
Swelling will keep you from fully realizing the appearance of your new nose for up to six months, but this can vary between patients. You need to expect to have periods of recurrent swelling; this is normal due to the tissue trauma. But as the weeks pass, you’ll see less and less swelling and you’ll love the look of your new nose.
Are There Any Risks?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved in a rhinoplasty, including excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and localized pain, discoloration or numbness. Occasionally, a patient may be dissatisfied with the cosmetic results of the operation and a second surgery, called a revision rhinoplasty, may be desired. For most patients, however, a rhinoplasty is an uncomplicated procedure with pleasing results.
Contact our practice to learn more about rhinoplasty where we serve the Beverly Hills, Laguna Niguel, and South Orange County areas.