We’ll help you fix the form and function of your nose so that you are more confident and love your look!

Introduction

A rhinoplasty is a surgery designed to alter the form and function of the nose. The nose is the most prominent feature of the face and is critical to overall facial cosmesis and facial aesthetics. Dr. Pirani believes that cosmesis is a function of the face, and if you are not happy with the appearance of your nose it can significantly diminish your confidence level and impact negatively upon your interactions with others. A rhinoplasty procedure alters the form and function of the nose. This is done by altering the shape and size of the bony and cartilaginous components of the nose.

Who’s a good candidate for rhinoplasty surgery?

Any healthy individual with concerns about the appearance of their nose is a candidate for rhinoplasty surgery. Specific concerns that can be addressed with a rhinoplasty include:

• A wide nose
• A narrow nose
• A hump or bump on the dorsum of the nose
• Thick or bulbous or boxy nasal tips
• Excess nasal projection
• Insufficient nasal projection
• Upturned or downturned nasal tips
• Large or disproportionate noses
• Crooked noses
• Residual issues from previous nasal sugery (secondary rhinoplasty)

Certainly anyone with functional breathing problems is also a candidate for rhinoplasty surgery. Smokers should quit smoking for at least 3 to 4 weeks prior to surgery. Patients should not take any medications that make them prone to bleeding such as aspirin.

How is a rhinoplasty performed?

When you meet Dr. Pirani in consultation, he will examine your nose externally and internally. After discussing your goals and concerns he will then formulate a customized operative plan in order to obtain the best results for you. In general there are two basic approaches to performing a rhinoplasty. A rhinoplasty can be open or closed. In an open rhinoplasty there is a very small 2-4 millimeter incision on the underside of the nose. This usually heals quite well and is virtually imperceptible once final wound healing is complete. The remaining incisions are all internal. The advantage of an open rhinoplasty is that it allows better visualization of the entire nasal architecture and thus allows Dr. Pirani to very meticulously alter your nasal structure to obtain the best cosmetic results possible. The downside to the open technique is that there is the potential for swelling to last longer after your surgery than in a closed technique. A closed rhinoplasty is best suited to very simple primary rhinoplasties. If any significant amount of nasal tip work is required, then an open rhinoplasty is the procedure of choice.

Recovery after Rhinoplasty

Regardless of whether one has an open or close rhinoplasty, it is normal to expect several weeks of swelling after the procedure. Generally, people can go back to work within 1 to 2 weeks. Normally there will be some bruising present for anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks (everyone heals at different rates). After rhinoplasty surgery most patients will continue to notice improvements in their nasal shape and form even up to one year after the surgery. Most postoperative swelling usually resolves within 2-6 weeks. Some subtle swelling may last several months, but this is usually only noticeable to you and your surgeon.

The Rhinoplasty Consultation

There is a large amount of information to review during a rhinoplasty consultation. Dr. Pirani will usually spend an hour with you during this consultation. He will go over risks and complications and give you an idea of what you should expect in terms of results and recovery. During your consultation, Dr. Pirani will take a full inventory of all of your facial proportions. The chin and nasal proportions are critical to one another and accordingly in addition to the assessing the form and shape of your nose, Dr. Pirani may recommend alterations to your chin if he feels that these will provide you with improved cosmetic results. Dr. Pirani will also take pictures of you and can provide digital images to give you an idea of what your final result may look like. These are not guarantees of final results. They are only demonstrations of what might be obtained. These should not be taken as implied or explicit guarantees of results. Dr. Pirani’s goal is to educate you so that you fully understand your customized surgical plan.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Pirani, call 416-360-8772. We look forward to meeting you.