Dallas Rhinoplasty Specialist, Dr. White - Information on Nose Reshaping

• Introduction
• Am I a good candidate for rhinoplasty?
• What should I expect from my rhinoplasty consultation?
• What does cosmetic nose surgery entail?
• Are there safety concerns associated with rhinoplasty?
• How should I prepare for my cosmetic nose surgery?
• What will happen the day of my surgery?
• What should I expect during my recovery?
• How soon should I expect to see my results?
• How long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon?
• Choosing a plastic surgeon
• Make sure your surgeon is board certified
• Ask about the surgeon's hospital privileges

Introduction

As humans, the nose is one of our most prominent features. It is important to our over-all appearance that it is well-shaped and fits naturally on our face. For those unhappy with the shape, size or proportion of their nose, rhinoplasty (cosmetic nose surgery) may offer the improvement they seek.

Though basic rhinoplasty information is provided on this website, the best way to get answers to specific questions about your needs is to schedule a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For individuals considering rhinoplasty in Dallas, rhinoplasty specialist, Dr. White is ABPS certified and will gladly address any questions and concerns you may have during consultation.

Am I a good candidate for rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, or Nose Job, offers benefits to individuals of most any age. However, children and teens should wait until their facial growth is complete. For girls this typically occurs between at age 16 and for boys at age 18. Teens should only undergo rhinoplasty if it is their own idea.

Good candidates for a rhinoplasty (nosejob) include healthy individuals with any of the following issues:

• Nose disproportionately large for the face
• Hump or depression on the nasal bridge
• Disproportionately wide shape
• Nasal tip that droops
• Enlarged nasal tip
• Excessively flared nostrils
• Off-center or crooked nose
• Asymmetry caused by injury
• Airway obstruction impairing breathing

What should I expect from my rhinoplasty consultation?

A personal consultation with your surgeon is the first step for any patient considering rhinoplasty. Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. Steven White believes in careful patient consultation to assess your physical and emotional health, discuss your aesthetic goals, and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Issues you should be prepared to discuss during consultation with Dr. White include:

• Medical conditions, both past and present
• Current medications, including nutritional supplements and herbal remedies
• Past surgeries
• Allergies causing congestion or breathing difficulties
• Nasal spray use

Your physical evaluation with Dallas rhinoplasty specialist, Dr. White, will include an assessment of your nasal structure, skin tone, and the current shape and size of your nose. He will also carefully evaluate the relationship of your nose with your other features to create the balance needed for optimal results.

For some, he may discuss additional procedures to enhance physical appearance or improve breathing after rhinoplasty. Fort Worth men and women frequently combine chin implant surgery with their procedure, to improve facial harmony and make add strength to their jawline. For breathing issues, a turbinoplasty is often performed to open nasal passages. A septoplasty can also be performed with cosmetic nose surgery, to correct a deviated septum.

What does cosmetic nose surgery entail?

There are many variations to the rhinoplasty procedure. The technique Dr. White uses for you depends upon your individual features and aesthetic goals. Alterations can be made to change your nose angle, reshape the tip, narrow the nostrils or change the size or width of the nasal bridge. Dr. White will discuss your options with you during your pre-op consultation.

Dr. White prefers the open approach (open rhinoplasty) for enhanced visualization of the tissues and a better result. This requires a small incision across the columella (vertical soft tissue between the nostrils) which usually heals remarkably well and is often barely noticeable.

Rhinoplasty allows the bone and cartilage of the nose to be sculpted as desired. Depending upon your needs, Dallas Rhinoplasty specialist, Dr. White, may reposition or reshape the nasal bones. If needed, certain areas may be built up using cartilage or bone from the nose, or cartilage from other areas of the body, usually the septum of the nose. Sometimes, Dr. White needs more cartilage particularly when he is asked to do a secondary rhinoplasty. If additional cartilage is required in addition to what may be available from the nasal septum, then Dr. White may utilize a rib graft. This is a difficult procedure which is only performed by very few rhinoplasty surgeons in Dallas. Although some believe it may be a painful procedure, Dr. White has developed an innovative protocol for his rib grafts using a special operative approach combined with a programmable pain pump after surgery. According to his patients, this protocol makes the rib graft a virtually pain-free procedure. Dr. White does not recommend synthetic materials for the nose due to the increased risks of infection or extrusion. After the underlying structure of the nose is reshaped, the skin and soft tissues are redraped over the reshaped framework. In some instances, such as with nostril reduction, a small bit of skin at the base of the nostrils may be removed. The incisions from this are concealed in the nose's natural creases, although this is rarely necessary with Dr. White's refined techniques.

Are there safety concerns associated with rhinoplasty?

Though thousands of men and women undergo rhinoplasty each year and experience no major complications, the procedure does carry some degree risk. It is important you be well informed of these risks when considering Rhinoplasty. Dallas cosmetic surgeon Dr. White sees the discussion of potential risks and complications as one of the most important aspects of patient consultation. During your consultation, he will discuss these potential complications with you, listen to your safety questions, and offer instructions on how to minimize your risk.

How should I prepare for my cosmetic nose surgery?

It is important to follow Dr. White's instructions when preparing for rhinoplasty or nasal surgery to ensure the best possible results. Those instructions may include:

• Refraining from smoking for several weeks before and after surgery
• The avoidance certain medications
• Arranging for help following surgery, such as a ride home and proper in-home care

What will happen the day of my surgery?

For your comfort and convenience, Dr. White maintains privileges in several hospitals in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Rhinoplasty may require a short, one-night hospital stay, though most patients are able to return home the same day.

During surgery, medications will be administered to ensure comfort. General anesthesia will most likely be used to allow you to sleep during the procedure. Dr. White uses only doctors (anesthesiologists)-not nurses (CRNA's or anesthetists)-to administer anesthesia to his Dallas cosmetic surgery patients. He will carefully monitor your physical status throughout the operation and during your recovery.

What should I expect during my recovery?

Dr. White uses advanced techniques to foster faster recovery for all his Dallas/Fort Worth plastic surgery patients. Directly after surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery area. Your head will be elevated and any pain you may feel will be controlled with medication. In most instances, a splint will be applied to the bridge of the nose for stabilization purposes. Splints may also be used inside the nostrils, especially if work has been done to improve breathing. A small bandage beneath the nose tip will also be applied in cases of open rhinoplasty. Though everyone heals at a different pace, you can expect your recovery to roughly follow this general time line:

The day of rhinoplasty surgery

• In this early stage of healing, activity must be kept to a minimum
• Resting with your head elevated is important to minimize swelling
• Bleeding and stuffiness may occur in small amounts

Within 10 days:

• Bruising will begin to subside
• Swelling reaches its peak and then begins to go down
• Stitches and splints will be removed
• Makeup can be applied to conceal any discoloration
• Non-strenuous activity may begin

After several weeks:

• Exercise and most other normal activities may resume
• Most swelling will subside
• Numbness will diminish; though some may persist for several months
• Eyeglasses may be worn

It will be important to keep your nose shielded from sunlight for several months. Using sunblock to protect your skin is essential.

How soon should I expect to see my results?

Your results should begin to emerge within a few weeks after surgery. As each month passes, you'll notice gradual improvement until healing is complete. It may take up to two years or more for your final results to appear.

Though getting used to your new look may take time, most patients are very pleased with their results. Many report increased self-confidence and an improvement in the overall facial look. Rhinoplasty results are permanent, though the aging process may eventually change your nose shape.

How long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon?

Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White believes in the importance of follow-up visits, to answer any questions you may have and monitor your healing process. Rather than delegating all of these visits to a nurse, he enjoys seeing his patients as they heal over time. Your first post-operative visit will be scheduled after the initial healing period, during the first week after surgery. In the following months, Dr. White may ask you to return for periodic checkups. Keeping these appointments is important to allow him to assess your long-term results and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Choosing a plastic surgeon

When considering undergoing cosmetic surgery, Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White believes choosing a qualified surgeon to perform it is one of the most important factors. Though it's hard to believe, not all physicians who perform cosmetic surgery have had formal surgical training. It's important to research the credentials of all surgeons you consider for your procedure. Dr. White is fully trained in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery as well as Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery). He invites potential patients to fully explore his training, experience online or during a personal consultation.

Make sure your surgeon is board certified

Find out if your doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Surgeons with this certification have completed a minimum of five years of surgical training following medical school, including a plastic surgery residency program. During this intensive program, surgeons learn to perform surgical procedures for the entire body and face. At the same time, they develop their technical skill and aesthetic judgment. After training, a surgeon must pass comprehensive oral and written exams before being granted certification.

Both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery require their members to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons with this certification have completed approved training and examinations in plastic surgery including both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.

Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery. He is one of the few plastic surgeons in the United States certified by both of these boards.

Ask about the surgeon's hospital privileges

It is very important to find out if your surgeon has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the procedure you are considering, even if you are planning to undergo surgery in your doctor's office or at a surgery center. Before granting privileges, hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon's training and competency for specific procedures.

Dr. White maintains surgical privileges at several area hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

To find out more, click on Making Sense of Certification.

Click here for Rhinoplasty / Face Trauma Patient Comments

For more information on cosmetic eyelid surgery, or to schedule a consultation with Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White, call 214.696.6676 or contact us online at usaplasticsurgery.com.

       

STEVEN J WHITE, MD
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL OF DALLAS
TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN DALLAS
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 3, SUITE 814
8230 WALNUT HILL, DALLAS, TEXAS 75231

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