Functional Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, or “nose surgery” has often been considered simply as a cosmetic elective procedure. However, there is an entire category of nasal surgery, called the functional rhinoplasty in which the goal is to improve the breathing through the nose.
Who are the candidates for functional rhinoplasty? Patients who constantly have difficulty breathing through their nose. They frequently find themselves breathing through their mouths during exercise or sleep. Many patients are born with an obstructive nasal airway, while some people acquire an obstructive nasal airway after trauma to the nose or previous nose surgery. Some patients develop obstructive nasal airway problems over time as they get old, because the nose changes too.
As a dual board certified surgeon in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology - head and neck surgery, Dr. Kim has unique expertise in rhinoplasty to create both an attractive and well-functioning nose. Because functional rhinoplasty is a medically necessary procedure, it warrants a careful and detailed medical evaluation and trials of conservative managements, including medical therapy.
During your clinic visit, Dr. Kim will examine your nasal airway using a nasal endoscope and other special instruments to evaluate structures. These include the septum, nasal turbinates, internal nasal valve, and external nasal valve - both at rest and during inhalation - to identify the problem and plan for the surgery. For patients with obstructive sleep disorder, he will also assess the oral airway to further assess whether patients will benefit from functional rhinoplasty.
Click here to learn more about the functional rhinoplasty.
Cosmetic Rhinoplasty
Cosmetic rhinoplasty refers to nose surgery where the primary goal is to enhance the appearance of the nose. The aesthetic goal of rhinoplasty should be to achieve refined features of the nose that will harmonize the rest of your face.
Who are the candidates for a cosmetic rhinoplasty? Most patients come to see Dr. Kim with specific bothersome features of their nose in mind. Some of the common complaints related to their noses include: hump on the nose, bulbous tip, wide or large nose, droopy nose, and crooked or asymmetric nose. Many patients inherited these features of the nose from their parents, while few may have acquired them through trauma or prior rhinoplasty.
During the cosmetic consultation, Dr. Kim will attentively listen to the patients about their specific concerns, and will then counsel patients to achieve their goals through a physical exam and computer-morphed images.
Click here to learn more about the cosmetic rhinoplasty.
Will I have bruising after rhinoplasty?
Most of Dr. Kim’s patients do not develop bruises after rhinoplasty. However, some patients who require osteotomy (narrowing of the bony part of the nose) will have an increased risk for some bruising.
How painful is the recovery and do you pack the nose?
Pain is not the main complaint for Dr. Kim’s rhinoplasty patients. Some patients will develop some discomfort for the first few days which is controlled with pain medication. Other patients report not needing to take any prescription pain medication. Instead they require only the over-the-counter Tylenol.
Historically, sinus or nose surgery patients’ biggest complaint is the discomfort (or the pain) associated with packing the nose. Dr. Kim does not pack the nose after rhinoplasty. Rarely, he may place a thin silicone sheet inside the nose if he determines that it will help the inner nose heal. This decision is made during the surgery, and the sheet is removed at the 1 week clinic visit. Many patients do not even notice the thin silicone sheet until it comes out of their nose.
How much time do I need to take off for recovery?
If the patient had an endonasal approach functional rhinoplasty (no incision under their nose), they may return to work after a weekend of recovery. That patient will not have any outside splint or visible suture.
If the patient had an endonasal approach with hump reduction or narrowing of the nose, then the outside splint will be removed at the 1 week clinic visit. Depending on the type of work, the patient can resume back to desk work within a week. Patient should avoid any heavy lifting or exercise for 2 weeks.
If the patient had an open approach rhinoplasty (incision under their nose), they may be able to do some desk work, but we recommend that the patient take a week off. The patient should avoid any heavy lifting or exercise for 2 weeks, and avoid any activity with potential for contact to the nose for 6 weeks.
Double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Sang W. Kim at Natural Face Clinics specialize in aesthetic enhancement of the face, head, and neck, exclusively. Patients come to see us from the Syracuse metropolitan area and Central New York area including Ithaca, and Rochester. At Natural Face Clinics, we specialize in restoring the youthful neck contour, tired appearance of the brows and eyes, and skin laxity. We offer customized treatment, both surgical and non-surgical, including facelift, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), nose surgery (rhinoplasty), brow lift, neck lift, and skin resurfacing. Find out more by scheduling your personal consultation today.
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