What Is A Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a nose job, is an operation to enhance the appearance of the nose and/or improve its function. It is usually performed for purely cosmetic reasons, which includes changing the shape and proportions of the nose. However, it is also done for medical purposes, such as to treat breathing problems and repair deformities caused by injuries or birth defects.

Nose surgery involves reconstructing the nose’s bone, cartilage or skin, depending on the patient’s facial anatomy, health and desired results, and the surgeon’s assessment. No two cases are alike, and each patient will have a customized treatment plan specially crafted for him or her.

How Is A Rhinoplasty Done?

A rhinoplasty is typically performed in an outpatient setting under local or general anesthesia, depending on the plastic surgeon’s preference and the complexity of the operation itself. Generally, the process involves creating a small incision at the base between the nostrils or inside the nose to access and readjust the bone and cartilage underneath. Implants, or bones and cartilage harvested from other parts of the body, may be used to restructure the nose.

There are two main approaches to nose surgery:

Closed Rhinoplasty

Considered the most common and least invasive approach to nose surgery, closed or endonasal rhinoplasty involves accessing the bone and cartilage through incisions created inside the nostrils, which results in no visible external scars and less numbness and irritation post-surgery.

The operation duration and its subsequent recovery period is much quicker compared to the open approach. The procedure, however, is more complicated.

Open Rhinoplasty

In this approach, a 4-5mm incision is created at the columella, the bridge at the base of the nose that separates the right and left nostrils. The skin will then be folded up to access the bone and cartilage below.

Though more invasive, open rhinoplasty is considered more effective in treating more serious cases such as disfigurements because of the better visibility it provides to the surgeon. The recovery period will be longer than in closed rhinoplasties, and may cause temporary swelling and bruising. It may also leave a visible scar, which should fade overtime.

Other procedures used to enhance the shape of the nose include filler rhinoplasty, where fillers are injected to make minimal improvements or correct minor issues with the nose. However, the effects of this treatment are not permanent.

Rhinoplasty by Dr Leo

Dr Leo prefers to use the composite rhinoplasty technique when dealing with Asian noses. This involves the use of silicone implant for the nose bridge enhancement. Further tiplasty is carried out to debulk the excess fat and cartilage at the nasal tip and patient’s own ear cartilage is harvested and placed at the nose tip to give further projection and definition. To correct a upturned or “piggy-nose” deformity, alloplastic material can be placed at the caudal septum lengthening the nose. Alarplasty can also be performed if needed.

This is a Day Surgery procedure performed under sedation by the anesthetist. The procedure time is around 2 hours. Stitches at the columella are removed after one week and stitches at the alar are removed after 10-14 days.