Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) San Francisco

When doing alar base or nostril base reduction, keeping the lovely curvature of the outside part of the nose or the nostril intact is imperative. We call this the ala, and by rotating the ala inward toward the center portion of the face, we can maintain that nice curvature. Several techniques take out wedges and other things that make the nostril look very straight up and down. Michael Jackson was an excellent example of the wedge technique, which looks unnatural. Anyone interested in alar-based reduction or narrowing the nose should know that it's crucial to preserve the curvature of the ala.

The simple answer to this question is no. At a good practice with good surgeons, you'll find that we're trying to achieve perfect results for every patient we treat, whether they are a celebrity or not. Anatomy doesn't change with celebrity patients versus any other patient. We address the nose and its structural architecture to refine it.

With nasal bones, the nose is relatively susceptible to injury, so we're careful to keep a nasal cast on for the first week, and we'll return that cast to the patient if they're doing a lot of activities. If they're going to be outside or in a place where they might be bumped, you can place the cast, which doesn't prevent the nose bones from being dislocated, specifically. Still, it defuses any pressure applied directly to the nose or specifically to an area of the nose. So, there are some excellent preventative ways to avoid injury post rhinoplasty.

There's been a lot of media attention and internet traffic about non-surgical nose jobs, and we have some examples of non-surgical rhinoplasty on our website so you can better understand. A very limited number of patients are candidates for non-surgical nose jobs. They're typically patients who have a saddle depression of the bridge of their nose where it goes down slightly, or they have a very weak bridge of the nose. We can use an injectable filler product to improve the height of the bridge of the nose and, to some extent, the tip of the nose.

There is no ideal age for a nose job. Still, when it comes to rhinoplasty in younger patients, it is essential to ensure that the patient is mature enough, can intelligently participate in the decision process, and is not being pushed into getting the procedure. Dr. Maas typically recommends that rhinoplasty not be performed on patients younger than 14.

While there has been a lot of media attention on non-surgical nose jobs, it is not a procedure for every patient. Patients who would be candidates include those who have a saddle depression of the bridge of the nose (where it goes down slightly) or have a weak nose bridge. In that case, an injectable filler product can be used to improve the height of the bridge of the nose and, to some extent, define the tip of the nose as well. For the right patient, this procedure can clearly improve their facial contours. While the results are temporary, they can be quite long-lasting.

Dr. Maas tells all his patients that rhinoplasty recovery is a 3 stage process. During the acute first stage right after the procedure, most patients will avoid social events for two weeks due to a degree of bruising and swelling. 2 to 8 weeks post-surgery, when we remove the cast and splints and clean out the nose, most patients do see a resolution of noticeable swelling and bruising. Around the 6 to 12-month mark, the nose will be near its completed healing phase, and patients will be able to enjoy the final results of their procedure. For revision rhinoplasty patients or patients who previously experienced significant nasal trauma, the recovery period may be a little longer. Still, a vast majority will be able to see their optimal results 18 months post-surgery. Are you involved in a wedding or plan to be photographed at a significant life event? Make sure you leave yourself sufficient time to recover fully. We recommend scheduling your rhinoplasty at least 6 to 12 months before.

First, what causes thick skin when discussing nose surgery, and what can be done? Thickening of the nasal tip skin, in particular, is common because many sebaceous or oil glands are located in the nasal tip. For most patients with thick skin on the tip of the nose, it has to do with glandular tissue. In no way does this preclude you from having nasal surgery. During surgery, Dr. Maas can, in fact, thin the nasal tip skin from underneath to help refine the tip and give it more contour. Patients with very thick bulbous noses often have a combination of thick skin, very thick cartilage, and soft tissue underlying between the skin and cartilage itself, and all three of those areas can be addressed during surgery to get the best overall results in contour for the nasal tip. Post-surgery, using the proper skin care and going for pore-cleansing skin treatments will keep the sebaceous or oil glands in the nasal tip clean and refined, reducing the ticketing of the nasal tip skin. Medical treatment is necessary for patients whose thicker nose tips are caused by Rhinophyma, an extreme form of rosacea.

Yes. It is critically important to stop smoking well in advance of any surgery, as smoking reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity in your bloodstream, which hurts your body's ability to heal post-surgery. We recommend patients quit smoking for a month before and after their procedure.