Michael Sherbin, D.O. and Associates

Procedure · Facial plastic surgery

Rhinoplasty: form and function.

Rhinoplasty alters or repairs the nose, for cosmetic reasons, medical ones, or both. Here it is performed by a specialist in both plastic surgery and airway function, so how your nose works matters as much as how it looks. Surgery is done at a hospital, usually inside the nose, and most patients return home within 24 hours.

Overview

Nose surgery, with the airway in mind

Nose surgery, or rhinoplasty, is a procedure which alters or repairs the nose. It may be performed for many cosmetic or medical reasons, and sometimes both. A rhinoplasty usually refers to a surgical procedure which cosmetically enhances your nose and is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed today. When considering a rhinoplasty it is important to consult a professional who specializes in both plastic surgery and airway function. Dr. Michael Sherbin is an expert in both specialties, which serves to make your rhinoplasty procedure as convenient as possible. The functioning of your nose is as important a priority to our doctors as is how great it looks.

Description

What a rhinoplasty can change

A rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that reshapes or refines your nose by either shortening or lengthening, realigning the shape (the outline), narrowing the nostrils, or altering the tip to be more lifted or defined. Your doctor will consider many characteristics, such as your age, skin type, ethnicity, and nasal concerns, when helping you decide what will be an ideal change for your nose. Furthermore, a rhinoplasty may be necessary to correct a broken or fractured nose. As the nose is a prominent feature of the face, it is important to choose an experienced surgeon who can meet your needs. In general, a rhinoplasty can:

  • Moderate the size of the nose
  • Broaden the nose
  • Reshape or define the tip
  • Straighten the nose bridge
  • Change the nose position or angle to your upper lip
  • Narrow the nostrils and the opening to the nostrils
  • Correct a birth defect
  • Repair an injury
  • Relieve breathing problems

The procedure

At the hospital, home within a day

A rhinoplasty is performed at a hospital where the patient first receives general or local anesthesia. The surgery itself is usually done inside the nose, as the surgeon will re-adjust your cartilage and bone from under the lifted skin. The surgery may involve a cut made inside the nostrils or at the base of the nose, depending on the type of method your doctor recommends. The skin is finally laid back down over the newly shaped nose. The exact details of each procedure will be unique to the individual patient.

After the surgery, an external splint is sometimes set on your face to hold your nose in place for a few days. Surgery usually permits the patient to return home within 24 hours to heal and rest. Your doctor will discuss all maintenance instructions with you prior to your scheduled surgery.

Results

Healing, and what to expect

Most of the time, the results of a rhinoplasty can be successfully achieved and leave you satisfied. Healing will take several weeks, but generally, individuals are more than pleased with the resulting look. We work with you to set realistic goals, then meet them. Your health and wellness are important to us, and we offer you the medical support and services to obtain the appearance you desire. Make an appointment today to see what a rhinoplasty can do for you!

“I had a deviated septum and now it’s fixed and I can breathe good again. He’s an expert in the field, and knows exactly what’s happening.”

Luke C. · Google review · Dr. Sherbin

Common rhinoplasty questions

What patients want to know first.

What can a rhinoplasty actually change?

It can moderate the size of the nose, reshape or define the tip, straighten the bridge, narrow the nostrils and their openings, and change the nose’s angle to the upper lip. It can also correct a birth defect, repair an injury such as a broken nose, and relieve breathing problems.

Where are the incisions made?

The surgery is usually done inside the nose: the surgeon re-adjusts cartilage and bone from under the lifted skin, working through a cut inside the nostrils or at the base of the nose, and the skin is laid back down over the newly shaped nose.

How long is recovery from rhinoplasty?

Patients usually return home within 24 hours. An external splint sometimes holds the nose in place for a few days, and full healing takes several weeks.

Why does it matter that an ENT performs my rhinoplasty?

Because the nose has a job beyond its look. A surgeon who specializes in both plastic surgery and airway function treats the functioning of your nose as important a priority as its appearance, so the result breathes as well as it looks.

The next step

Form and function, together.

Request an appointment online, or call the office that is most convenient for you. The consultation sorts out the rest.