What is rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is the medical term for surgery of the nose, including aesthetic, reconstructive, and functional surgery. This can include surgery to improve the appearance of your nose such as reducing a hump or narrowing a bulbous tip as well as functional rhinoplasty which improves breathing due to congenital issues such as a deviated septum or previous trauma.
Do I need rhinoplasty?
While aesthetic descriptions of the face in writing and on the big screen often revolve around the lips and eyes, the nose is the true center of the face. From an aesthetic standpoint, it serves to balance the top, bottom, and sides of the face. The medical literature is filled with measurements of the face; particularly with those of the nose as it relates to proportions and angles. Ultimately, beauty is not crafted from adhering to aesthetic ideals of angles and proportions. While it may not be immediately apparent to the casual observer, small changes to your nose can drastically alter these balances, resulting in an obvious aesthetic change. In the end, rhinoplasty is a way to create a pleasing balance between your nose and the rest of your face. First and foremost is the patient’s goals, followed by integrating those with a personalized, customized procedure to optimize facial beauty and harmony.
What about ethnic rhinoplasty?
Ethnic rhinoplasty is no different from rhinoplasty of the “non-ethnic” patient in that the final product must match the overall aesthetics of the patient’s face. For example, Asian patients often require augmentation of the nasal dorsum whereas Caucasian patients usually require some reduction of the nasal dorsum. Achieving balance is the ultimate goal, and ethnic variations must be taken into consideration. There is no single perfect nose for every person.
What type of anesthesia is used for this procedure?
Depending on the type of rhinoplasty you are undergoing, it may be performed under local or general anesthesia. Regardless of the type of anesthesia used, your surgery will be performed in our own, private accredited ambulatory surgery center with dedicated OR staff and board-certified anesthesiologists.
What is the recovery like?
Most patients will have a soft or hard nasal cast for the first week after surgery. Pain is usually moderate and can be controlled with either Tylenol or pain medication we prescribe you. You may or may not have soft splints in your nose which help with healing that stay in place for a week. If straightening of the bony part of your nose is required, there may be some visible swelling and bruising, although this usually goes away after a couple weeks.
Why should you choose Awaken Aesthetics?
Dr. Ahn has board certified with dual training in both functional and aesthetic rhinoplasty. He has a keen aesthetic eye and will guide you through your many options for your personal aesthetic goals, whether they be rhinoplasty or some other procedure. As always, he treats his patients as if they were his own family, so you can expect personal, hands-on, compassionate care!
I am interested! What do I do next?
If you are considering this procedure we encourage you to schedule a consultation. During this visit, we will listen to your concerns and discuss your options. We can tell you whether you are a suitable candidate for this procedure and inform you of the potential risks of the procedure. There are great variety patients’ faces and bodies and each procedure must be custom tailored for the patient to get the best possible result.
If you’re interested in learning more about Rhinoplasty, please contact Awaken Aesthetics to set up a consultation by calling (310) 791-2233 or by completing the form on this page. Awaken Aesthetics serves the Torrance & South Bay, CA areas.
*Individual results may vary