Are You a Candidate for Permanent Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty? Is a Surgical Rhinoplasty the Best Route?

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Dr. Kotler's Noseletter
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There are benefits in having a free rhinoplasty consultation, particularly if there is some question as to whether one may not be a candidate, which can be determined quickly to both the satisfaction of the consultant and the patient. It is not fair to the patient to have to pay money for a consultation when their problem is beyond the scope of the particular physician’s skill or interest. Likewise, for one who has to travel to the office if, in fact, their need does not match the spectrum of the practitioner, it is an expensive and time-consuming matter. So, I think it is proper under some circumstances to have a free consultation with the plastic surgeon. 

A virtual consultation is ideal when the above circumstances are in play. Being able to see the patient and make an evaluation makes it proper and easy for the physician to determine if, in fact, the patient’s desires and wishes are “in the park.” Again, it does not take long for an experienced practitioner to get a sense of whether or not he or she is the right surgeon to match the patient’s points of dissatisfaction. Virtual consultation became popular during the COVID epidemic when office consultations were medically unwise.

Rhinoplasty In Beverly Hills

Rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills is a very commonly performed procedure. It is always one of the most popular procedures, and attention to the nose is always important since it is the most important facial feature. In the world of plastic surgery, it ranks highest among facial cosmetic procedures and second only to breast augmentation in the entire sphere of cosmetic surgery.

What Is Rhinoplasty Surgery?

Rhinoplasty surgery is a cosmetic surgery performed on the external nose. The aim is to render the nose more attractive, more proportional to the face and skull, and in sync with the other facial features.

What Are The Benefits Of Rhinoplasty Surgery?

The benefits of rhinoplasty surgery are patient satisfaction, patient comfort with their appearance, and freedom from the conscious focus on an unattractive nose. 

Types Of Rhinoplasty

There are three types of rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty

One is a surgical rhinoplasty, which, of course, is plastic surgery performed on the nose. Rhinoplasty is a complex procedure that should be done under the ideal circumstances and facilities for efficiency, patient comfort, and safety. 

Revision Rhinoplasty

The second is a surgical revision rhinoplasty. This is a plastic surgery performed on the nose that has already had one or more surgical procedures. 

Non-surgical Rhinoplasty

The third type of rhinoplasty is non-surgical rhinoplasty. This is an office injection, also known as a liquid rhinoplasty. The aim of the non-surgical rhinoplasty is to correct the imperfections that are generally due to “too much” having been done, an over-sloped nose, a pinched tip, and a nose that tilts up. There may be asymmetries in the nose. If a filler, temporary or permanent, can be injected under the skin to, in a sense, fool the eye by giving the appearance that the underlying architecture framework has been restored, that is a formula for a successful liquid rhinoplasty or non-surgical nose job. Contouring without more rhinoplasty procedures.

Today, patients are aware of temporary fillers such as Restylane® and Juvéderm®, which are derived from hyaluronic acid, but unaware of permanent fillers. The permanent filler is totally different. It is medical-grade silicone, and it is not degraded by the body. The advantage of that particular filler is that it is given in incremental volumes over a certain period of time to all imperfect areas. Therefore, there is little danger of overfilling. The process takes place over time and allows the patient to participate in the decision as to “how much” should be filled. 

The non-surgical rhinoplasty brings the advantages of no downtime, no pain, no recovery period, rarely any swelling and bruising, and, of course, is far less expensive than a rhinoplasty, which is typically done in an outpatient surgery center under anesthesia and thereby the cost, in addition to the surgeon’s fee, including the fee for the doctor, anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, and the surgical facility itself. 

What Happens During Rhinoplasty Surgery?

What happens during rhinoplasty surgery is that the shape of the nose is changed or restored to its pre-injury state. There may be several different procedures performed. There is also variation in technique, particularly with respect to the portal or through the incisions in which the rhinoplasty is performed.

Closed Rhinoplasty

The other rhinoplasty access technique is known as the “closed rhinoplasty.” This operation is done through hidden incisions inside the nose and closed with absorbable sutures. It is more challenging for the practitioner, and before becoming proficient in it, one needs superb training from an experienced practitioner and experience. The outcomes of either rhinoplasty, open or closed, are still more dependent on the skill and talent of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure.

Open Rhinoplasty

A given plastic surgeon may choose to employ the “open rhinoplasty.” An open rhinoplasty implies that an external horizontal incision is made between the nostrils on the columella, “a little column” that separates the two nostrils. That vertical separation of the two external nostrils is an access point to literally “raise the hood of the car” to thereby lift the skin above the incision and gain a view of the framework of the nose. When properly executed, the resultant scar can be nearly invisible. However, if not properly performed, the visible incision can be a distraction from an otherwise successful nose surgery.

Septoplasty

Nasal septoplasty is an operation that focuses on the internal nasal septum, which is the partition between the two nasal passages. In a sense, it is one of several plastic surgery procedures that are performed on the nose. The form, shape, and location of the septum have some influence on the outside of the nose. Should it be badly deformed, it may cause the outside of the nose to be crooked and/or asymmetrical, but typically, the major problem with an imperfect nasal septum is that if it is crooked and off-center or has multiple curves and twists, there is a breathing consequence for the patient. This operation can be done through the open or closed approach and also in the same surgical setting as the rhinoplasty with cosmetic surgery upon the nose. It is ideal to combine both procedures since there are efficiencies in time and, of course, in anesthesia and, thereby, in cost. A nasal septoplasty with or without rhinoplasty can also be performed with other elective cosmetic surgery procedures such as tummy tuck or breast augmentation. 

Patients seeking help for a deviated septum often report a history of injury to the nose. The front part of the septum is cartilage and can be injured and displaced during a direct frontal injury to the nose. There may also be broken nasal bones that accompany the shift of his cartilaginous septum should the force of the accident come from the right or left side. 

The advantage of nasal septoplasty is that it is a hidden operation conducted within the nose. It may be combined with a partial removal or alteration of several of the turbinates, which are shelf-like longitudinal structures within the nose that are responsible for humidification, filtering, and warming of the incoming air. When an anatomic improper nasal septum is corrected along with a reduction of the size of the turbinates, one would expect optimal airflow through the nose and often freedom from recurrent bouts, not only of nasal blockage but sinus infections or sinusitis.

Rhinoplasty Side Effects

The side effects of rhinoplasty typically are an imperfect result. There may be a consequence of poor breathing, but primarily the side effects are more ones of imperfection of appearance. If there are imperfections, this may call for additional plastic surgery.

Recovering From A Nose Job

Recovering from a nose job typically has two phases. One is the official short healing period, which is ten days. By ten days, the tissues had started to weld together, and the risk of bleeding had passed. By then, the chance of infection beginning is nearly zero also. Some people consider recovery the period of healing, but, in fact, by the ten days, people look good enough to be out in the world, and the basic recovery from this operation is complete. It somewhat mimics and parallels the recovery period from tummy tuck and breast augmentation. 

The long-term maturation and healing take place over months and typically is complete in one year. This is not to say that people don’t look good at two weeks, four weeks, two months, or four months; they do have the greatest percentage of maturation, meaning further improvement in the nose shape as swelling is spontaneously reduced in approximately three to four months. Typically, 100 days is a constant in nature with respect to healing after any surgery on the body.

Cost Of Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty cost is related to complexity, which often translates to how much time is necessary in the operating room to achieve the aim. The economics of rhinoplasty is also a function of the skill of the surgeon, the skill, expertise, narrow degree of specialization, and experience of the cosmetic surgeon. Typically, surgeons with the most experience and degree of specialization outperform those with less experience, less degree of specialization, and often less talent. They are appropriately recognized as being qualified for higher fees. The cost of such plastic surgery is also a factor in the cost of the surgical facility in which it is performed and the services of a physician, anesthesiologist, or CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist). Anesthesiologists’ fees are higher than those of certified registered nurse anesthetists since they represent a higher level of education and training. 

One should recognize that the cost of a rhinoplasty is typically a one-time expense and, if spread out over the cost of one’s lifetime, is quite reasonable. Years ago, when I wrote the category best-selling book Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon, we calculated that when a teenager having rhinoplasty’s life expectancy was 82 years of age, the costs spread over the years would be fewer than 10 cents a day. That is a pretty good deal, particularly since a successful rhinoplasty has such a profound effect on one’s appearance and, thus, self-confidence and self-satisfaction for the entire course of their life.

Patient Journey

The journey or sojourn for rhinoplasty begins with a preoperative evaluation by one’s personal physician. Clearance is necessary. Then, of course, there is the consultation, often beginning with a virtual consultation with one or more cosmetic surgeons. There is nothing wrong with seeking multiple opinions when considering an elective procedure. As indicated, a free consultation is appropriate for the preliminary evaluation. It is not appropriate if one is going to have a complete in-office consultation, which would include an examination, review of medical records, and review of the full medical history. There may be x-rays or scans to review. Also, there are office visits that offer computer imaging, which is included in the office consultation fee. Computer imaging is very important so that there is a meeting of the mind between the plastic surgeon and the patient. There is nothing better than seeing the predicted results of the operation. If the surgeon is comfortable with that rendering and the patient indicates that they are satisfied, then there begins a mutually satisfactory journey to success and satisfaction.

One registers with the office by completing medical and administrative forms. It is very important that the prospective surgeon knows your entire medical history, including past surgeries, allergies, and medical conditions that might have a bearing on the anesthesia. All sound medical practice is based on a comprehensive and detailed medical history before any treatment, including surgery, is initiated. Meeting with your board-certified plastic surgeon needs to be discussed.

Registering

As with any consultation or first visit to a physician’s office, sound medical practice requires that certain forms be completed to create the important medical record. Off-medical records are a requirement of each state’s medical board. There are “Patent Information” forms that will be completed. The patient’s phone number and that of an “Emergency Contact” are captured. Address, e-mail, insurance information, etc. Then, questionnaires regarding one’s medical history, including allergies, prior surgeries, medical illnesses, family history, and particulars germane to any surgery, such as a history of bleeding. 

Other chart forms/questionnaires are procedure specific. For nose surgery, questions about injuries,nasal blockage, sinus problems, et. al. 

When registering in the doctor’s office, expect photos to be taken and ideally, computer captured photos for computer imaging to see the predicted result. After all, shouldn’t you see what you can expect? What is achievable?

Meeting With Your Board-certified Plastic Surgeon

Your consultation should not be hurried. The time spent is very important. The most sophisticated rhinoplasty superspecialist wants to know, “What do you not like about your nose?” That is the number one question. From there, a complete nasal exam should be performed, including the internal nasal exam, to determine the position/structure of the nasal septum, the size and nature of the nasal turbinates, and inspection of the areas where the nasal sinuses emit their mucus production into the nasal cavity. A measure of nasal airflow is quickly done to evaluate the adequacy of passages. 

Using graphics, there should be a complete explanation of the anatomy of the nose and what changes are recommended in the bone and cartilage structure. There should be a discussion of the anesthetic and the expected recovery timeline, both short and long. The doctor should discuss plans for pain control and your general well-being after surgery. How many visits will be required? What might be done during the follow-up visits? What if there are problems or complications? How can the patient reach the doctor in case of an emergency or even just to have a question answered? Will the doctor provide post-operative care? 

Any and all questions should be answered. 

Planning Your Transformation

Planning your transformation is basically “thinking ahead,” which is when you schedule the date for surgery. Around that date, time must be allowed for the preoperative physical. One must make arrangements with their personal and work life and schedule, such as they have adequate time to recover. Those working remotely at home have an advantage in that their appearance may not be germane to conducting business. On the other hand, those who are in sales and deal with customers “face-to-face” should allow ten days for the basic recovery and resolution of swelling and bruising before returning to their workplace. Such planning should be done deliberately and well in advance of the surgical procedure.

Learning About Costs And Payment Plans

An important ingredient in the consultation is understanding the economics. Cosmetic surgery is apart from medical illness. Therefore, there is no involvement of health insurance. It is considered discretionary or elective surgery. A custom fee schedule should be given to the patient at consultation. It should include the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesiologist’s fee, and the charge for the outpatient surgery center. If there are additional charges for medications and other services, they should be specifically noted on the “quote sheet.” One can choose to finance through finance companies or use credit cards, and such should be discussed during the consultation. Indeed, excellent financing programs are available today. If a patient is having concomitant functional surgery, such as nasal septoplasty, that may qualify for insurance, but it is a separate service from cosmetic nasal surgery. The office staff serves the patient well when they can answer questions about insurance and also perform the necessary contact and, as needed, “preauthorization” for this nasal septoplasty and/or turbinate resection, which are insurance-eligible. It is ideal when the practice, since it is knowledgeable about insurance billing allowances and payment, conducts these inquiries or helps conduct these inquiries on behalf of the patient. Often, it is laborious and frustrating for patients to deal with insurance companies.

Answering Your Questions

A quality consultation includes time spent mostly with the surgeon. While there is time spent with staff, which may include computer imaging and photography and then, of course, the business issues, the mainstay of a top-notch consultation is time spent with the surgeon. The surgeon should be mindful that you have questions, and all questions posed should be answered. It is very important that you have comfort in the process and also confidence in the surgeon. If neither is provided, then one has a justification for additional consultations. One learns at each consultation, but the main goal of any consultation is a full understanding of the undertaking, a clear vision of the outcome, and complete disclosure of the cost. 

The doctor should do a complete examination of the nose, external and internal, and should review all medical records that would be pertinent to the matter at hand. Additional information may be needed, including additional medical examinations, X-rays or scans, or even consultation with surgeons and other specialties. No stone must be left unturned. The physician who is going to operate is duty-bound to provide comprehensive preoperative care as well as post-operative care. It is not just a matter of “cutting or sewing” in the operating room. This is in keeping with the cannons of the American College of Surgeons, whose members are board-certified surgical specialists and who take an oath and obligation to meet the highest standards of surgery.

Book Your Surgery

Schedule your surgery at a time when you have no time pressures, when you have adequate vacation time or time away from your business or practice, and don’t have to sweat one or two more days of recovery if necessary. Lock in a date that is good for you and your life.

Surgery Day

You should be prepared for surgery day by the office. They should tell you how to dress for the procedure. You should be told what things to bring and not bring to the surgery center. Typically, one should bring the post-operative medications that have been prescribed by the doctor. Also, arrangements should be made for who will pick you up at the surgical facility. It is wise if the practice provides you with contact information for your surgeon after hours. Likewise, ideally, the anesthesia specialist should call you the night before. All of this is important for the surgery day. You should be reminded not to eat after 11:00 p.m. or midnight. Also, the discussion with the anesthesiologist or surgeon should tell you what medications you are taking now are safe and which should be deferred until after recovery. However, the single most important consultation is with the anesthesia specialist the night before, when there is time and a complete history can be ingested by the anesthesia specialist, and your questions should be answered. Also, you should know on the surgery day as to whether or not you will be given a bit of sedative when you arrive at the surgery center prior to the actual anesthetic being initiated. Part of preoperative preparation is knowing the nature of the anesthesia and what to expect.

Aftercare

Aftercare is very important. You should have a written list or a link to the practice’s website that lists those things that you can or cannot do in the post-operative period, particularly the first ten days. Such subjects as diet and exercise and concerns about how soon one can go to work should be worked out based on discussions with the practice. All medications that would provide for a safe and comfortable period should be prescribed by the practice. This should include pain medicines, tranquilizers, and antibiotics as needed. Also, anti-swelling and bruising homeopathic medicines and prescription medicines are available. You should know everything that will be provided prior to the procedure.

How To Avoid Wasting Time And Money On Rhinoplasty Consultations

There is a process by which one can save time and money and do a “sort” with respect to which surgeons may be the most appropriate. The key to that is telephone calls and visiting the website. There are important questions to ask, such as how specialized the doctor is, what might the fee range be, what the doctor’s availability for consultation, does the practice offer computer imaging, can speak with other satisfied patients in addition to seeing a large gallery of before and after photographic examples of the work. These are all important. A high-level office should be pleased and honored to provide any and all information that is reasonable to you.

Do Your Own Research First

Before you come to a given office, it is important to get a sense of what the practice is like. How specialized is the surgeon? Is his practice only rhinoplasty? Or is the doctor less specialized? Does he do a large variety of procedures, including other procedures on the face, head, and neck? Does he perform procedures all over the body, such as tummy tuck, breast augmentation, liposuction, and hair transplants? Is the majority of the practice devoted to cosmetic surgery of the face and specifically the nose, or does it cover the entire body? Also, you can determine patient testimonials on the website with respect to their experience, but for the best patient commentaries, look to review sites such as Google and Yelp. These review sites are rich in information that is selflessly submitted by those who have experience with a given practice. There is a consensus that you will recognize. As with other evaluations in life, when you have 20 opinions about a particular subject or experience that is mathematically significant and, therefore, likely to be adequate. Suppose the surgeon has many complaints and poor reviews that should be carefully considered. Likewise, if the surgeon has nearly 100s of 5-star reviews, you will be comfortable that this surgeon is probably a good match for you since it was for so many other people. But glean as much information about the fee for consultation, particularly by a phone call to the practice. Ask what services are provided at that in-office consultation.

What To Look For Online

Here is what one should evaluate on a practice’s website. First, how specialized is the practice? You can glean that from what you read about the practice and the photo gallery. Are there a lot of photos on the website? One or two or three of a nose is hardly suggestive of great expertise in rhinoplasty. If there are 100s of photographs, that is a good sign. Are there many examples of not only patient photographs but also patients reciting their experiences? Are there any videos and commentaries from patients expressing their experiences? Does the website have a full professional bio? Does the patient have a list of all the surgeon’s activities, including involvement in professional societies? Has the surgeon been an author of many medical journal articles and/or textbooks on the subject? Has the surgeon written books for the public? Has the surgeon been involved in being innovative with inventions and techniques that are important in the world of cosmetic surgery of the nose? A website rich in information about the practice and the patient experience is worthwhile spending time on.

Pick Up The Phone

Pick up the phone and make calls if you have any questions before or after surgery, and pick up the phone before you decide on which doctor into whose hands you are placing your nose. Nothing is better than a telephone call, particularly with the doctor. If you have a question for the doctor, the practice should provide time for you to speak with the doctor. The best way is to set an appointment for a virtual consultation or general phone consultation. Top-quality practices make the doctor available to you. That is part of the service that you are paying for.

Call Us!

Discover the new you with just one simple step: scheduling your consultation. Contact us today by calling (310) 278-8721 or by using our online form to request your free surgical consultation. We look forward to meeting you and beginning this exciting journey together!

Office Hours

We’re available 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Our receptionists are on duty all day, including lunchtime.

FAQs

Rhinoplasty is right for you if you have specific desires and as a result of consultation, one or more surgeons are comfortable providing you services to achieve a better nose. Don’t forget the importance of computer imaging to see what reasonable changes can be made by the surgeon, what he or she thinks can be accomplished and does this match your desires? Computer imaging is extremely important. Our practice has used it since it first became available in 1989.

One should have a concept of what one wants; however, choosing the shape may be inappropriate and impossible. You may be able to demonstrate what a given nose looks like on another face, whether it be a celebrity, friend, or relative, but that does not translate to being able to reproduce that on your face. The more important question is what would be an appropriate shape for my nose that can be achieved by rhinoplasty or even by permanent non-surgical rhinoplasty. Don’t forget that option. If you have a clear concept of what you like and can translate that during the consultation with the doctor and staff, the prospect of a satisfactory outcome is very high.

If you were able to breathe through your nose before surgery, you should be able to breathe through your nose after surgery. If you are not breathing well before surgery, then indicate that to the doctor. His examination should include a thorough examination of the nasal passages, and perhaps it would be wise to operate on the internal nose as well as the external nose to achieve both aims of a better-appearing nose and improved breathing.

One should have a plastic surgery consultation to solidify in your mind whether or not it is appropriate to have a rhinoplasty. Not everybody’s wishes or desires can necessarily be achieved through surgical rhinoplasty or even a permanent non-surgical rhinoplasty. One’s candidacy depends on the imperfections of the nose, including size, shape, crookedness, the thickness of the skin, and relationships to other facial features. It is not a simple matter of “I want a new nose.” A thorough, proper, and highly professional consultation will be able to answer whether or not an improvement is available to you. You must have a consultation.

Each practice has a different style and format, but typically, one should expect to spend at least an hour. The majority of that time should be with the doctor. Filling out forms can be done ahead of time, either online or in person. Computer imaging can be done. The doctor or staff will take photographs in multiple views, but all of these things are very important. However, an efficient practice, one that has the needs of the patient in mind, should be able to conduct such within one hour. Always check and ask ahead of time how long the consultation will take.

You must speak with the doctor during the consultation. Lower-quality consultations are often conducted by someone other than the physician. It may be nearly entirely conducted by a “consultant” or staff member. This is not ideal. This is not equivalent to time with the doctor. Doctors are trained in obtaining a proper medical history and examination techniques, as well as in evaluating the problem. Any staff member who is obviously at a lesser level is not capable of that. Also, you should not be subjected to a sales pitch. Some practices utilize the services of people who are primarily salespeople whose job is to book your surgery. That is not ideal. It is far from ideal. They are driven by other considerations other than what is best for the patient.

Free consultations have advantages and disadvantages. I am referring to an in-office consultation, which would be very comprehensive and of great value to the patient. A consultation that includes spending the majority of the time with the doctor includes a complete examination of the nose and a review of medical records, x-rays, and scans. It also offers computer imaging, which is worth a doctor’s fee. Those practices that offer free consultations often rely on the services of marketing and salespeople who will spend the majority of their time with you. That is an example of the classical saying, “You get what you pay for.” Higher quality practices offer the most time with the surgeon. Poor quality practices offer less time with the surgeon. Sometimes, free can be very expensive.

If one is having a consultation for a rhinoplasty or other facial operation, it is not necessary to disrobe. Obviously if one is having so-called “body” plastic surgery such as breast reduction or augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, yes it is important that the patient be disrobed but, of course, there should be an additional staff member present in the room for the consultation.

Technically superior photos should be taken at the consultation. They represent the best record of one’s preoperative appearance and also become a guide for the surgeon at surgery, just as a blueprint is a guide for an architect building a building.

Typically, at a cosmetic consultation, no blood is drawn. If there is, it would be for an unusual situation. Blood drawing is done in the presence of the doctor who will do your history and physical and laboratory tests.

You need to know that. You need to know how experienced the plastic surgeon is. How long has he been in practice? Did he have fellowship training and additional residency? Is he board certified in the specialty appropriate to do rhinoplasties? Did he or she serve in the military? These are all important features of experience that you should want to know about.

That is an excellent question to be asked during the telephone call when you are considering scheduling an appointment for consultation. The consultation without computer imaging is really incomplete and of little value. You need to be able to express to the surgeon what you would like to have, and he needs to show on a computer screen what can be achieved and whether those two concepts match. It is extremely important that you can see a visual of the expected outcome. While no honorable and ethical doctor can “guarantee” that the final result will be exactly as shown on the imaging screen, usually superior practitioners hit the mark or very close and, therefore, deliver a satisfactory rhinoplasty to the patient. Talking and sketching about what the nose will look like is worthless. Cosmetic surgery is a visual subject, and it calls for visual aids in your decision whether or not to undertake the journey.

Consider rhinoplasty a cosmetic procedure, but if you can’t breathe because your nose is broken and you have a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates or suffer from allergies, then insurance will participate in those elements of the operation related to function, so sometimes it is somewhat like a hybrid. Portions of the operation related strictly to appearance and not related to the breathing problem are independent of the other techniques and, therefore, not covered by insurance. But if part of the session is devoted to improving your breathing, insurance should participate. The office should provide proper aid and support in filing the claim.

The guidelines for submitting photos, assuming you want to submit photos ahead of time as part of a virtual consultation, should be simple. The office would send you information by e-mail or mail on what photographic views you should take and thus supply the practice. Examples and written instructions are essential.