Posts Tagged ‘plastic surgery’

Risks and Benefits of Rhinoplasty: Know Before Making Your Final Decision

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

All surgical procedures have certain risks and benefits. So before opting for any surgical procedure one should have a clear idea of what he/she might expect. The greatest fear of nearly all plastic surgeries is the fear of bleeding, since if bleeding under the skin occurs an extra surgery may be required. This may affect the plastic surgery outcome, causing an over and under correction. Other matters which are best addressed before any cosmetic surgery are anesthesia allergies and the common factors that might cause nerve damage.

To avoid possible post-rhinoplasty depressions, one should have realistic expectations and a clear idea of the procedure. Schedule a consultation with your Los Angeles rhinoplasty surgeon to learn what post-surgical affects you may expect. Expect swelling for at least two weeks and always remember that rhinoplasty is not considered complete until about a year later. There are certain surgical alternatives, such as non-invasive injections which help to alleviate some concerns.

Deciding on whether to undergo a rhinoplasty operation or not can become much easier in case you have discussed all your concerns during the consultation. A thorough skin exam is necessary before the surgical procedure.

Once surgery is completed and the healing period is over, the result will most likely be the much desired nose. With modern techniques as well as tried historical methods, chances of success are very high. Take the time to weigh the pros and cons before making your final decision.

How to Find the Right Surgeon for Your Nose Job?

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Finding the right Los Angeles rhinoplasty surgeon is almost a guarantee for a satisfactory nose job outcome. It is a time-consuming, discriminating but worthwhile process which requires careful homework and patience.  The most important factors when trying to find the right nose job surgeon are the following ones:

Board certification

Board certification is an important aspect because it ensures that your surgeon has the required qualifications, training and experience to perform plastic surgery procedures safely and skillfully.

Training

The knowledge and skills level of a plastic surgeon mostly depends on where he/she has received training. As a rule, good training institutes are run by renowned hospitals and provide complete training in the sculpting and handling of skin tissues.

Experience

Experience is what makes a surgeon “good” or “bad’”. Rhinoplasty surgery is an extremely versatile industry where new changes are introduced everyday and therefore it is of utmost importance for the surgeon to stay updated not only academically, but also practically.

Hospitality and communication with patients

Most rhinoplasty surgeons may have showy clinics at first sight, but when it comes to hospitality and proper communication with patients, things are quite different.

Before and after photos

Go through the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of previous clients. This will give you a general overview of the surgeon’s esthetic style, as well as an idea of actual surgical outcomes by that particular nose job surgeon. Many rhinoplasty surgeons have a ’signature nose’ that they perform. This means that many of their patients come out looking very similar in terms of the appearance of the nose. Make sure your surgeon’s photo gallery does not include “signature” noses only.

Rhinoplasty testimonials

Take a look at the testimonials from other patients that had rhinoplasty by that surgeon. Speaking to some of the surgeon’s past rhinoplasty patients is also helpful to gain insight into their experience.

Is Rhinoplasty Expensive for You?

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

The price of rhinoplasty is sometimes the only reason that keeps people from achieving the appearance they dream of. However there are several financing options with which one may afford a nose job.

1.    Start saving money before the procedure and pay upfront

This is the best and most profitable way which saves you money in the long term since you won’t have to pay interest. In this case, rhinoplasty would cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000 depending on how much work you need to be done. If you just need a tip job, you can pay as little as $2,000. Some rhinoplasty surgeons may also require consultation fees which fluctuate between $50 to $100.

2.     Borrow money from a relative

The next option is borrowing money from a friend or a relative. Though this method may work only for some people, it has a huge advantage: there is no interest! Besides, you can expect your friends and relatives to be more lenient than a financing company.

3.     Turn to a financing company

There are financing companies that specialize in funding rhinoplasty surgery and other plastic surgery operations. The main disadvantage of turning to financial companies is that interest rates may be high. To lesson your financing burden you may overpay the minimum each month, which in the long run will cut down the interest rate.

Talk to your Beverly Hills rhinoplasty surgeon about  cosmetic surgery financing. He/she will recommend you the best option.

4.     Find out whether your case may be covered by insurance or not

Sometimes your health insurance might cover the procedure in case you need to fix your nose for health considerations i.e., if you have breathing problems or other health problems related to your nose.

Schedule a free consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Vartany to discuss your financial options in details.

Rhinoplasty: The Benefits of Computer Imaging

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Computer imaging is an exciting innovation in rhinoplasty that allows patients to visualize their possible surgical outcomes. Visualization has traditionally been achieved by the manual manipulation of photographs; nowadays the technological developments in the areas of optical sensing and computer-aided design, make it possible to construct a computer-based imaging system which can simulate the effects of nose surgery on patients.

This technology allows the plastic surgeon and the patient to reach a mutual understanding of goals and expectations. However, it is important to realize that imaging, no matter how realistic and reasonable it is, is for simulation only and the final results may vary from the simulation.  No reputable Los Angeles rhinoplasty surgeon will ever guarantee a specific result. Computer imaging simply ensures that you and your surgeon share a common surgical goal and helps to establish the ideal aesthetic outcome. For example, a patient who has a moderately enlarged nose but a small chin, with the help of imaging, may find that what he/she actually desires is a conservative rhinoplasty and chin augmentation for facial balance rather than an intensive reduction rhinoplasty.

To visualize the post-rhinoplasty results the surgeon will take photos of your nose from different angles, download those images into the imaging software and with the help of a morphing program, manipulate the images to show the potential plastic surgery results. With this technology patients and surgeons can review different surgical options. After the imaging is complete, the surgeon will print a copy of the imaging for the patient and keep another copy to review on the operating day.

Computer imaging is also helpful for those patients who are considering nose surgery but are not totally sure whether rhinoplasty is for them or not, since it allows them to see the potential surgical results before making their final decision.

Undergoing a Rhinoplasty during Teenage Years

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Rhinoplasty is one of the most requested plastic surgeries for teenagers who tend to exaggerate the negative aspects of their appearance. Since the nose is located in the middle of the face, it naturally attracts a lot of attention. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2008 alone rhinoplasty was performed on more than 38,000 patients aged 19 or younger.

Rhinoplasty surgery has certain age requirements. Of course, these requirements are flexible and may vary from person to person. The general minimum age rule is that the rhinoplasty surgery should not be done on a nose that is still growing. In the majority of cases, the minimum age for teenage girls to receive rhinoplasty surgery is 14 or 15 years.

The minimum age for teenage boys to receive nose surgery is usually 16 or 17 because they continue growing into their later teenage years. Again, every individual is unique and each case should be considered separately by the  Los Angeles rhinoplasty surgeon.

Though the tendency to undergo rhinoplasty during the teenage years is sometimes criticized, it can actually be a better choice than receiving the procedure in later years of life because the skin is still very flexible and accepts the restructuring and reshaping of the nose more effectively.

Later in life, rhinoplasty surgery can be a little more difficult to endure. Therefore, if a teenager experiences any kind of discomfort from the shape of his/her nose, there is no need to wait any longer since undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure at a young age alleviates not only the rhinoplasty recovery, but also the feeling of dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance.

The Cost of Nose Surgery

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

The cost of nose surgery is dependent on the following factors:

•          the surgeon’s skill level/experience

•          the extent and complication of the rhinoplasty procedure

•          the geographic location of where the surgery is performed

Only after examining your nose and discussing with you your needs and expectations, can your surgeon tell you the exact cost of rhinoplasty.

Primary nose job costs range from $3,000 to $8,000. The cost comprises of 3 fees: anesthesia fee (ranging from $600 to $1,000), facility fee (ranging from $700 to $1,100) and surgical fee (this fee is difficult to determine since it depends on such factors as the surgeon’s experience, training, skills).

Revision rhinoplasty costs are much higher than primary rhinoplasty costs since revision rhinoplasty requires much more knowledge and experience and is more complex than primary nose jobs. The costs range from $10,000 to $15,000.

Choosing a board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon from the American Board of Plastic Surgery is an essential factor for a successful nose surgery and achieving satisfying results.  Since board certification requires specific and thorough surgical education and training, certified surgeons may require higher fees. However, opting for such a surgeon will increase your odds of success and reduce the risk of complications as you will receive the most appropriate treatment.

The type of certification is also important. There are more than 150 self-designated boards, but few of them (e.g. the American Board of Plastic Surgery) are designated by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

As mentioned above, the extent of the nose surgery also influences the cost of rhinoplasty, e.g. a slight modification or reduction to the point of the nose requires less surgical time and fee than narrowing the bridge or a complete change of the nose shape.

The cost of rhinoplasty may be partially covered by insurance if the procedure is a medical necessity. However, if rhinoplasty is done for purely cosmetic reasons, then it is not covered by insurance.

Nose Job: Improve Your Self-Esteem

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

According to various studies, appearance does have an impact on one’s life and character. On an unconscious level, we perceive attractive people more positively than less attractive people. We ascribe them such qualities as intelligence, sensitiveness, kindness, etc. This is one of the reasons why plastic surgery has become so popular.

Nowadays everyone seeks to have perfect facial features and a small, attractive nose. The only way to achieve this, is through facial surgery and rhinoplasty.

A nose that does not correspond to the today’s beauty standards may turn one’s life towards the negative. Poor self-estimate and constant thoughts of being ugly and unattractive may restrain someone from his/her normal social activities. Usually such people spend hours in front of the mirror looking at their nose, thus exaggerating the problem and becoming more and more withdrawn. They tend to hate their nose and perceive it as the root of their failures.

If all the above described is familiar to you, then it is time to seriously consider nose surgery and to discuss it with your family.

The next step will be a consultation with a board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon. He/she will examine you, discuss your expectations and explain what changes can be made during the procedure. The cost of the nose surgery, as well as the recovery period, will also be explained.

Generally a nose job takes between one to two hours to complete. You can return to work in 10-14 days after surgery, though full rhinoplasty recovery takes longer.

Rhinoplasty may be a life-changing event, especially if you’ve been unhappy with your nose for a long time. You will feel yourself to be much more attractive and confident. Your new nose won’t change who you are, but it will change the way you feel about yourself.

Depression after Rhinoplasty

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Rhinoplasty is a big step in one’s life. It requires  good emotional preparation as patients may suffer periods of depression after the nose surgery. They may begin to second guess themselves and wonder if their decision to undergo plastic surgery was right. Thoughts that they are ugly and that the bruising and swelling will never go away may haunt them after the surgery.

Many patients may have a strong feeling of sadness, fatigue and a general loss of interest. These psychological post-effects begin approximately three days after surgery, when the appearance is not yet satisfying, and which can last more than two weeks.

The other main factors that cause depression after rhinoplasty are medications, post-surgical traumatic stress syndrome, constipation from the medications, as well as the inability to return to normal activities for some time. The adjustment to the new look, the reactions of family and friends and financial stress may lead to self-accusing thoughts and make the depression after rhinoplasty more severe.

Here are a few ways that may help to cope with post-rhinoplasty depression.


Find Support

Reach out to people who are in a similar situation. Read about other people’s experiences. Remember that you are not alone; there are many other people who are in the same situation as you.

Talk To Your Surgeon

Talk to your plastic surgeon about your worries, e.g. he/she may refer you to a counselor or to his/her previous patients to whom you may talk.

Family

Talk to your family about your feelings, post-surgical emotions and the way you feel about your new appearance. Clear up any misunderstanding with your children and your partner.

Exercise

Try to exercise for at least twenty minutes a day. It is very good for you because it helps to stimulate productions of endorphins and increase your blood circulation which makes you feel much better.

Nose Augmentation with Nasal Implants

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Nose augmentation with nasal implants is a complex procedure which should be performed by an experienced and board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon.

Generally, the rhinoplasty surgeon creates a nasal pocket into which the specially designed implant is inserted. Normally, sutures or a tight fitted pocket are used for holding these implants in the appropriate place. After the  plastic surgery, the patient has to wear a nasal splint for a week to keep the implant in the correct place.

Oftentimes, nasal augmentation is accompanied by the reduction of the nostrils or the flare of the nasal ala. To accomplish this, an incision is made in the nasal alar crease, the excess ala is removed, and the size of the nostril opening is reduced.

Sometimes nasal “strut grafts” are used to increase the height and projection of the nasal tip. Grafts are also used in the pre-maxilla, or the area between the nose and the upper lip, in order to reduce the appearance of a sunken mid-face.
Nasal augmentation is an outpatient surgery. It is performed under sedation or with general anesthesia and takes about one hour. Usually the patients are able to return to their everyday activities within one to two days.

In general nasal augmentation is a rather safe procedure. The nasal implant surgeries that carry a high risk for complications are revision surgeries. Because of prior multiple surgeries the circulation to the nasal skin is sub-optimal, thus there is a higher chance for implant extrusion or displacement, skin breakdown, infection, and scarring.

The best way of minimizing complications associated with nasal implant surgery is to use autologous grafts when possible and to look for a board-certified Los Angeles plastic surgeon with adequate experience in nasal implant surgery.

Rhinoplasty Recovery

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Rhinoplasty recovery requires patience and time. Generally patients are able to return to their normal activities in a week, but the final recovery results are visible only  6-7 months after surgery. Participation in sports or returning to activities like weight lifting, may be resumed two weeks after the surgery. Joining any activity that might cause the patient to blow his/her nose is to be avoided for about eight weeks. Airline travel is also not recommended in the first few weeks.

Immediately after the rhinoplasty surgery patients are prescribed to take antibiotics, pain and steroid medications which help to lessen such post-operation effects as a feeling of puffiness of the face, aching in the nose area and dull headaches. Patients are advised to stay in bed with their head elevated for the first 24 hours and to avoid being outdoors for at least a week.

Another post rhinoplasty effect is swelling and bruising which becomes very visible in two or three days after the nose surgery and disappears in 2-3 weeks. Ice packs and cold compresses may be applied to lessen swelling and bruising.

Bleeding for the first few days after the nose job is quite common, though it may seem alarming for patients. To ease the rhinoplasty recovery it is recommended not to blow the nose for about one week. Another common post-operation instruction requires the patients not to bend over with the head below the heart as it might lead to intense swelling and bleeding.

Rhinoplasty is a complicated form of facial plastic surgery, and to achieve the best nose job results, the patient should be diligent and patient enough to perform all the instructions given.

To learn all about rhinoplasty recovery, talk with Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Vartany in person by requesting a consultation.