Rhinoplasty
Men and women who struggle with a large, crooked or disproportional nose may turn to Sacramento facial plastic surgeon Dr. Patrick McMenamin to undergo a rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty surgery (a "nose job") is a very popular surgery for those patients who are dissatisfied with the look of their nose and particularly, their facial profile.
Sculpting the bony and cartilage supports of the nose, as well as shaping the soft tissue can make a dramatic difference in the external appearance of the nose and the profile of the patient. Facial plastic surgeons have been performing rhinoplasty successfully for many years and have brought satisfaction to thousands of patients.
Changes in the nose can be subtle to extensive depending on the amount of work done. Removing a hump, narrowing the nostrils, and shrinking a bulbous tip can be accomplished through rhinoplasty.
Before and After Rhinoplasty, Sacramento CA
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*actual patient, your results may vary
When to Choose Rhinoplasty
During the initial consultation, Dr. McMenamin will determine what changes can be made in the shape of your nose. You will need to clearly explain your goals, so that Dr. McMenamin will be able to explain what he can do to reach those goals and possibly what can’t be changed. The most important aspect of any cosmetic surgery is to clearly outline expectations between you and your cosmetic surgeon.
Sometimes, rhinoplasty is performed for other than cosmetic reasons. Birth defects, injuries, and breathing problems can be improved as well. No matter what the reason, nose surgery can bring a more balanced, natural look to the face. Dr. McMenamin’s goal in performing any surgery is to make the you (the patient) happy.
Improvements in the size and shape of your nose can be very satisfying if you are unhappy with its appearance.
Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or the nasal bridge, or straighten the nose. It can be used to narrow the opening of the nostrils, change the angle between the nose and the upper lip, correct a birth defect or injury; or relieve certain breathing problems. What rhinoplasty can’t do is make someone a better person, take away emotional problems, attract the perfect mate, or transform someone’s life by changing their appearance. It can, however, transform their face and improve their appearance, giving an emotionally well-balanced patient greater confidence.
If you are solely looking for an aesthetic improvement, Dr. McMenamin may perform rhinoplasty, or nose surgery to correct:
- Large or small nose
- Bumpy, drooping or crooked nose
- Wide or narrow nose
- Short or long nose
The key to ensuring a successful rhinoplasty (nose job) result is for the patient to clearly understand what can and can't be changed with surgery. The nose the patient starts with can limit what they end with. It is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to alter the size and shape of the nose drastically while maintaining the integrity of the bone, cartilage, and skin. That said, even small to moderate changes have major, positive effects on the overall appearance.
As a result of rhinoplasty with Dr. McMenamin, patients may witness a marked improvement in their self-image. During your consultation, you and Dr. McMenamin will discuss your goals and he will create a customized surgical plan. He will ask that you be otherwise healthy and a nonsmoker, to aid in the recovery and healing process. Dr. McMenamin will also discuss the incision location at this time. The rhinoplasty incision, which will vary depending on your goals, will either be made inside the nose or under the nasal tip.
What to Expect During Rhinoplasty in Sacramento
Your surgery will be performed in the comfort and safety of our fully accredited operating room. It is performed under local anesthesia with monitored IV sedation. We do not use intubation (a tube put down your throat or nose) to help you breathe. You will be made very comfortable and slip in and out of sleep during the procedure. This anesthesia technique decreases your risk of post-op nausea and vomiting, as well as other risks associated with general anesthetics. During the surgery, a topical anesthetic is applied inside the nose to numb it. Then, a local anesthetic is injected to completely numb the nose.
You are sedated during this process and may not remember it at all. Dr. McMenamin uses a “no scar technique” in performing nearly all rhinoplasties. Of course, there is an incision and there is a scar, however, the scars are hidden inside the rim of the nostrils. He has over 20 years of experience in this technique with very successful results. On some patients who need narrowing of the base of the nose, i.e., the nostrils, an external incision will need to be made.
At the completion of your surgery, Dr. McMenamin will apply tape and a plastic "cast" to stabilize your nose during the healing process. You may also have soft, flat silastic "splints" to stabilize the inside of your nose. Following that, your nose will have some packing inserted to further stabilize the tissues and prevent bleeding.
A gauze pad will be taped under the nostrils to catch any drainage. Additional surgery on the outside of the nose will require additional dressings. You will leave our office with extra gauze pads, pain medication, post operative instructions, and Dr. McMenamin’s home phone number. Occasionally, you may be on antibiotics for five to ten days depending on the amount of surgery done. In most instances, all post operative medications are included in your surgery fee. We will be seeing you back for a post operative evaluation the day after your surgery. Write down any questions you want addressed at that visit.
Recovery and Results
Directions for post operative care will be provided to you in writing and verbally. For rhinoplasty surgery, we recommend the following:
- Take Tylenol on a regular basis as directed on the bottle whether you are having pain or not starting as soon as you get home. Do not take the prescription pain medication for the first 24 hours to prevent nausea. Remember, your nose is going to be numb when you first go home.
- Stay elevated even to sleep. This will discourage swelling and therefore minimize pain. A recliner chair works best. If you don’t have one, we recommend you borrow one or rent one.
- Start icing. Detailed instructions will be given to you by the office staff, however, we want you to ice 20 minutes out of every hour around the clock for three days and 12 hours out of the day for the second three days.
- Minimize facial movement. Don’t do a lot of talking, laughing, and chewing. We recommend a soft diet. Cold things are better as they ice from the inside of the mouth.
- Drink plenty of a variety of fluids and watch salt in your diet. Salt causes you to retain fluid and swell more.
- Change the drainage pad as needed. The more fluid that comes out, the better. There will be additional instructions depending on your particular surgery. Expect to have swelling, possibly black and blue eyes and upper cheeks, and mild to moderate discomfort. Many of our patients say not being able to breathe through their nose for a few days is the most bothersome part of this surgery.
Rhinoplasty (nose job) surgery results will not be immediately apparent. Swelling and bruising around the nose and eyes will distort your appearance considerably, and will remain evident for a matter of weeks. Some very minor, residual swelling will remain for six months to a year. The final results will not be apparent until this swelling has fully subsided.
Does Rhinoplasty Produce Surgical Scars?
Any time an incision is made on the body it results in a scar and rhinoplasty is no exception. A nose job using “closed” technique creates scars only on the inside of the nose, where no one will see them at all. An open rhinoplasty (rarely used by Dr. McMenamin) may be necessary for extensive reshaping. An open nose job creates only one external scar at the base of the columella, that area at the base of the nose that divides the nostrils. This scar will be very fine and should fade with time, becoming very difficult for others to detect. For those patients needing significant narrowing of the nostrils, most commonly in African American patients, there will be a scar where the lateral nostrils join the face. However, these scars heal very well over time in most people and are nearly imperceptible.
We hope this information has answered many of your questions regarding rhinoplasty with Sacramento cosmetic surgeon Dr. Patrick McMenamin. If you have other questions, please feel free to call us at (916) 564-8888. Our cosmetic surgery office is conveniently located for residents of Sacramento, Roseville and nearby communities in the state of California.