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Rhinoplasty

Nose Surgery Specialists in Virginia, serving Washington DC

Rhinoplasty is a general term describing any surgery designed to reshape your nose. Rhinoplasties are used not only for cosmetic purposes, but to repair noses damaged by birth defect or injury, and to resolve breathing problems caused by deformities in the nose.

The nose consists of a number of interrelated structures, including bone, cartilage, and skin. Any given rhinoplasty procedure may consist of changes to one or more of these parts.

An individual procedure may consist of procedures to accomplish any of the following:

Change the shape of the tip of your nose by adding, removing, or repositioning cartilage.
Change the shape of the bridge of your nose by removing excess cartilage and bone from the bridge, or dorsal bone.
Narrow the nostrils, by removing skin from the base of the nostrils and moving them closer together.
Reduce the overall size of your nose, by removing tissue from the base of your nose or breaking and repositioning the bones in the nose.
Increase the overall size of your nose, by adding cartilage, skin, or bone, either from a donor site somewhere else on the patient's body, or using synthetic material
Change the angle of your nose, by trimming the septum, which is the thin membrane separating the nostrils.

Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty

There are two types of rhinoplasty procedure: Open and closed.

Open rhinoplasty

Open rhinoplasty is a procedure performed through a combination of incisions in the inside of your nose, and a small incision in the columella, the area between the nostrils. Open rhinoplasty affords much greater access to the area, as the surgeon is able to expose the bone and cartilage more fully, allowing for more complicated procedures and more precise adjustments.

Recovery times, swelling, and bruising are greater with open rhinoplasty procedures than they are with closed procedures.

Closed rhinoplasty

Closed rhinoplasty is a procedure in which the incision is made on the inside of your nose. As such, closed rhinoplasty is an option only for procedures that can effectively be performed through the small, difficult to reach incision.

Recovery times, swelling, and bruising are less with closed rhinoplasty procedures, however structures are more difficult to see and work with due to the limited incisions.

Anesthesia

You can have your rhinoplasty performed under local anesthesia and a light sedative, or under general anesthesia, depending on the procedure being performed.

You should discuss anesthesia choices with your surgeon. Smaller procedures not involving bone work may be performed under local anesthesia. More involved procedures usually entail either heavy sedation or general anesthesia.

More Information on Rhinoplasty

For detailed information on rhinoplasty, see the topics below:

End results of rhinoplasty procedures
Risks associated with rhinoplasty
Frequently Asked Questions

If you would like to discuss nose surgery options personally, Dr. Desman is available in Virginia and Washington DC for a free consultation.

Call 703-924-3144 to schedule a free in-office consultation or to set up a free telephone consultation.

Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality cosmetic surgery care in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC region. Dr. Desman is committed to serving you through advanced training, dedication to perfection and unmatched personal care.