Is Rhinoplasty the Right Nose Surgery for You?

December 23, 2022 | Rhinoplasty

6 Minute Read:

While rhinoplasty is one of the most popular and often-performed cosmetic surgical procedures, the reality is that many men and women do not fully understand what rhinoplasty is, what it can achieve, and what it cannot achieve. 

While most people know that rhinoplasty is nose surgery (a “nose job”), the truth is that rhinoplasty is not a catch-all, correct-all procedure for the nose. 

Instead, there are several other nose surgeries that can help provide the cosmetic and functional correction you desire.

Below, we will examine some of these different nose surgery procedures to help you understand which one may be most helpful for you!

What Is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic nose surgery that addresses and corrects aesthetic concerns with the nose. 

It is merely one technique in the list of other nose procedures available. 

Whether you suffer from a nose that is disproportionate to the rest of your face (too large or small), a nose that is crooked (either from birth or injury), a nose that has frustrating defects (such as nasal humps or a downturned or upturned nasal tip), or any other cosmetic imperfection, rhinoplasty offers a solution. 

This procedure can be performed one of two ways: open or closed. 

For open rhinoplasty, Dr. Weinfeld will make incisions in your nostrils as well as across your columella (the strip of skin between the nostrils). Through these incisions, he will be able to address whatever cosmetic concerns you may have. This may include reshaping the nose, removing cartilage, or adding cartilage (with the use of cartilage grafts). 

Conversely, for a closed rhinoplasty, Dr. Weinfeld will only make incisions inside the nostrils. The positive of this technique is that there will be no visible scarring, but the downside is that he will have less visibility and access to portions of the nose during the procedure. Not all patients are good candidates for this procedure. Dr. Weinfeld will make these assessments on a case-by-case basis.

Other Rhinoplasty Techniques

As with any technical procedure, techniques in rhinoplasty have evolved to offer patients better results with less chance of risk and complications. And one of these technical advancements for corrective nose surgery is preservation rhinoplasty. What sets preservation rhinoplasty apart from traditional forms of the procedure is that preservation rhinoplasty seeks to preserve as much of the underlying tissue and structure as possible. 

Another advancement in rhinoplasty procedures is the Piezo surgery, which uses ultrasonic energy to sculpt the nose without the need for traditional methods of nose sculpting (which often use a chisel and hammer approach). 

With Piezo rhinoplasty, Dr. Weinfeld will use the Piezotome® handheld device to shape bone and cartilage from the nose. This handheld device emits ultrasonic energy which shaves off unwanted portions of the bone without damaging any of the surrounding tissue. This technique can offer stunning results while limiting unsightly swelling and bruising and also minimizing any complications that may arise from traditional methods (such as unwanted bone splintering).    

What Other Nose Procedures Are There?

While rhinoplasty is meant to address aesthetic concerns with the nose, there are several other nose surgery techniques that you should be knowledgeable of. These nose procedures are used to help patients who have trouble with the functional aspects of their nose, especially breathing. 

Septoplasty

Besides rhinoplasty, septoplasty is the most well-known nose procedure. A septoplasty helps to correct a deviated septum. A deviated septum is a condition in which the cartilage that separates the nasal cavity is misaligned or off-centered. This can cause snoring, difficulty breathing, and headaches, which can all negatively affect sleep. 

For a septoplasty procedure, the off-centered cartilage is repositioned so that it sits in the middle of your nose. This allows for easier and unimpeded air flow, both in and out of the nose. Dr. Weinfeld may be able to simply reposition the cartilage, or portions of the cartilage may need to be removed and repositioned to correct this issue.

Turbinate Reduction

While septoplasty addresses breathing issues caused by off-centered cartilage in the nose, turbinate reduction surgery addresses breathing issues caused by enlarged inferior nasal turbinates. 

Nasal turbinates are small structures made of bone and soft tissue called mucosa. These turbinates are responsible for regulating the airflow in and out of the nose as well as humidifying inhaled air. 

For this procedure, the size of inferior nasal turbinates are surgically reduced to help you breathe easier.

One of the more common issues with the turbinates is concha bullosa of the middle turbinate, which is caused when there is an air pocket in the middle turbinate. This condition can cause nasal obstruction and sinus issues. Though many people with this condition do not require surgery, for those men and women with severe concha bullosa, surgery is the only way to correct this issue. Depending on the severity of the issue, Dr. Weinfeld may use an endoscope (which is a tool with a tiny camera at the end of it to allow for minimal incisions and scarring). 

During this procedure, tissue may be removed or a solution will be injected into the concha to limit inflammation.

Correction of Nasal Vestibular Stenosis

Whether from birth or injury, the nasal inlet and the first third of the nasal passageway  (where the air passes through, during both inhalation and exhalation) can have anatomy that reduces air flow. This reduction can be due to narrowness, weakness, or excess tissue. When this happens, breathing can become difficult. If you suffer from nasal vestibular stenosis, then Dr. Weinfeld can correct the issue to help you breathe much easier. 

To achieve this correction, Dr. Weinfeld will expand and widen a portion of your nose to open up the blocked area. This is usually achieved by using composite or cartilage grafts.

Other Benefits to Rhinoplasty

In addition to correcting aesthetic and functional issues with the nose, surgical nose procedures can help address concerns with other areas of the body. One of the most common areas of the body affected by nasal issues is the head. Many people experience migraines and headaches, but what they may not know is that there is a clear connection between nasal anatomy and head pain (especially head pain located behind the eyes).

If you experience headaches and migraines, the first step you should take is seeing a neurologist or your primary care doctor to rule out more serious causes for the pain. However, if your head pain is caused by an issue with the nose, whether it be concha bullosa (air pockets in the nasal cavity), rhinogenic headaches (pain caused by the intranasal contact point), severe septal deviation (which can interrupt airflow and/or cause mucus to back up and create pressure on the sinuses), or contact with an inferior turbinate (swelling in the turbinate that causes pressure on the middle wall of the nostril), nose procedures can reduce and even eliminate the pain.

Nose Surgery in Austin, TX

Dr. Adam Bryce Weinfeld is an experienced and skilled cosmetic surgeon in Austin, Texas, who takes pride in helping men and women achieve the results they desire. To set up a consultation with Dr. Wenfeld, please call 512-334-9917 or use our online form here.