A rhinoplasty is among many cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that Dr. Karamanoukian performs in Los Angeles. Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, can be performed in addition to septoplasty, cheek augmentation, facelift surgery, facial fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, or Radiesse, chemical peels, or laser skin resurfacing such as Thermage or Fraxel. Rhinoplasty can be performed to improve the contour of the nose, remove a nasal hump, narrow the nose, or acheive a smaller nasal shape.
Rhinoplasty procedures are common in the United States. A rhinoplasty surgery is performed to alter the shape of the nose, including the nasal bone, nasal hump, and cartilaginous tip of the nose. There are many modifications of rhinoplasty surgery, and these differences reflect the experience of the plastic surgeon performing the surgery as well as the individual anatomy of the nose. Patients may come into a plastic surgery office to correct a minor deviation of the nasal tip, or they may come in for a more serious deformity that is either cosmetic or breathing-related.
There are many different ways that I evaluate a patient who comes into my office for nasal surgery. In most cases, patients come into my Los Angeles office for cosmetic improvement of the nose through a rhinoplasty surgery. The evaluation begins with a discussion of the patient’s cosmetic desires, a complete history and physical, an examination of the external and internal structure of the nose, and an evaluation of the nasal septum. The examination includes an evaluation of the skin of the nose, the bony structure of the nose, and the underlying cartilaginous structure of the nasal profile and tip.
Distinct from a purely cosmetic consult, however, is a patient who requests repair of a broken nose. I evaluate some of these patients in a hospital emergency room in Los Angeles where I recommend a plan to either repair the bone immediately in the operating room, or I place a nasal splint in the nose and wait for the bruising and swelling to subside. Patients usually benefit from a BruisePak tablet regimen to reduce the bruising and swelling associated with facial trauma. A broken nose can often be evaluated in the immediate acute setting, or more commonly, patients come into my office months or years after there injury to fix their nose. In the longterm case, I evaluate the skin of the nose to look for scars or cuts that may impair the surgery healing process; and then evaluate the structure of the nose by examining the nasal bone, the external septal features, the columella, nostrils, and most importantly the nasal tip. The tip of the nose is essential to the overall result because it is very fragile and composed of thin layers of cartilage that can bend or reshape with injury. The final part of the examination includes an evaluation of the nasal septum and mucosa to look for fractures, bends, or deviation of the septum.
The surgery that is planned depends on the individual anatomy of the nose and nasal defect. Not all broken noses look the same and the type of surgery, whether an open rhinoplasty or closed rhinoplasty, depends on the individual desires of the patient and plastic surgeon. I perform all of my procedures in an accredited surgery center in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Los Angeles.
My advice to anyone contemplating repair of the broken nose or deviated septum is quite simple…Find a plastic surgeon who understands the anatomy, structure, and physiology of the nose so that they can individualize a nasal surgery for your specific needs. That way, the surgery can be exacting and be performed in a precise fashion with minimal downtime.
I am available for rhinoplasty consultation in Beverly Hills or one of my two offices in Santa Monica. The consultation will include a complete assessment of your nasal profile and an evaluation of the physiologic and functional characteristics of the nose. I look forward to seeing you during your consultation.