Rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgical procedures performed in the United States today. Surgery on the nose is often done for cosmetic and/or functional reasons. Common requests include removing a bump off the bridge, narrowing the bridge, narrowing or refining the tip, straightening the nose, and lifting a droopy tip. Many patients also have difficulty breathing through their nose; improvement in nasal function is critical and is never compromised for aesthetic goals.
Rhinoplasty is performed in two general ways--closed or open. All incisions are made inside the nose during a closed rhinoplasty while the open approach adds a small incision across the columella (the small bridge of skin between the nostrils). Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages with the method chosen determined by each patient's specific needs.
Computer imaging is performed for all patients undergoing rhinoplasty. Dr. Losquadro believes in natural results that do not appear operated on, and the imaging helps set personal, realistic surgical goals.
Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Losquadro does not place gauze packing within the nose after surgery and, as a result, many patients require only over-the-counter pain medication. If the height or width of the bridge was changed, patients can expect a small amount of bruising under each eye. A small cast is placed on the bridge of the nose and removed in the office after one week.
