2009 April | Rhinoplasty Surgeon Beverly Hills Blog

Beverly Hills Saddle Nose

Posted on April 27, 2009 by admin

The saddle nose is frequently seen in patients who have been very active in athletics. What is meant by the saddle nose is that the lower half of the nose has literally collapsed and sits lower than the bridge with, on profile, a concavity that resembles a horseback riding saddle. The usual cause is that, as a result of the accident, the nasal septum has literally collapsed internally causing the outer portions of the nose to dip in.

Saddle Nose Before and After Photo

The saddle nose can be corrected by either a graft of cartilage or other tissues, or using a synthetic nasal implant. It is important at the time of surgery to make sure that the airway is improved since typically a deviated septum will be another consequence of the collapse. The deviated septum is the most common cause of blocked air passage which can lead to sinus problems, headaches, snoring and poor sleep.

The Crooked Nose Beverly Hills

Posted on April 22, 2009 by admin

Many noses are asymmetrical and when significantly asymmetrical, appear crooked. This might be the result of an accident or just the way the person was born. There are other facial asymmetries that often are not recognized until the case is carefully examined by a cosmetic surgeon. This would include the ears, the eyebrows, the eyes and the lips.

When considering cosmetic surgery it is very important to assess the nose and determine whether or not there is crookedness. Because, if there is crookedness now, unless proper care is taken by the surgeon it is possible that after the rhinoplasty, the nose could be even more crooked.

The clue to making the proper assessment will come from the internal examination of the nose. This is part of a proper preoperative examination where the surgeon examines the nasal passages to assess the question of a deviated septum, which is one of the more common causes of a crooked nose. It also allows him to view the turbinates and other internal structures which, while not contributing to crookedness, may be factors in nasal blockage which should not be attributed only to the deviated septum and other elements of crookedness.

If the surgeon has the broad training necessary to perform all aspects of rhinoplasty, cosmetic nasal surgery and reconstructive nasal surgery then the management of the crooked nose is generally successful.

No surgeon can predict 100% that there might not be some asymmetries or some residual crookedness of the nose, owing to the fact that the cartilage which is contributing to the crookedness may be impossible to perfectly straighten. Typically, in a high percentage of cases, the crookedness is improved so much that the patient is satisfied and the byproduct is improved breathing translating to not only better air flow, but less chance of sinus problems or snoring.

Beverly Hills Nose Jobs for Senior Citizens

Posted on April 13, 2009 by admin

One of the great little secrets of facial plastic and facial cosmetic surgery is that when performing face and neck lifts or eyelid surgery or neck sculpting to reverse the signs of aging, often a handy little adjunct is to also correct the nose that has become droopier with age. Patients have told me that “as I get older, it seems my nose is growing and getting longer.” In fact, there is some truth to that. With age and gravity there is stretching of the tissues of the nose. Combine that with the tendency for the tip of the nose to drop when some people have very strong smile muscles and, in fact, the nose gets longer, appears bigger and less flattering as we age.

So for those patents in whom an unsightly nose is a significant, although not necessarily the most profound sign of aging, it does make sense to expending 20 or 30 minutes more during the surgical procedure to “add on” some minor – but never radical – changes to the nose. The hump is removed. The muscle that forces the tip down is released and the tip is gently raised rendering a more youthful and pleasant nose.

When is Cheap Cosmetic Surgery Expensive?

Posted on April 6, 2009 by admin

The current economy has people much more budget conscious. That’s understandable. Cosmetic surgery, after all, is elective and discretionary meaning that one need not have it for medical reasons and represents a bit of an indulgence or luxury. So when dollars get tighter, people do look to value.

But there is a difference between a low price and value. Some patients when doing their homework seem to focus only on “the price.”

What they fail to realize is often fees are related to quality.

Some practices are much more volume oriented. They often attract patients through heavy advertising and marketing, they appeal to patients only through price rather than the qualifications, training and experiences of the surgeons. This can be a dangerous scenario when often the fee that is quoted makes no allowances for anesthesia services. We have seen some advertisements for clinics that propose to do the nasal surgery without an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist – under local anesthesia and a bit of sedation using a pill.

Certainly having surgery without an anesthesia specialist in attendance, while less expensive, is false economy. It is also unwise to have it in an unaccredited, unlicensed facility. Some offices have an operating room attached to the facility but that room may not have met the safety standards of the various accreditation bodies and, therefore, there is some risk involved in having a procedure that has not “passed the test.”

So beware of low fees. After all, buying a cheap appliance is less risky; it can be returned if it doesn’t work. Your nose, priceless. If the surgery doesn’t work, can you get another one?