Rhinoplasty: Cost, Pics, Reviews, Q&A

Absolutely bring pictures during Rhinoplasty consultation

I recommend that patients do bring rhinoplasty post op pictures during consultations for a number of reasons, most important is that it provides a visual starting point for your surgeon to discuss “feasability” of achieving your desired end-point.

He/she will be able to study your nose in detail and review your desired goal photos and be able to tell you whether it is realistic or not and why. Overly shortening and narrowing the nose may not be achievable in some patients and depends largely on facial aesthetics and proportions as well as infrastructure (nasal bones, septum and support) and breathing characteristics. I suggest you meet with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who performs a significant number of rhinoplasties.

They will be able to review all your information, perform computer imaging which you can review directly with them and also review the surgeon’s picture book of before and after pictures (look for noses that are similar in appearance to yours. I think this is a better “research” approach than the internet.) (John Philip Connors III, MD, FACS, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Bringing rhinoplasty post op pictures to consult

Absolutely! The consult is about exchanging information. The more info you give your doctor, the better they will be able to determine if they can help you achieve what you want. No doctor can make you look like any picture you bring in, but it may help with determining your desired expectations. (Dean Fardo, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Reducing the size of the nose

I think it is an excellent idea to bring rhinoplasty post op pictures of desired outcomes. Please understand that these results may not be achievable in your particular instance but it gives the surgeon a better idea of your goasl and expectations.

In terms of results, it is difficult to predict with any consistency, how your nasal skin wil l\ contract in response to a change in the cartilage structure. (Otto Joseph Placik, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

Things to consider for a Rhinoplasty consultation

Let’s divide these questions into parts:

1. Bringing rhinoplasty post op pictures of desired noses can be very helpful in establishing what is realistic. You might not be able to get close to any of them, but it is a good information for you to have.
2. Look at the surgeon’s before and after photos. Look at the ones that are close to yours. Make sure you like the results. If not, go to a different surgeon.
3. Computer imaging is extremely helpful, again, to establish the parameters of what is realistic, and what you will be trying to achieve.
4. If you have a really long nose, it might just stay long.

Think about it: What will happen to all the skin? If the surgeon makes the structure small, the skin will just roll in the ball on top of it. I have seen these cases coming from other surgeons.

Believe me, it is not pretty. Also, think about the distance from your bridge to the top of your upper lip: this is usually the part that is really difficult to change. It involves the bony structure between your eyes and your upper teeth.

It is impossible to change significantly with rhinoplasty, and will likely not be suitable for your face. (Stella Desyatnikova, MD, Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Photos can be a great tool to communicate your wishes for rhinoplasty

Bringing rhinoplasty post op pictures of a nose that has features that you like can be very helpful to your surgeon, but perspective is important. While your surgeon can make improvements toward the ideal that you perceive, it’s important to realize that he or she will not be able to guarantee that your nose looks like the ones in the photos. Another alternative is to see a plastic surgeon who has imaging software so that he or she can take your photo and change your nose on the computer to approach your wishes. Here again, it’s important to realize that this, like the photo, is a tool to be used to communicate with your surgeon rather than a guarantee of results. (Adam David Lowenstein, MD, FACS, Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon)

Bringing photos to your Rhinoplasty consultation is a good idea

I think it is a good idea to bring rhinoplasty post op pictures to your consultation. This lets you and the doctor try to get on the “same page.’ Remember that rhinoplasty is typically described at the most difficult procedure that plastic surgeons do in the sense of getting good consistent results. You are not made of wood or clay. Noses are composed of different types of tissues, (bone, cartilage, thin skin, thick skin, etc).

The other thing is if you change one thing on a nose, often another part of the nose is affected. This is why it is important to have realistic expectations and also know that it will take at least a year before the swelling may go down. Do talk with your surgeon at length and make sure that both of you have the same understanding. (Jeffrey Roth, MD, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)