Rhinoplasty
Boston, MA
Introduction to Rhinoplasty
Nasal plastic surgery can serve a variety of purposes. While most patients will turn to this procedure to improve the appearance of the nose, Rhinoplasty is commonly utilized to help patients breathe better if they are suffering from a deviated septum. At the practice of Vickram Tandon, MD, we offer our Boston patients a better quality of life with more self-confidence and improvement from almost any kind of nasal deformity. If you are interested in how this surgery can help you, please continue reading the information we have provided below.
What Is A Rhinoplasty?
Often called a “nose job”, cosmetic nose surgery can include a variety of aesthetic and reconstructive techniques to improve breathing and the appearance of the nose, as well as improve your facial features. The procedure can be performed as a closed rhinoplasty or an open rhinoplasty. Patients who seek smaller changes in their nose, like correcting a drooping tip or dorsal bumps, can be treated with a closed technique (ie. incisions limited to the inside of the nostrils), but when patients need larger or more complicated changes, open rhinoplasty is used.
Using either technique during your nose reshaping, the skin is elevated and the nasal bones and cartilage are altered. Rhinoplasty often includes septoplasty, turbinate reduction, and removal of deviated bone from the inside of your nose.
Types Of Rhinoplasty
The centralized location of the nose accounts for why this one structure plays such a pivotal role in determining facial attractiveness. A malformed or unbalanced nose can skew the symmetry of the entire face. which is why rhinoplasty (a.k.a. nasal reshaping surgery or “nose job”) is often performed for cosmetic purposes to surgically enhance the shape and size of the nose, thereby improving the patient’s overall facial aesthetics and desirability.
Dr. Tandon’s cosmetic rhinoplasty patients generally seek out his vast nasal reshaping expertise to enhance their nose by correcting one or more of the following nasal aesthetic problems:
- A nose that is too small, too wide, too narrow, or large
- Asymmetrical, crooked, or off-center nose
- Bump or depression on the bridge of the nose
- Drooping, upturned, or undefined nasal tip
- Misshapen or broken nose after trauma or injury
- Nostrils that are flared, upturned, or too wide
Functional nose surgery is a reconstructive surgery that is used when obstructions in our nasal passages cause turbulent airflow which dries out our nose and causes nasal breathing problems. The most common cause of turbulent airflow is a deviated septum.
When a patient’s nose has partial or complete obstructions in their nasal passages (whether they are aware of it or not), it can be a lifelong problem. A deviated septum can affect anyone with varying degrees of deviation and could create secondary consequences such as:
- Deviation of the vomer and anterior ethmoids
- Enlargement of the turbinates
- Maxillary, ethmoid, or frontal sinus disease
Functional rhinoplasty performed in Boston is often a series of techniques that opens up the nasal function and returns nasal airflow to normal.
Revision procedures can be utilized for numerous reasons. Some patients may feel that their previous rhinoplasty did not bring their aesthetic goals to fruition, while others are still struggling with structural breathing complications or facial asymmetry because of improper rhinoplasty techniques from their plastic surgeons during their initial surgery. Many of our patients request Dr. Tandon’s assistance to address and resolve one or more of the potential rhinoplasty complications listed below:
- The size of the nose appears disproportionate to the adjacent facial features, thus skewing the balance and symmetry of the entire face.
- The nasal shape appears misaligned or has an unnatural shape.
- The primary rhinoplasty surgeon employed standardized, archaic surgical techniques, causing a build-up of nasal scar tissue that distorted the outcome, resulting in a “botched nose job”.
- The patient is experiencing unexpected breathing problems after their surgery.
Revision Rhinoplasty is a complex procedure because it is virtually impossible to understand the degree of residual scarring from a primary rhinoplasty procedure or to determine the structural integrity of the supporting nasal structures. Missing pieces of the nasal structural framework and the development of post-surgical scar tissue are two of the main reasons why a secondary rhinoplasty is often a lengthier and more complicated surgery than primary rhinoplasty.
The exact surgical techniques involved in revision surgery can vary significantly among many patients because every individual has a unique nasal structure and specific cosmetic/functional nasal reshaping goals that must be taken into consideration. In addition to renovating the existing structural framework of the nose, your secondary rhinoplasty surgery often involves cartilage grafting, which entails harvesting cartilage from the rib (or another site on the patient’s own body) to support the structural integrity of the newly shaped nose.
What Are The Benefits Of A Rhinoplasty?
Our nose job patients have discovered many wonderful benefits from their Rhinoplasty surgery, some of which include:
- Adjusts a crooked nose
- Creates better facial harmony
- Corrects problems associated with a deviated septum
- Enhance or reduce your nasal bridge
- Gives your nostrils a new shape
- Improve breathing
- Increases or decreases your nose’s size
- Reduces your nasal tip and/or bridge
Who Are The Best Candidates For A Rhinoplasty?
At the practice of Vickram Tandon, MD, we believe good candidates for Rhinoplasty in Boston are patients who:
- Can pause alcohol consumption before surgery
- Don’t smoke
- Facial growth is complete
- Has a positive outlook and realistic expectations for the outcome of the surgery
- Overall physically healthy
- The nose has completed most of its growth (13 or 14 years old in girls, 14 or 15 years old in boys)
What's The First Step?
The first step in your journey towards achieving your ideal nose shape through Rhinoplasty in Boston, MA is to schedule a consultation with Vickram Tandon, MD. During this important consultation, you will have the opportunity to openly discuss your goals, concerns, and expectations. Dr. Tandon will carefully evaluate your nose, taking into account your unique facial anatomy.
During the consultation, Dr. Tandon will discuss various techniques for Rhinoplasty and help determine the best approach to achieve the desired cosmetic and functional outcomes for your nose. He will also address any questions or concerns you may have. Once you both have discussed and finalized the treatment plan, you will meet with our Patient Coordinator to schedule a surgery date that works efficiently with your schedule.
What To Expect On The Day Of Rhinoplasty?
On the day of your Rhinoplasty procedure, you will first be administered anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the surgery. Dr. Tandon will then perform the Rhinoplasty procedure, using the appropriate techniques based on your unique nasal contour and desired outcomes. This may involve making incisions on the columella or inside the nostrils to access the nasal structures and reshape the bone, cartilage, and tissue of your nose. Nasal packing and splints may be used to provide support and maintain the new shape of your nose.
If a closed procedure technique is utilized, the incisions will be hidden inside your nose, whereas an open procedure will require an incision to be made across the narrow strip of tissue that separates your nostrils, which is called the columella. The surgery can take anywhere between one and three hours, depending on the extent of correction required.
Rhinoplasty Recovery
Surgical Rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure, which means our patients are able to rest and recover comfortably in their homes on the same day of their nose surgery.
You can expect your recovery to take between one and two weeks, with some bruising and swelling around the eyes and cheeks, along with some mild discomfort and stuffiness the first week. As you recover, it’s important to keep your head elevated to achieve the best results. Due to the swelling, patients may temporarily notice blocked nasal passages and congestion; this will diminish on its own as the nose begins to heal. Most visible swelling will fade over the first five to seven days, although residual swelling can last for 12 to 18 months.
Patients normally feel well enough to return to work in three or five days. You can gradually return to normal activities over the next 3 weeks, and return to more strenuous activities after four to six weeks. After 8 weeks, the nasal bones and cartilage will have knitted together, and you can return to unrestricted activities. During this time, you will notice improved nasal and facial contours as the postoperative swelling continues to fade. And eventually, the breathing will begin to improve. It will, however, take about a year for your nose to settle into its final contour as minor residual swelling resolves and the skin envelope continues to contract.
How Much Does Rhinoplasty Cost In Boston, MA
The cost of Rhinoplasty in Boston will vary depending on many factors, including the procedure being performed, the complexity of the reconstruction, and the time needed for surgery. The best way to determine the cost of your surgery is to meet with Dr. Tandon and let him create your personalized surgical plan. Once this is done, our Patient Coordinator will be able to provide you with a complete breakdown of the cost of the procedures.
Why Choose Dr. Tandon?
Vickram Tandon, MD received his medical degree at Brown University and then went on to complete a highly competitive residency at the top-ranked University of Michigan in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He was then selected to participate in a prestigious year-long fellowship program in Aesthetic Surgery through Harvard Plastic Surgery. In addition to being fully trained in both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty, Dr. Tandon is known for his compassionate and caring approach to patient care. He takes the time to listen to each patient’s concerns and goals and works closely with them to create a personalized treatment plan that achieves the desired results.
Rhinoplasty FAQS
Dr. Tandon will examine your nasal septum and surrounding area to determine which method will be best for you, but will also take into account your personal goals, desires, and needs. The two of you will discuss the pros and cons of each method before settling on the technique that is best for your nasal surgery.
Open Rhinoplasty begins with a small incision across the columella, which separates the two nostrils. From here, the skin is elevated to assess all of the various nasal tissues and structures. At this point, Dr. Tandon will have full access to perform corrections such as removing excess tissue, reshaping the cartilage and nasal bones, or placing cartilage grafts. Once his corrections are finished, your skin is repositioned and sutured for healing. Open Rhinoplasty often results in scarring at the incision site but is usually concealed very well. As time passes, the scar will fade and remain minimally visible.
The Closed Rhinoplasty technique is reserved for patients who require minimal nasal correction. Dr. Tandon will first make a small incision inside each nostril, followed by the necessary nasal corrections, which can include sculpting the cartilage and nasal bones, eliminating excess tissue, or adjusting the shape/size of the nostrils. When complete, dissolvable sutures are used to close the incisions. A Closed Rhinoplasty will have no visible scarring, but since this technique offers limited access, it is not recommended for every patient.
When undergoing rhinoplasty surgery, you will be administered either general anesthesia or local anesthesia, depending on the severity of your procedure – regardless, you shouldn’t feel any pain. You will also be prescribed pain medication by Dr. Tandon to alleviate your healing process.
After your plastic surgery, Dr. Tandon will have you return about a week later so he may remove any bandages, nasal splints, and/or stitches, as well as monitor your initial recovery period.
After your initial follow-up, he will have you return a few more times over the next coming months. Most patients can expect between three and four check-up appointments in total.
Dr. Tandon will always inform you of if and when he expects to see you again at the end of each appointment.
It can take about 7 – 10 days for the initial bruising and swelling from a nose job to begin to subside. After about two weeks, most patients feel that the swelling has subsided enough that other people cannot tell that they have had surgery.
Swelling will persist for months, however, so patients, their families, and close friends will continue to notice resolution of the swelling and improvement in the contour over the first three to six months. Patients will continue to see improvements in shape and airflow for about one year after surgery.
You bet! Many of our Rhinoplasty patients will combine other plastic surgery procedures in Boston such as a Chin Implant, Brow Lift, or Neck surgery to achieve the results they want. If you have a specific area of interest or aesthetic goal that you would like to achieve, please discuss it with Dr. Tandon during your consultation. He will be able to provide his expert suggestions after examining your face and body.
There are always potential risks or side effects associated with any invasive surgical procedure, and nose surgery is no different, even with a skilled Rhinoplasty surgeon like Dr. Tandon. Some of these risks include:
- Anesthesia risks
- Change in skin sensation (numbness or pain)
- Difficulty breathing
- Infection
- Nasal septal perforation (a hole in the nasal septum) is rare. Additional surgical treatment may be necessary to repair the septum but it may be impossible to correct this complication
- Poor wound healing or scarring
- Possibility of a revisional rhinoplasty
- Skin discoloration and swelling
If you do have any long-lasting or concerning reactions during your recovery, please contact us immediately.
Dr. Tandon Understood What I Wanted
I saw Dr. Tandon for Botox and lip filler and couldn’t be happier with my results. I was looking for a skilled doctor who would give me a natural look, and Dr. Tandon understood exactly what I wanted. He took a lot of care and time with my consult, it’s very clear that he cares so much about the quality of his work. I was also happily surprised that procedure was practically painless. I highly recommend working with Dr. Tandon!
I Highly Recommended Him
Dr. Tandon was truly one of the most personable and professionals doctors I hvae been treated by! He took the time to carefully understand the procedure I wanted and what I felt my problem areas are, then adjusted to address those. He both asked insightful questions to understand my needs and answered all my questions with patience to make me feel comfortable and confident. My results demonstrated all of that care and I could not be more pleased. I highly recommend him!
I Am Very Pleased With My Results
Dr. Tandon is a compassionate, personable and highly skilled plastic surgeon. irecently had an appointment with Dr. Tandon to get Botox.
