How Many Types of Rhinoplasty Can You Name?
Nose jobs, or rhinoplasties, are among the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures chosen by plastic surgery patients. This comes as no surprise since the nose is one of the most prominent features on the human face. It helps dictate the symmetry and balance of the other facial structures while still having its own definition and character. Did you know that there are several different types of rhinoplasty? If you didn’t, that’s alright – you will now!
Primary Rhinoplasty
Primary rhinoplasty is the first cosmetic surgery performed on your nose. It’s also known as the “original” rhinoplasty. This type is used to change how the bone and cartilage inside your nose is shaped and structured.
Revision Rhinoplasty
If you have had a previous rhinoplasty, any nose job afterward is known as revision rhinoplasty. This type involves fixing or repairing the nose after it has already undergone at least one rhinoplasty surgery. It can be as subtle as adjusting minor dents or bumps to as major as overhauling the entire structure of the nose and starting from scratch. Revision rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult types of rhinoplasty because surgeons have to work with and around anything left over from the previous surgery including implants, grafts, and scar tissue.
Ethnic Rhinoplasty
This is a broad term for creating a nose that has characteristics of an ethnicity other than Caucasian. People from different heritages generally have different nasal features. There are several subtypes of ethnic rhinoplasty, including African-American rhinoplasty, Asian rhinoplasty, and Middle Eastern rhinoplasty. Each ethnicity has its own unique characteristics and ethnic rhinoplasty involves reshaping the nose while remaining true to the patient’s heritage.
Functional Rhinoplasty
When patients are generally happy with the appearance of their nose but have trouble breathing due to injury or genetic defects, functional rhinoplasty can help. For example, the majority of functional rhinoplasty patients need to have their septum repaired or built up after suffering from a broken nose. This type of rhinoplasty doesn’t have to involve making any changes to the outward appearance of the nose, though it can should the patient want to make those adjustments.
Cosmetic Rhinoplasty
Cosmetic rhinoplasty, on the other hand, is about changing the way a patient’s nose looks on the outside by changing the structure of the nose on the inside. This is the bread and butter of the rhinoplasty industry as it is the most common type chosen by patients.
Open/Closed Rhinoplasty
These types deal more with the method of surgery. In an open rhinoplasty, a surgeon gains access to the internal structures by making incisions on the outside of the nose and then lifting the soft tissue up and over the bone and cartilage. It is usually the type preferred by surgeons because it gives them direct access to the nasal structures, making the surgery as a whole much easier to perform. Closed rhinoplasty doesn’t involve any external incisions; instead, the surgeon gains access to the bone and cartilage by going through the inside of the patient’s nostrils. This type is usually reserved for making very minor adjustments because it is much harder for the surgeon to manipulate the internal structures.
Choosing Your Rhinoplasty Type
Some rhinoplasty surgeries involve only one type while others can have two or three types in one surgery. If you aren’t sure which types you’ll need to get the nose you’ve always wanted, that’s okay – that’s why you have a rhinoplasty expert. Dr. Nassif is considered one of the world’s leading rhinoplasty specialists who is well-practiced in all the different types. He’s worked with thousands of patients to find the best way to create a nose that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and balances well with the rest of the face. You can schedule a patient consultation with Dr. Nassif to discuss your goals for surgery and hear your options for getting the best results.
Scheduling a Rhinoplasty Patient Consultation
You can reach Dr. Nassif by calling his office in Beverly Hills, CA at (310) 275-2467, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm. You can also contact him 24/7 by sending him an email through his Contact page here on his site.