Rhinoplasty Toronto: Building a New, More Attractive Nose

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

Rhinoplasty has become very safe and affordable in recent years. A skilled Rhinoplasty Toronto surgeon can change any visible feature of the nose, from the overall size to the shape. Nostril size can be modified as well. Not only does this procedure affect the appearance of the nose, it affects the function as well, making breathing through the nostrils a lot easier.

Where to Begin

The very first thing to do is determine if you are actually a good candidate for this type of cosmetic surgery. A consultation with a renowned surgeon is a great place to start. The ideal rhinoplasty candidate is at least 16 years of age and in good overall physical and mental health. It’s good to have some idea of what you want to be done with your nose: do you want it smaller? Straightened? The nostrils evened? The septum fixed? Do you require any type of reconstruction or revision?

The surgeon should let you know if your expectations are possible and what your nose will look like after it has specific things done to it. Keep in mind that there is not one “perfect” nose for everyone. A nose that looks perfect on someone else might look bad on you, depending on your other facial features.

Understanding Closed Rhinoplasty

Also known as internal Rhinoplasty, this procedure is done through incisions just on the interior of the nose in such a manner that no part of the incision is visible externally. Since there is a disconnection between the right and left nostril, it can be a bit of a challenge to reposition the skin around the nasal area. Closed Rhinoplasty is ideal for certain situations such as performing minor bridge refinement or bridge augmentation.

Benefits of this technique include:

– Reduced operative time

– Less swelling

– Faster post-operative healing

– No scarring along the columella.

Understanding Open Rhinoplasty

An open, or external Rhinoplasty job, utilizes a “bridge” called a “trans-columellar” incision to connect the incisions made within the right and left nostril. Some surgeons use an inverted “V” incision, and others prefer a stair step mid-columellar pattern during this procedure, the nasal skin is folded back to give the surgeon visibility and access to the underlying structure.

The advantage of open nasal surgery is that it allows for treatment of complex cosmetic deformities  as well as congenital ones such as cleft-lips, severely deviated noses, etc.

Additional advantages include:

– Direct visualization of the cartilages for improved precision and accuracy

– The ability to modify the nasal shape during complex procedures

– More control and precision

– Very minor, unnoticeable scars

Other Types of Nasal Surgery

– Septoplasty: the alteration of the septum to straighten the airway.

– Ethnic Rhinoplasty: a tailored solution that best suits your needs based on your Ethnic background.

– Secondary or revision surgery: Revision Rhinoplasty is an additional surgery that is required when the initial procedure was not performed properly and the patient is unhappy with the results.

What to Expect

Depending on the complexity of your requirements, the Rhinoplasty may take anywhere from one and a half hours to six hours. The surgery can take place in an outpatient surgery center, facility, or as an outpatient at a hospital. In most cases, the patient will receive either general anesthesia or a combination of sedation and local anesthesia. Swelling and bruising are common for the week or so following the surgery. It can take a full year to see the final result.