So Your Teenager Wants Plastic Surgery

Certain cosmetic surgery procedures such as rhinoplasty in Los Angeles are very popular with teens. But, how should you react if your teenager is interested in cosmetic enhancement?

When your teenager approaches you about a potential procedure, I recommend taking 2 steps:

• Develop a system of open communication. It’s important to understand why your child wants plastic surgery. It might be difficult for him or her to open up about the true reason, so take time to listen.
• Find a board-qualified plastic surgeon. If you and your child decide that he or she is ready for a cosmetic procedure, take time to search for board-certified surgeons in your area. I suggest finding someone who is a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or American Society of Plastic Surgeons. A consultation provides the perfect environment for you to determine if a potential doctor has the training and experience to help you. This is also a great opportunity to learn more about potential risks and complications.

Regardless of the reason for wanting to have a procedure, it’s important that your child feels comfortable talking with you about plastic surgery.

Tags: rhinoplasty los angeles
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery),Facial Cosmetic Surgery

5 Facts about Nose Reshaping

A number of women and men come to my practice with misconceptions and misinformation about Los Angeles rhinoplasty procedures. Here are five facts all people interested in this procedure should be aware of:

• Rhinoplasty can help a person to not only improve the appearance of her or his nose, but often also restores breathing after damage caused by an injury. Surgery used to correct functional problems, such as a deviated septum, is often covered by health insurance.
• Depending on the desired results, surgeons can hide incisions inside a person’s nose. Known as a closed procedure, this method is a great way to hide any indications of facial cosmetic surgery.
• It’s important to wait until at least 15 years of age to ensure your facial growth is complete. This will aid a surgeon in make the necessary alterations to suit your facial appearance, and help you see your adult-sized nose before deciding on surgery.
• Recovery times vary from one person to another, but people can often return to work within 7 days of surgery. Most people can resume exercise and other activities within a month.
• As long as a person does not incur a major injury or damage the nose after surgery, people can expect permanent results. The normal aging process will help to blend the results with the surrounding facial skin for a natural appearance.

Tags: los angeles rhinoplasty
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)

Healing from Rhinoplasty

When considering a rhinoplasty procedure, my Los Angeles patients typically ask about recovery. When discussing this subject, I often hear misconceptions about recovering from nose surgery, such as the length of time it takes to fully heal, or how long bandages or splints need to be worn. In actuality, healing from a rhinoplasty procedure is not as intense as some believe.

After Surgery

Rhinoplasty is typically performed in 1 to 3 hours, and patients can typically go home a few hours after their procedure. Most often, a split will be taped to the nose to help support its new shape, and should be worn for about a week after surgery. While there may be some bruising or swelling after this initial period, it will reduce significantly as tissues adjust to the new shape of the nose.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions that a bandage or splint needs to be worn for up to a year after the procedure to keep the nose in its proper position, and this could not be more false. While it is true that it may take up to a year for a patient’s nose to fully adjust to its new size or shape, a bandage or splint is unnecessary after the initial period after surgery. The best way to heal fast from a rhinoplasty is to follow the surgeon’s instructions carefully and religiously.

Tags: rhinoplasty los angeles
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery),Facial Cosmetic Surgery

3 Quick “Yes” and “No” Rhinoplasty Answers

Based on the questions I frequently hear from my Los Angeles “nose job” (rhinoplasty) patients, I thought I’d share a few quick facts about rhinoplasty. If you have questions of your own, please comment here or contact me and I’ll follow up with a personal response.

• Is the nose always broken during rhinoplasty? No. The bones in the nose are usually only moved when the nose needs to be narrowed or after a large hump has been removed. There are certainly many rhinoplasty procedures that do not involve fracturing the bone.
• Does a rhinoplasty fix a deviated septum? Technically, no. The procedure to fix a deviated septum is actually called a septoplasty. It is a different type of nose surgery. The septoplasty procedure is reconstructive as opposed to cosmetic (rhinoplasty is considered a cosmetic procedure) and may be covered by insurance.
• Are there non-surgical alternatives to a rhinoplasty? Yes, but they’re not for everyone. These non-surgical methods generally involve the use of injectable fillers. These fillers can “build up” but they can’t “take out.” This means that, for example, they’re a good option for people who would like a more pronounced nasal tip, but not for people who want to reduce the size of their nasal tip. Also, keep in mind that even if you’re a candidate for a non-surgical nose job, the results won’t be permanent.

These questions are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s much more you can learn about rhinoplasty. For more information, you can visit my rhinoplasty Web site.

Tags: los angeles nose job
Posted in Rhinoplasty (nose surgery),Facial Cosmetic Surgery