Jacksonville, Florida Plastic Surgeon Clarifies the Rhinoplasty Procedure and What Patients Need to Know

Jacksonville, Florida plastic surgeon clarifies the rhinoplasty procedure and what patients need to know. If you are thinking of getting a (nose job) or rhinoplasty, you’re not alone. Board certified plastic surgeon, Paul Scioscia from Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery says over 100-thousand rhinoplastys are performed each year and patients need to know what’s involved, how to pick a plastic surgeon and if they’re a good candidate for the procedure.

By Paul Scioscia, MD
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com
The term rhinoplasty means to shape one’s nose. The nose is one of, if not the central characteristic of one’s identity. You see this when artists create caricatures of people; the nose is usually the focal point of the drawing. The nose elicits tremendous variability and ethnicity.

All About the Nose

In one sense, it defines who we are. But this small organ is immensely complicated. It serves some major functions other than breathing. For instance, all of the sinuses in your face drain into the nasal cavities. The tears that we are constantly producing to lubricate our eyes drain here as well. The nose also acts as a humidifier. Try breathing through your mouth for a few minutes and see how quickly your throat becomes dry. The internal anatomy of the nose also affects the timbre and quality of your voice.

Professional singers will often forgo having a rhinoplasty because of this concern. And let’s not forget how boring the world would be if we didn’t have our sense of smell. I once had a patient who had complete obstruction of her nasal passages for years. After a complex nasal reconstruction, she returned with tears of joy. She explained that not only could she breathe easier, for the first time in over seven years she could smell everything again!

How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon

Being a proficient rhinoplasty surgeon is a tall order. The surgeon must account for all of these functional components of the nose that have little to do with its appearance. There is arguably no greater challenge in aesthetic surgery. This is when the artist in the plastic surgeon must rise to the occasion. The three dimensional aspect of this unique organ requires an acute sense of space, facial dimensions, aesthetic lines and shadows. The surgeon is tasked with changing the outward appearance of the nose but can only work on the underlying framework of cartilage and bone. I liken it to being asked to change the way your house looks on the outside but only being allowed to work with the (2 x 4’s) and cinder blocks.

It is also somewhat like a chain link wherein shifting one component of the nose can shift the position of the other components. I tell surgeons who are new to rhinoplasties, “you must be prepared to do everything on everyone.” This is one time when experience truly matters. If you are considering a rhinoplasty, make certain your surgeon has performed a considerable number of these procedures. Be sure to look at before and after photos and ask lots of questions. I hope this was helpful and good luck on your quest for the “perfect proboscis”.

 

According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), a rhinoplasty surgery may be for you if you meet the following criteria:

• You are 13 years of age or older
• You are healthy
• You do not smoke
• You have realistic goals about how you want your nose to look