Sunday, April 12, 2015
When can I have revision rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is a procedure that takes a good amount of time to heal and allow all swelling to go down. The open rhinoplasty approach is performed by lifting the skin off the cartilage and bone and reshaping those structures. The skin then needs to contract over this new bony and cartilaginous framework. During the healing process after rhinoplasty, a layer of scar tissue forms between the skin and the mentioned framework. This scar tissue layer takes time to settle down and become organized and smooth. The skin takes time to contract down.
I tell patients with normal thickness skin that the swelling from rhinoplasty typically goes down about 25% after 3 weeks, 50% after 6 weeks, but will take a full year to completely go down. The tip skin is the thickest and typically takes the longest to contract and settle.
For thicker skinned patients, it may take 1.5-2 years for the swelling to completely settle down.
It is typically recommended to wait the full healing time before pursuing revision rhinoplasty to allow the nose to “declare itself”. You do not want to have two healing processes ongoing under the skin. That being said, if there is still a glaring dorsal hump after the primary rhinoplasty 6-9 months postop, the chances of that going down are low so you could theoretically have a revision rhinoplasty earlier for this.
Dr. Funk is a rhinoplasty expert in Houston, TX.
Friday, April 3, 2015
How much does rhinoplasty cost in Houston?
The cost of rhinoplasty can vary from region to region within the United States and even in Texas. Rhinoplasty in Houston costs can also vary depending on the complexity of the nose surgery, the experience of the surgeon, and whether insurance is involved for functional or breathing issues such as a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, or nasal valve collapse.
The complexity of the nose can vary based upon how much work may be necessary. Some patients require a simple nasal hump reduction while others may require hump reduction, base reduction, rotating the tip, refining the nasal tip, or straightening a crooked nose. Lastly, there are the revision rhinoplasty patients where complexity takes on a whole new meaning as other areas of cartilage may be needed such as ear cartilage or rib cartilage for the nose surgery.
Incorporating your insurance into the rhinoplasty or nose job procedure will not only abate the surgeon’s fees but will also help with the facility and anesthesia fees for rhinoplasty. If the insurance company can cover the functional aspects of the procedure like septoplasty or turbinate reduction, this can help fray the cosmetic costs of rhinoplasty.
Dr. Funk is a rhinoplasty expert in Houston, TX.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Can Rhinoplasty fix big nostrils?
Nostril size and shape may vary from nose to nose. Depending on your ethnicity, a deviated septum, and the position of your tip cartilages, nostrils can all be different.
Rhinoplasty, or nose job surgery, can help change the nostril shape, make them smaller, and more symmetric. Correcting a deviated septum with septoplasty can make the nostrils more symmetric. Performing an alar base resection during rhinoplasty can bring in the nostrils and narrow the base.
The nostril length can be made smaller by manipulating the tip cartilages with sutures and making the nasal tip cartilages smaller or bringing the tip in.
Dr. Funk is a top rhinoplasty surgeon in Houston, TX.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Do I need a Facelift, Neck Lift, or Mini Facelift?
Patients who are seeking facial rejuvenation surgery frequently want to improve the jowling that may occur along the jawline, skin laxity of the neck, or sagging of the face in general. Many patients state they do not want a facelift but just a neck lift. Unfortunately, sometimes addressing the neck alone may lead to even more worsening of the jowls and facial skin redundancy.
A neck lift is reserved for those patients who mainly have laxity in the neck or banding of the muscles in the midline of the neck. They either do not have significant jowling or an issue with their jawline or it simply does not bother them. These patients can expect a tighter neck line and improvement in the banding in the midline of the neck, however, they will still have an ill defined jawline and jowling.
Those patients who have very minimal skin laxity in the neck and mainly jowling of the face or skin laxity around the corners of the mouth and jawline will benefit from a mini facelift. These facelift patients are typically between 45-55 years of age. This procedure is reserved for these patients who do not have significant laxity in the neck and do not need a neck lift.
Lastly are the patients that require both a facelift and a neck lift and may require a deep plane face and neck lift. These patients are typically over 55 year of age and have significant skin laxity, banding in the neck or a full heavy neck. They also have jowling, lax jawline skin and depressed corners of the mouth. The deep plane facelift refers to the plane of dissection. In this case, the muscle is elevated and ligaments are released to provide a more robust, longer lasting, and better lift.
Dr. Funk is a board certified facial plastic surgeon in Houston, TX.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
How long does Rhinoplasty take?
Rhinoplasty is a surgery typically performed under general anesthesia. While every nose is different, some can be fairly straightforward while others quite difficult. A very crooked nose can require particular grafts, sutures, and controlled fractures. A knuckled, crooked, twisted, or weakened nasal tip may take longer to finesse than others. Revision rhinoplasty may require ear cartilage or rib cartilage to be used which takes more time. Base reduction of the nostrils may also add to the operative time. In general however, open rhinoplasty typically takes between 1.5-2 hours for uncomplicated cases and 2-3 hours for more complex ones.
Dr. Funk is performs rhinoplasty in Houston and is double board certified.