In the middle of the face stands the nose. However, it is rarely the first feature one notices, unless it stands out due to size or shape.
When looking at someone, emotions are primarily conveyed through the mouth-eye triangle. Unfortunately, a nose that is too wide, too strong, deviated, too flat, too round, or bifurcated can draw attention. The nose may even hinder the transmission of emotions; for instance, a sharply pointed nose can harden the face and disrupt its harmony. Understanding that a disharmonious nose often has suboptimal respiratory function is crucial.
Rhinoplasty aims to integrate the nose into the face by shaping each structure according to the patient's desires, genetic factors, facial anatomy, and the surgeon's technical realities.
The nose should be as harmonious as possible with facial proportions and aesthetically pleasing, never forgetting its primary function of ensuring breathing. The nose must be entirely natural, as an unnatural appearance may once again capture attention and distort the emotions perceived by observers.
Therefore, as many rhinoplasties exist as there are different faces.
Our collaborative work begins by identifying problematic areas on your nose. It is rare for the entire nose to be displeasing, and anatomically, there are often "very beautiful" areas on "unattractive" noses.
To create a photo project using morphing software, we need to:
After the first consultation, my charming assistants will provide you with a summary, including the rhinoplasty document from SOFCPRE, the septoplasty document from SFORL, your photo project if desired, and a detailed quote including surgical, anesthesia, clinic fees, and postoperative consultations.
Partial health insurance coverage limited to the treatment of nasal obstruction may be requested if significant respiratory problems have been diagnosed.
Thus, a minimum of two consultations is necessary to establish both a human and medical connection. The postoperative period and risks will be highlighted in the first consultation. Edema is systematic and moderate in the first few days, with bruises being rare. The specific risk of rhinoplasty is a healing defect that may lead to a minor surgical revision in less than 5% of cases, often limited to local anesthesia.
A final consultation will be conducted the day before, two days before, or the morning of the surgery to perform LED to prepare the tissues for surgery and minimize edema and bruising if any.
The surgery takes place at the Saint-George Clinic in Hall 2, in a dedicated aesthetic service located on the bridge above the parking lot. Both the surgical and service teams are specifically trained in pre and postoperative aesthetic care.
The duration of general anesthesia is usually between 1.5 and 2 hours.
Rhinoplasty is typically performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you enter and leave the clinic on the same day. For this, someone must bring you and take you back. You are not allowed to drive for 24 hours after general anesthesia. It is also mandatory to have an adult with you on the first night.
Postoperatively, pain is minimal to nonexistent, with only paracetamol (Tylenol) needed for a few days. Antibiotics will be necessary for seven days.
At the clinic, cold compresses are placed on the eyes to minimize swelling around the eyes. You will replace them with frozen peas for 20 minutes five times a day and at bedtime for the first few days. Bruises under the eyes are rare and disappear quickly. A social eviction of 7 days is recommended.
Upon waking, there is a small greasy cotton in the nostrils (definitely not a tampon!), which you will easily remove the next morning.
A small thermoformed splint is placed on the nose for 7 days. If a respiratory procedure is performed simultaneously, thin silicone sheets are placed on either side of the nasal septum. They do not obstruct breathing, and their removal is painless. Their removal takes place on the 7th day, simultaneously with the splint removal; it is painless.
The swelling of the nose will decrease gradually on the nose and inside the nose, sometimes with a feeling of a partially blocked nose initially. Thus, upon splint removal, you often already appreciate your nose in profile and three-quarters, but not yet from the front. The slow reduction of swelling, especially in the frontal view, will help ensure that those around you do not realize that surgery has been performed.
There is approximately 30% swelling at one month, 20% at 3 months, 10% at 6 months, 5% at one year, and the result is definitive at two years. The swelling will take the longest to resolve in the lower part (tip and junction of the tip and dorsum of the nose), especially if the skin is thick and it is a secondary rhinoplasty.
The nose is completely consolidated between 8 and 12 weeks, so no contact sports should be played during this time or heavy glasses should be worn. Light glasses are allowed after one week. Medical follow-up is essential to monitor and guide this slow healing process. After splint removal, specific patient-specific massages will be taught, performed on average three times for five minutes each day during 3 months.
Before the surgery, the schedule for postoperative appointments will be provided to you. The calendar includes a minimum of seven checks on D7, M1, M2, M3, M6, Y1, and Y2. The goal of this follow-up is to minimize the risk of surgical revision (<5%), guide massages, and, if necessary, perform small injections of corticosteroids to expedite edema reduction or hyaluronic acid to prevent adhesions.
Scars may be located differently depending on the type of rhinoplasty.
Mini-invasive rhinoplasty is part of the preservation rhinoplasty family, aiming to minimize tissue aggression during surgery and preserve the unique characteristics of each nose to harmonize it with the face. I have been developing this technique since 2011, and now, mini-invasive rhinoplasty represents over 90% of my rhinoplasties.
Technically, there is no scar on the skin; dissection occurs closest to the cartilage and bone, preserving all subcutaneous tissues to avoid irregularities. Small ligaments are also preserved, allowing for better skin redraping aesthetically and avoiding respiratory discomfort functionally.
At the nasal tip, shaping is done through suturing and repositioning techniques with minimal cartilage resection, providing both aesthetic and functional benefits.
Structural rhinoplasty is suitable for noses requiring major reconstruction of the tip, usually secondary rhinoplasties or tips with significant asymmetries.
Technically, a scar is made at the base of the columella (pillar separating the two nostrils). Cartilage grafts are taken from the septum inside the nose or behind the ears to strengthen or recreate the tip's architecture.
Postoperative recovery is generally longer, especially in terms of edema.
Medical rhinoplasty is a camouflage rhinoplasty, involving enhancing specific areas of the nose to minimize a bump, lift a tip, or correct an irregularity. Before any medical rhinoplasty, besides checking for any medical contraindication to hyaluronic acid injection, it is crucial to be sure about wanting and/or being able to increase the overall size of the nose.
A good indication, for example, is a small nose with a bump or a drooping tip, making it a suitable case for medical rhinoplasty.
