Celebrity rhinoplasty - what kind of results do they get?

Dear Anon,

I think I understand your question.  You may be wondering if a "celebrity" patient may get special treatment that a surgeon would not typically afford to any other less well-known patient? 

As far as in my practice, and I think for most of my collegues, all of my patients are treated with the same degree, or level of care by both me and my staff.  I feel very grateful to have been selected by my patients to be their surgeon- and thus do not distinguish depending on persons status, or other issues that are unrelated to the patient/physician relationship we have.

I hope this helps you with your question.

Best wishes,

S.P. Maggi, MD, FACS

Austin Plastic Surgery Center

I supose I treat everyone as a celebrity, but really I treat them as if I am treating my own family member.  I want them to have a great result, a great experience, and I want them to feel that all their questions and concerns were addressed during every stage of the experience. 

Celebrities get the same results from a rhinoplasty as anyone else.  They do not receive special rhinoplasty techniques unavailable to the general population. 

Celebrity rhinoplasty is a hot topic these days. The fans of these superstars are so used to the look of their idols that alterations can cause a lot of fan disappointment. The reality is that a rhinoplasty has no more chance of success on a celebrity's face than yours. They certainly can afford the expensive L.A. and Manhattan surgeons but that is no guarantee that their results will be perfect. Many of the so-called celebrity surgeons have great PR machines but really only average skill sets. If you are interested in getting a rhinoplasty, make sure you do your research and make sure you are happy with your surgeon. If they have enough experience and interest in rhinoplasty surgery, they will give you the best chance for a good outcome. They will probably be more affordable, in addition. Hope this helps. Dr. Shah

Celebrities are getting rhinoplasties (or nose jobs) that do not differ a tremendous amount from the types of rhinoplasties being done on everyday people like you and me. The only reason you are hearing about it is because the person getting it (Ashley Tisdale, Ashlee Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, etc) are in the limelight and empirically have well known, beautiful faces.

It is important to remember to do your research on your plastic surgeon or otolarygologist, and go to a doctor who is board certified in their specialty and does a large volume of the specific surgical procedure you are interested in having done. A well-done rhinoplasty is based upon anatomic principles that do not change from LA to New York to Texas, and a plastic surgeon who is proficient at them can make you look and feel like a star!

Celebrities have their noses tweaked about as much as they have Botox and breast implants.

Having a thick, wide, crooked nose that is too big for your face doesn't work in Hollywood for leading ladies - think Ashlee Simpson. For leading men, however, a rugged or manly nose can be a Plus - think Tom Cruise. Looking good in pictures and especially on camera or HDTV holds celebrities to new standards.

But changing something as central as the nose of your face can be a career dilemma for some celebs. Look at all the attention over Ashley Tinsdale. And when Jennifer Grey had her nose done, she became a different actress. Celebs have an even greater challenge to find the right doctor than the rest of us do.

Recently, Ashley Tisdale, another celebrity underwent rhinoplasty, reportedly for a deviated septum and emerged a few weeks later to an onslaught of media critics and blogs questioning why she had messed with the characteristic that some believe made her special.

Reportedly some of her youngest fans could no longer recognize her. And it seems in Hollywood, where looks make or break careers, while almost everyone has had some plastic surgery, we are to believe that it is unheard of for an A-list star to own up to artificial enhancements. All of this brings back memories of Ms. Grey, the “Dirty Dancing” star whose rhinoplasty altered her face so much that she no longer was able to get acting jobs.

We at Profiles are not here to judge the results of her surgery, nor do we know the reasoning that went into her decision. What we do want to do is use this forum to better educate patients regarding the need to address your motivations for surgery and to explore the aesthetic results of surgery with your plastic surgeon before surgery.

The first point is motivation. Cosmetic facial plastic surgery should only be considered and done when patients want to do it for themselves. When the motivation is something like needing to be liked by others, pleasing a loved one or family member or trying to fix something else that is wrong with their lives, we believe the emotional consequences can make the whole recovery process much more difficult. So you want to make sure that you are the one who wants surgery, not your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/ wife, or parent.

The next point is that rhinoplasty, probably more than any other procedure, can make you look different, which is a dual edged sword. When it is done correctly with a clear understanding of the patient’s goals, rhinoplasty is probably one of the most satisfying procedures for both patient and surgeon alike. On the other hand, a surgeon can be technically perfect, but if the end goal of what he achieves or seeks to achieve is not aesthetically pleasing, surgery will be considered a failure. Along these lines we firmly believe that it is critical to understand, that it is neither possible nor desirable to impose the same preconceived “ideal” nose on every patient.

And so, during our preoperative evaluations, we will listen extensively to you, as you voice your concerns not only with respect to what you want changed but also any identity-bound characteristics you want to have left in place. Rhinoplasty should not neutralize your face by robbing it of the individual characteristics or special familial characteristics that are unique to you. While some patients may wish to be rid of the “family nose”, you should still retain your unique individuality through the surgical process. In other words, exploration of your aesthetic is essential in planning your individualized surgery. SO make sure all these issues are discussed before surgery.

"Rhinoplasty is the most difficult of all facial cosmetic procedures" has been said by the greatest and most revered nasal surgeons (M.Eugene Tardy among them). Rhinoplastic surgeons should be artistic perfectionists for each patient that they have the privilege to operate upon.

Even in the hands of the most popular, skilled, and "expensive" surgeons, results cannot be guaranteed. If you are "famous and could afford perfection" it doesn't follow that your nose job/jobs will be "better." Just ask our most famous revision rhinoplasty patient in history, Mr. Jackson.

There are two types of "celebrity" nose job patients.

• The first are those that have had a rhinoplasty before they ever became famous (one of the stars of "Friends").
• The more dangerous and difficult celebrity patient to operate upon is one who has become famous, popular, and loved by the public prior to altering their nose.

Ashley Tisdale, a young teen star from the popular High School Musical, unveiled her new nose a few months ago in New York City during a holiday performance. According to reports, she had difficulty breathing through her nose, visited another Ashley’s (Simpson) surgeon, and underwent the procedure to correct her breathing. "Oh, by the way, while you're in there, can you straighten out my nose and take off that bump from when my nose was broken?"

"Hope that she didn't 'Jennifer Grey' her career with that nose job," is what I've heard from some Hollywood agents and actresses.

The key to any facial plastic surgery is that it should look natural, nearly undetectable, particularly the nose. A beautiful nose blends in with the rest of the face so that it is not the center of attention, allowing attention rather to be focused on the eyes. Some ethnic and celebrity noses have the potential to change the entire look of the face when they undergo rhinoplasty. After a rhinoplasty, it should not be necessary for the patient to have to greet friends, family, and acquaintances with “Hi, I'm (fill in the blank with the name of the nose job patient)".

I empathize with Ashley and her surgeon (a world-class rhinoplastic surgeon), as they are being scrutinized under the world media magnifying glass. It takes about 6-12 months for the nose to settle as it heals. I'm sure that she will end up with an excellent result, a great career, and will be able to breathe well through her newly reconstructed nose.

We have been reviewing the celebrity pictures before and after their rhinoplasties in our clinic. While some seem to have had an excellent job, some are less than stellar. Money can't buy you class, and sometimes it cannot buy you a good nose job either!

There are some fantastic rhinoplasty surgeons in Beverly Hills, and there are some fantastic rhinoplasty surgeons in other places. The most expensive surgeon is not necessarily the best one. As a patient, you should always do your homework, consult with several board certified surgeons, interview them, review their before and after photos, and discuss your particular situation with the help of simulated computer imaging.