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Should I Bring Pictures of Desired Noses to Rhinoplasty Consultation?

Hello, I was considering having a rhinoplasty procedure, but had some questions concerning it. I have read up on this for almost a year, but this question tends to stir up the most controversy: Would it be good for me to bring pictures in of desired noses? Second, I am a male with a very long nose, so would I be able to make my nose smaller and more defined; rather than long, and "chubby." The reason I ask this second question is because most of the before and after photos that I have seen of people with long noses has not demonstrated much difference in them. Meaning it seems as if the surgeon only made slight decreases in his/her nose. Why is this?

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male consultation

Nose pictures and an experienced surgeon equals winning combination

It is always helpful to bring pictures as long as you do not expect to look exactly like any of them. However, it is useful to discuss your sense of what you consider aesthetic for YOUR nose. This will help you and your doctor to arrive on the same page. In addition, drawings help a lot as well. Software computer imaging is also helpful but not necessary and in my opinion is best used to demonstrate the curve desired on the profile view. You are correct, many surgeons do NOT take the... more

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Ashkan Ghavami, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Balanced contours in rhinoplasty lead to the most natural result

Pictures are valuable, in order to give you talking points during the consult. They can illustrate specific desires for highlights, size, definition, or tip rotation. Those talking points can then be extrapolated to your current nose shape, and thats when the real conversation begins. You can then discuss with your rhinoplasty surgeon what is applicable to your anatomy, and whether those changes can be accomplished. Imaging is central to this process in my practice. As for your second... more

Kevin Robertson, MD

Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bring photos to rhinoplasty consultation

Yes, but with a few caveats... Remember, the consultation is all about communication. You need to make sure the physician understands what you are looking for. For this reason, I also suggest computer simulation (esp for profile changes) to help both surgeon and patient understand what things might look like. Photo of celebrities, etc. may help the surgeon understand where you're coming from. However, you must realize: 1. Celebrity photos are almost always idealized/touched up 2. Only... more

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Sam Most, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Long and chubby noses postop

In answer to your first question, yes you should bring in photos but they must be realistic. People often bring me noses on faces that don't at all resemble the patient's face. That's not so helpful because usually the patient is subconsciously looking at the other facial features and likes that. Morphing on the computer can help with preop communication but often isn't achieved postoperatively to the degree that one expects. Usually, the morphed photo isn't looked at in the postoperative... more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Photographs and Rhinoplasty surgery

It is always helpful to bring photographs with you during the preoperative phase and consultation. Photographs help the surgeon decide what you find aesthetically pleasing. I use digital imaging on all consultations for Rhinoplasty and this enables the surgeon to actually show the patient the proposed result. Photographs will not show your exact nose and as a surgeon we must work with what we have in front of us, cartilage, bones and skin thickness differences included. With digital... more

Michael Elam, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty pictures

It is always helpful for a patient to bring pictures in of noses that they like. It doesn't necessarily mean that the surgeon is going to be able to replicate that nose - it all depends on your anatomy to start out with, facial structure, etc. However, it does give the surgeon an idea of what the patient is thinking about and what he/she may need to do to get you close to your ideal.

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD

Barrington Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rhinoplasty Pictures are Helpful

Bringing pictures of noses you like to your consultation are helpful, but only in a very limited way. The photographs help with communicating your likes, but what looks good on that other person may not look good on you. In addition, it may be technically impossible to create that nose from your nose. Far more valuable is to visit a surgeon who will do computer simulations of your nose. A good surgeon will only simulate changes s/he knows are... more

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Louis W. Apostolakis, MD

Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

Treating the long nose

I personally encourage patients to bring in pictures of noses that they "like." First of all that gives me an idea of their aesthetic sense, and secondly it facilitates discussion. It may be that the nose the person likes is just too different from what they are starting with to be achievable. Or it may be that the nose in the picture is not appropriate for that patient. Julie Andrew's nose wouldn't look good on a 6'2' male, for example. ... more

Paul W. Loewenstein, MD

Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Shortening a nose during rhinoplasty

In general it is a good idea to bring photographs during your consultation in order to facilitate discussion and improve communication with your doctor. Shortening and de-projecting a nose is one of the more complicated tasks in rhinoplasty. First, significant shortening of the nose can leave behind skin excess which will make the tip look round, also known as a poly beak deformity. Secondly, significant shortening of the nose may render it fake or operated looking. Having said that,... more

Maurice M. Khosh, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty goals

Since we all have different facial shapes and appaearnces, the best result after a rhinoplasty is one that looks best on and fits your face. In my practice there is no such thing as a "cookie cutter nose" which really should be a thing of the past. Bringing in photos during your consultaton may help in order to determine your aesthetic ideals. Obviuously Brad Pitts's nose will not look good on Arnold Schwarazegger. In a thoruough discussion with you and your experienced... more

Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon

Photos for rhinoplasty planning

You ask two questions. The first is about bringing example photos for rhinoplasty. While it can be very helpful to discuss your desires using photos you need to be very aware that it is impossible to create the exact nose you see in a magazine. Every patient starts with a different nose and no two results will ever be the same. I do discuss photos that my patients bring to office as a guideline, but always make it clear that getting any of those photos as an end result is impossible. As for... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Rhinoplasty post-op

It is always a good idea to explain to your doctor your concerns and desired results from surgery. Photos of other people's noses may or may not be helpful. Sometimes the pictures brought in demonstrate unrealistic expectations. Everyone's face is different.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Photos can be helpful

Photos are helpful for me to understand what type of nose the patient likes. Its my job then to tell the patient if he/she has a realistic chance of getting that result. The long noses you speak about after surgery may be the surgeons being conservative. If you do make a long nose shorter, it will become perceptually more triangular and thus chubbier. Computer imaging can give you a preview. Also, if you've researched for a year and are still tentative about surgery,... more

Ramtin Kassir, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Pictures may represent what you wish, but not what is realistic

Rhinoplasty can only do so much for any individual. A nose starts with a given shape, size, and orientation and surgery can only go so far. So if you bring photos that are drastically different from your existing nose, that will not be very helpful to the surgeon. If the photos you bring are within the realm of surgical possibility, then they may be helpful. Overall, I think using a computer morphing imaging program is a better way to determine goals and expectations for... more

David W. Kim, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Photos are a great way to help communicate with your surgeon

Rhinoplasty is a very intricate procedure requiring a surgeon with extensive experience and training. In order to achieve your desired result it is first of all important to select a qualified surgeon. When meeting with your surgeon for you consultation, it is always a good idea to bring in pictures of how you would like your nose to look. This helps your surgeon better understand your goals and opens up the conversation for realistic expectations. To help visualize your potential results... more

Tarick K. Smaili, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rhinoplasty photos to consultation

The answer is yes. The problem is that most fashion magazine photos do not show a true side view and they tend to portray what may be a imperfect nose in its most favorable light. The photos therefore can provide then surgeon a general idea of the shape and important contours that are important. The photo may also be a good lead to discuss other facial issues such as the chin, cheek, jaw line and neck. As a generality, male noses are somewhat harder to contour and may require more... more

Paul S. Howard, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Pictures of noses you like helps the initial consultation

I think it helps tremendously to show photos of noses you like and also, noses you do not like. Both help to communicate what your aesthetic desires are. It will also help your surgeon make some judgements about what is possible according to your expectations. Bring in photos that make sense.

Jay Calvert, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Bringing Photos to Rhinoplasty Consultation

The more information we as rhinoplasty surgeons have about the patient's desires, the better we can deliver those results. So, bringing pictures of noses you find attractive can help the surgeon in better understanding your aesthetic goals. One caveat: Many photos in magazines are heavily modified (photoshoped, air-brushed, make-up / lighting tricks) and may not be an exact representation of that person's real nose! Best to you, Dr. Vartanian

A. John Vartanian, MD

Glendale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bring pictures of noses you like to a Rhinoplasty consult

Nose shapes that you might like can be difficult to describe with words. A picture is worth a thousand words. With this information your surgeon should be able to incorporate these desires into a digital image morphing session and be able to tell you what is and what is not possible with rhinoplasty, It is yet another tool to communicate with your doctor.

Andrew Jacono, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bringing pictures to rhinoplasty consultation

A long nose definately can be shortened without looking "chubby." However, one must keep in mind that rhinoplasty is not like sculpting with clay. Working with bone, cartilage and tissue can be challenging. Some surgeons do just their style of nose. I try to keep the person looking like themself and simply clean up what is undesireable. Bringing in pictures does help the sugeon know what kind of results you are looking for. The reality of what can be surgically accomplished is... more

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

It is a good idea to bring pictures to your rhinoplasty consult

It is a good idea to bring photos to your rhinoplasty consult just so your surgeon can have a good idea of what you are hoping for. As you probably know there are limitations based on your anatomy that your surgeon should discuss with you and so it may be impossible to give you the same nose as the model or actress you borough photos of, but I like to see these photos just to get an idea of what you aesthetic goals are. The more information I can get from a person the better chance I have... more

Jason B. Diamond, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bring your photos of desired noses to Rhinoplasty consultation

I have mixed feelings about patients bringing photos of noses they like that they see in magazines or elsewhere. It can be helpful to know what the patient likes and what they think looks good. On the other hand it can be problematic if a the patient is fixed on a celebrity nose that would be physically impossible to give them. That being said, I occasionally have patients bring in photos of noses they like and I keep them in mind while I do the imaging on our computer to simulate the... more

Ivan Wayne, MD

Oklahoma City Facial Plastic Surgeon

Photos of desired nose appearances before rhinoplasty

Pictures can tell me what your sense of a beautiful nose are. The surgeon cannot duplicate that nose, they can work with your nose, skin, cartillage and bone. Males have thick skin, difficult to deal with. Male rhinoplasty should not feminize the nose. Tell your surgeon what you want and they will be able to tell you if that is achievable.

Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Photos and rhinoplasty

Yes, you can take photos to your Rhinoplasty consultation, but keep in mind that every person's nose is different, and therefore your results cannot be guaranteed to look like anyone else's. Noses can be refined, but male skin is thicker, and the results can be more subtle and take longer to be evident. As long as you are aware of this prior to surgery, you won't be disappointed. Good luck.

Nina S. Naidu, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Photos are great to bring along, but can't "copycat" noses

Yes. Bring some photos of what you might want your nose to look like to your consulatation. Understand, however, that no surgeon can give you someone else's nose. Your own surgical outcome depends on lots of factors, like skin thickness, cartilage thickness and strength, oily or dry skin and genetics.