How do I tell my doctor exactly what I want for my rhinoplasty? Can I achieve the same results as the girl in the 3rd pic?

In our practice we use 3D imaging to help you see what results are possible in a rhinoplasty. I work hard to help a patient understand what is possible cosmetically that will leave her with a functional nose. Many surgeons will bring the nose to the point that the patient wants without thinking about the long term changes in the face, and the issues that the patient will have with functional breathing ten years down the road. I use imaging software to explain the esthetic result that is proportionally appropriate to the face, will keep the nose fully functional, AND takes the patient'so esthetic desires into account. 

If you are worried about communicating your wishes to your surgeon, there are a couple options for you. Try bringing reference photos to your consultation. Take a look at your surgeon’s before and after photos on his or her website before your consultation. Try and pick a patient that has a similar before picture to you. Another option is to visit a surgeon who uses 3D imaging. At our office 3D imaging can you give an idea of what your after results may look like. Many times this helps the patient visual better than looking at a photo of another woman. Most importantly, remember that no doctor can guarantee that your after result will be just like your ‘wish’ photo or your 3D imaging photo.

If the pictures have been posted you have already told the surgeon what you want by showing a picture of the type of nose that you would like to have. This is quite helpful along with discussions of your photographs and how your nose differs from your ideal nose. The surgeon should be able to make clear what things are and are not achievable.look at the surgeons before and after pictures to give you an idea of what type of knows the surgeon does. Are they over done or do they look natural?

Although I do not see any photos posted, my answer will include the following phrase:  Consult with several Board-certified plastic surgeons, who will accurately examine your nose, create a simulation based on what YOUR nose could look like after surgery, and develop a plan that is tailored to meet your specific goals.  There are several factors that go into how well your goals can be achieved and an in-office consultation is best.  Then, choose the surgeon that you feel most comfortable with and whose results reflect positively.  Best wishes!

This is a great question and something that I deal with on a daily basis. First, you will want to articulate exactly what you're looking for. Even if you need to write down a list, do it in order to ensure that all of your desires are expressed during the consultation. Second, your surgeon's role is to tell you what is and what isn't possible and to prevent you from choosing a result that will look artificial or not fit the rest of your features. Third, video imaging or computer simulation is the final step where your surgeon simulates the goal result and you provide feedback to modify that image as needed. At the conclusion of these three steps you should feel very comfortable with the surgical plan. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for your post. If you take photos of other noses that you like to your consultation, it help explain to your surgeon what you are looking for with your surgical result. The surgeon will also be able to tell you if these noses are realistically achievable based on your individual anatomy.I recommend finding a surgeon who also performs computer imaging using your photos to provide you an idea of what to expect from surgery. Good luck!

Hello-I am unable to find any pictures attached to your post, but in general, the more specific you can be with your rhinoplasty surgeon the better.  If you can comment on details on exact areas of the nose (eg the tip, the dorsum, the base) and communicate these with your surgeon, you can align your goals with surgery and achieve an excellent result.  Realself is an excellent resource to learn some terminology.  Also, Dr. Becker in New Jersey has an online book called the Rhinoplasty Dissection Manual (search "rhinoplasty dissection manual becker" in google and it comes up first).  I recommend you familiarize yourself with some of the anatomical terms, as it makes communication with your surgeon that much easier.Best wishes!

Without the photos available it is difficult to precisely answer your question. What I can tell you is that you should sit with your prospective surgeon. Oftentimes they can either 1) morph your own photos to show you what realistic outcomes of surgery should be or 2) show you photos of their patients that may have similar issues to you to see how their results look. A combination of both is ideal but I can't emphasize enough how important it is to use your own face as what matters is how the nose will look on you.

A rhinoplasty is one of those procedures where a picture is truly worth 1000 words. Showing the physician pictures of nose you like the  look of can be helpful. Also a number of physicians may offer imaging where they can take a picture of your nose, put it on the computer and they show you ways in which the nose could potentially be changed to meet your goals. Keep in mind that everyone's nose is different and results may differ. Be sure to see a physician with a large experience with rhinoplasty who offers imaging.

 A closed rhinoplasty approach can accomplish shaving down the bony and cartilaginous hump, along with osteotomies   to straighten the nasal bones. Sometimes a spreader graft composed of the patient's own cartilage is also required to straighten a  concave upper lateral cartilage in the mid-portion of the nose. For many examples  and more information, please see the video and the link below