I am interested in getting rhinoplasty to help refine my nasal tip among other nasal improvements. The more research I do, the more it seems my thick skin may not yield any tip refinement after surgery. I read an article online written by a plastic surgeon that stayed: "Very thick skin in the nasal tip means you should never perform a rhinoplasty. No matter what you do to the cartilage, the tip will be bigger after surgery, not smaller! Try explaining that to the patient after surgery!" Advice?
February 8, 2020
Answer: Tip refinement rhinoplasty with thick skin, is it possible? While there are some limitations of what can be achieved in patients with thicker skin, the area that concerns you can be realistically improved with an artistically performed rhinoplasty. Patients with thicker skin can get a significant improvement in the appearance of the nose but need to be realistic about the result. Keep in mind that following advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you what to do and how to do it based on limited two photos without examining you, physically feeling your tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best surgery. Natural appearing results need to be individualized and what is appropriate for one patient is not necessarily the best for someone else. I would suggest that you find a surgeon with extensive ethnic rhinoplasty experience certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and one who is ideally a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or a facial plastic surgeon (otolaryngologist) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. Robert Singer, M.D., FACS La Jolla, California
Helpful
February 8, 2020
Answer: Tip refinement rhinoplasty with thick skin, is it possible? While there are some limitations of what can be achieved in patients with thicker skin, the area that concerns you can be realistically improved with an artistically performed rhinoplasty. Patients with thicker skin can get a significant improvement in the appearance of the nose but need to be realistic about the result. Keep in mind that following advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you what to do and how to do it based on limited two photos without examining you, physically feeling your tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best surgery. Natural appearing results need to be individualized and what is appropriate for one patient is not necessarily the best for someone else. I would suggest that you find a surgeon with extensive ethnic rhinoplasty experience certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and one who is ideally a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or a facial plastic surgeon (otolaryngologist) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. Robert Singer, M.D., FACS La Jolla, California
Helpful