What if You DON'T Like the Doctor's Morphs..Deal Breaker?

Your question highlights exactly why pre-op computer morphing/imaging is so important with rhinoplasty--to assure that you and your surgeon are communicating the same ideas about what your nose should look like. It's also helpful to show patients the limitations on what can be done with rhinoplasty (and especially revision rhinoplasty).

If you don't like the morphs, the best option is to see if the surgeon can re-morph your pictures to something more in line with what you have in mind. Keep in mind that it's quite possible that the morph you've been shown is the best that that surgeon thinks is achieveable given your anatomy and prior surgical history.

Remember, though, that the morphs are merely an approximation or goal of what might be possible. It's not like ordering from a catalog where the final product will be exactly like the pictures.

Why some surgeons are opposed to imaging is beyond me. Why would they not want better communication with a patient?

All the best,

--DCP

Pearson Facial Plastic Surgery®
 

     In general, there should be some communication about the goals for your rhinoplasty.  You may not be able to realistically achieve your goals, but the surgeon should be able to tell you why or why not.  Both of you need to be on the same page about goals.  The computer imaging has nothing to do with surgical execution and precision.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for the great question. This brings up an important point about computer imaging -- it is a tool used in conversation, to help patients and surgeons identify the issues at hand and the desired solutions and aesthetics. The biology of the nose makes achieving an exact copy of the "morph" quite difficult (and rare). However, it gives a direction to go in.  Lastly, not all surgeons are facile with the computer technology and software. This doesn't mean that they will not have surgical skills. The key question is: in our conversation, did the surgeon identify what I want for my nose? Do I feel comfortable with this surgeon as my doctor?