Is it normal that when I call a clinic I’m asked to bring pictures of the results I would like to have?

It's common for your surgeon to ask you to bring in some photos of noses that you like. This gives us a better idea of the shape you are interested in having. We use them as a guide. Most plastic surgeons also do simulations during the consultation. This will also be a very helpful tool. On the other hand, everyone has different bone, and cartilage structures and skin thickness. Therefore, it's impossible to match your nose 100% to the pictures you select. Good luck with your surgery.

As a board certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience with rhinoplasty surgery, I very often ask patients to bring photos they like. Over the years, I have found that discussing patients’ “wish” pictures is a very efficient way of understanding their aesthetic. Patients do not need to possess an expert medical vocabulary or even be versed in basic anatomical terminology; they can simply show me noses that they like and dislike, and I then understand their goals. Even if you are not sure if a specific nose would look good on you, discussing it with a surgeon gives him or her something concrete, a starting point. In my office, it is not mandatory, but it can be exceptionally helpful. Another method of securing a solid understanding is to review before-and-after photos of patients. Most important of all, however, is that the consultation is thorough, that the surgeon listens to what YOU want, that all of your questions are answered, and that you feel good in your gut about entrusting the doctor with your surgical case.

Bringing pictures to a consultation: A consultation should focus on your nose what you don’t like about your nose, and what changes could be made to your nose to bring it in line with your liking. A Rhinoplasty cannot be performed to “dial in“ a specific end result. Each patient will get a result which depends largely on what they have to start with. Your surgeon may request you to bring in photos merely to get an idea of what your taste in noses is. Broadly speaking some patients prefer a fuller sized or “natural“ looking nose while others may prefer a “cute“ smaller, slightly less natural looking nose. Your taste could be communicated verbally by discussing your own nose, or by bringing pictures of noses you like, or by looking at pictures of cases that your surgeon has done to see which you like and which you do not. Once again however the purpose is not to “choose and dial-in“ a particular result but to communicate your overall taste and goals .