Face
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose to complement your features — not overpower them.
Overview
The nose sits at the center of the face. Even small changes can significantly impact overall appearance. Rhinoplasty can reduce size, refine the tip, correct asymmetry, narrow the nostrils, or improve breathing — all while maintaining a natural look.
Who it's for
The right candidate.
- Patients who want to change the size or shape of their nose
- Those seeking to correct asymmetry or breathing issues
- Patients with prominent or misshapen ears
Technique
How it's done.
Types of Rhinoplasty
Reshaping the nose involves many fine details, including determining the ideal nose size to suit the patient's anatomy, addressing any breathing issues and/or birth defects, and refining the nasal bones and tip.
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We use a meticulous technique to chisel a new shape, remove any hump or bulbous tip, and reshape the patient's cartilage. Sometimes a patient may want rhinoplasty to get a higher or larger nose bridge, in which case we can add height to the nose by grafting cartilage from the ear or rib.
Open Rhinoplasty
Open rhinoplasty involves an incision at the base of the columella, which is the strip of tissue between the nostrils. This allows the surgeon to directly see the cartilage, allowing for more exact results and refinement. We specialize in cartilage grafting and meticulous removal of excess tissue during a nose job. Since cartilage is contoured differently in each patient's nose, we reshape structures as needed with a cartilage graft from the inside of the nose to create a more symmetrical shape and profile. Open rhinoplasty is ideal for addressing a deviated septum, improving breathing, addressing a larger area, such as the nasal bridge, and revision rhinoplasty procedures.
Closed Rhinoplasty
Closed rhinoplasty, also known as “scarless rhinoplasty,” does not involve external incisions. All the work is performed inside the nostrils. This method is ideal for minor tip refinement and bone changes. Because it is less invasive, it can sometimes be performed under local anesthesia and patients may have a quicker recovery.
Revision Rhinoplasty
Patients who have previously undergone one or more rhinoplasty procedures and are unhappy with their cosmetic or functional result may require revision rhinoplasty.
What to expect
From consultation to recovery.
Before Surgery
- Consultation — Discuss goals; imaging may be used to preview results.
- Surgical plan — Determine approach (open vs. closed rhinoplasty).
During Surgery
- Incisions — Closed rhinoplasty has no visible scars; open uses a small incision under the nose.
- Reshaping — Bone and cartilage adjusted to achieve desired shape.
After Surgery
- Splint — Worn for about a week.
- Swelling — Resolves gradually over several months; final result at 1 year.
“I had an incredible experience with Dr. Cassileth and her team! Everything was easy and comfortable from the very beginning - Dr. C answered all my questions and explained all the options available to me in detail, including the pros and cons of each possible approach. My results are everything I’ve dreamed of and more, and Dr. C and her team were with me every step of the way to make sure I was happy, comfortable, and knew what to expect during each stage. I honestly cannot recommend Dr. Cassileth enough! You couldn’t possibly go wrong if you choose her, she really is the best of the best".”
— Abbey L. via Google My Business
Patient results
Real cases.
Insurance
Read about coverage & financing →Rhinoplasty for breathing issues may be partially covered. Cosmetic rhinoplasty is not covered.
FAQ
Common questions.
Will my nose be broken during surgery?
Whether any bone breaking is necessary depends on a range of unique factors, including the pre-surgery anatomy of the nose, as well as the ultimate size and shape the patient wants to achieve. More precisely, if a patient has a dorsal hump (a bulge on the nasal bridge), the bones will need to be broken during a nose job to achieve correction.
Will I have packing in my nose after surgery?
With our advanced rhinoplasty techniques, patients generally do not need to have packing in their nose after surgery; however we may place soft splints to keep the septum straight. In the cases where packing is required, it is usually only in place overnight.
Will I have scars after rhinoplasty?
Whether or not you will have scars after rhinoplasty depends on the type of rhinoplasty procedure you have. While traditional rhinoplasty involves a trans-columellar incision (between the nostrils), we do everything we can to hide this hairline scar in the natural fold of skin where the columella (cartilage and skin between the nostrils) meets the maxilla (top of the upper lip). Because a closed rhinoplasty requires no external incisions, there is no visible scarring associated with this surgical approach.
Will people be able to tell I’ve had rhinoplasty?
No, a well-performed rhinoplasty should be virtually impossible to detect. While people who know you pre- and post-rhinoplasty may notice a change to your appearance, we strive to maintain harmony within your existing facial features and give each patient a new nose that provides balance and beauty to their face without being obviously “done”.
How soon will I see results?
If a nose job involves significant change, such as a hump removal, patients can see results as soon as their cast comes off. For procedures focused more on refinement, such as correcting a bulbous tip, final results may take longer to develop. This is because refinements can sometimes involve a matter of millimeters, making them noticeable only after any swelling subsides. For traditional rhinoplasty procedures, you can generally expect that all swelling will have completely dissipated one year after surgery.
Can a rhinoplasty be combined with other procedures?
Harmony and balance are very important to facial aesthetics, which is why Cassileth Plastic Surgery offers procedures to address cosmetic issues with a range of prominent facial features beyond the nose. Facial plastic surgery procedures including
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, and
and reduction are available, as is facial fat grafting to restore volume where desired,
to correct sagging eyelids, and
to lift the forehead.
Related reading
From the journal.
Sources
Cited research.
- 1ASPS. 2020 Plastic Surgery Statistics. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/plastic-surgery-statistics. plasticsurgery.org · Accessed May 29,2024
- 2Harvard Health Publishing. Thinking about rhinoplasty? Available: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/thinking-about-rhinoplasty-2019030616112. health.harvard.edu · Accessed May 29,2024
- 3ASPS. Two types of rhinoplasty explained – cosmetic vs functional. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/two-types-of-rhinoplasty-explained-cosmetic-vs-functional. plasticsurgery.org · Accessed May 29,2024
- 4Mayo Clinic. Rhinoplasty. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/rhinoplasty/about/pac-20384532. mayoclinic.org · Accessed May 29,2024
- 5ASPS. What are the steps of a rhinoplasty procedure? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/rhinoplasty/procedure. plasticsurgery.org · Accessed May 29,2024
- 6ASPS. Rhinoplasty. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/rhinoplasty/candidates. plasticsurgery.org · Accessed May 29,2024
Ready to discuss rhinoplasty?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Cassileth and her team to explore your options.
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