Q: I’m 14 years old and I’m Asian. I understand Asians have pretty flat noses. I was wondering if our nose bridges grow taller or if they stays the same.
A: Your nose may change in appearance if you have not yet reached your full height. However, if you have already had your major growth spurt than it is unlikely to change significantly moving forward.
Q: I had a rhinoplasty (narrowed tip, increased projection with ear cartilage), but am still a bit unhappy about the bulkiness of my nose. I have super thick skin, so I was wondering if it was even possible to be able to achieve definition between the nasal tip and the wings of my nose? I’m not sure if it makes sense, but my nose looks quite defined in the dark, but otherwise can look extremely thick and wide in normal light.
A: Especially when seeking maximal tip refinement during Asian rhinoplasty in patients with thick skin, sometimes additional structural support is needed to achieve the projection and definition necessary to get the most refinement.
It would be possible to achieve further refinement with rib cartilage as opposed to the septal cartilage and ear cartilage, which was used for your primary surgery. Your nose will continue to change as it heals, so it is important to allow full healing before considering revision surgery.
Q: My nostrils are big and the annoying thing is they get bigger when I talk or laugh. If this is my biggest issue – can I fix it without putting a filler to my nose – It is great to have a taller nose, but it is not my priority. Also, if I can get my nostrils smaller – later on, If I want to lift up my nose, will it still be possible?Thanks.
A: Projecting the tip of your nose (making your tip taller) will reduce the flare of your nostrils but not significantly reduce the width. Alar base reduction using incisions around your nostrils will be necessary to significantly reduce both the width and the flare of your nostrils.
Q: I had a stroke last year in Jan (I’m 40 now) & have been on Plavix ever since. I know it’s very risky for people to have any operation whilst on Plavix. Then 2 months ago, I had my gall bladder removed & only the snr surgeon would operate (another wouldn’t touch the operation due to me being on Plavix). During my surgery I needed a blood transfusion and I also needed to be in hosp. for a week and half rather than just overnight due to the excessive bleeding. So can you please give me advice on this?
A: It’s difficult to recommend elective cosmetic surgery when you are on long-term anticoagulation that probably should not be discontinued. While the risk of bleeding for rhinoplasty and buccal fat removal is not likely to put your health in jeopardy, the increased bleeding is likely to adversely affect your results.
You may consider looking into other options with a much lower chance of bleeding complications to improve your appearance (i.e. Botox/fillers/lasers).
Q: I’m seventeen years old & had rhinoplasty done two weeks ago. My doctor took a bump off my nose since my nose was broken for eleven years & I had breathing problems. I have dissolvable stitches on the inside of my nose & on the right side of my head just above my right ear. My doctor said I’m healthy but I’ve been craving to have a cigarette for a long time now. So is it alright for me to have a cigarette a day or once every now & then since it’s been two weeks after having my rhinoplasty done?
A: After rhinoplasty, the blood supply and lymphatics of your nose is very sensitive and can easily be compromised. Smoking and nicotine will hurt the blood supply and circulation of your nose, which can result in poor healing. Touch base with your surgeon about when is a safe time to resume smoking. I typically instruct my patients to wait 6 weeks after surgery.
Q: I had an open rhinoplasty 14 months ago. I have a terrible scar. (I have no history of bad scarring and usually heal well). My nose has various other issues as well, and I plan on having a revision in two months with a different surgeon. I was wondering if this scar can be revised during surgery, or if it will only become worse with a revision surgery since the doc has to use my old scar? I plan on asking my surgeon this as well, obviously, but I just wanted other opinions. Thank you! 🙂
A: During your revision rhinoplasty your surgeon can perform a scar revision by excising the old scar. With a meticulous, tension-free closure the appearance of the scar should improve.
Q: It’s been 8 months since I got my nose done in Korea, but this morning I cleaned my nostrils with a Q-tip and these 2 plastic pieces fell out from my nose. I’m really freaked out because I don’t know what it is. Please help
A: The best course of action is to touch base with your surgeon to determine how best to care for your nose. Another option would be to seek in-person examination from a rhinoplasty specialist to ensure your nose is healing as it should.
Q: I’m 10 days post op. I am Asian but live in another country. I had rhino and fat transfer to chin. Yesterday, splint was removed. I was shocked to see a Caucasian nose on my face. Nose tip looks like a clown’s nose, my nostrils too high (pig-like) bridge too elevated-looks like prosthetics. Does the nose tip swell terribly and is at its worst on the first 2 weeks? Will it get slimmer on week 3? Will the nostril drop? Is Asian skin more thick? Will the results start to show 3rd month despite this?
A: This early in your recovery (less than 2 weeks) it is common for the tip of the nose to look like a ball due to all of the swelling. Asian skin certainly is thicker and does swell more than other ethnicities. Your nose will continue to change in appearance, and should improve, as it continues to heal and edema resolves.
Q: Hello I am a 26 Asian male who had Rhinoplasty silicone implant done in Thailand in 2012, what is the name or term for removing it out as I now am planning to decide and remove it and be natural again, can I still do it in the country I’m at? or I would have to travel back to Thailand?
A: It is certainly possible, and maybe even advisable, to have your silicone implant removed and your nose revised elsewhere besides Thailand. Finding a rhinoplasty specialist experienced in Asian rhinoplasty will be crucial in achieving the best results. Depending on what changes were made to your nose, returning to natural may or may not be straightforward.
Q: I had an Asian rhinoplasty (not sure Gore-tex or Silicone including nasal tip) more than 15 years ago. No complications until now. About a month ago, the nose swelled up gradually like avatar including eye and subsided after 3 days. Minor swelling and tenderness still remains. I do have allergy lately and skin got better with steroid, but the nose tip is still hard and swollen. Even after massive swelling, there was no redness or exudation. Can it be allergy? If this is allergy how is it treated?
A: 15 years after surgery, the first concern for swelling in the presence of a foreign implant in the nose is infection. The best course of action is to be evaluated in-person by a rhinoplasty specialist evaluate this possibility and treat it properly.
Contact Us