What can be done about a bulbous Asian nose?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: Quite tired with the way my bulbous nose looks. Probably a complaint so common it sounds cliché. I know that surgery can do little to actually shape the thickness of my fat alar, so what is possible? My nose bridge tapers from nonexistent to large and amorphous, what can and should be done about that? What is realistic for my face? I’m okay with expending ‘ethnic identity’ and don’t want a mere reduction in size. Would like a new shape.

A: Reshaping the nose during Asian rhinoplasty does require a great deal of technical expertise, but is something that is done frequently by a rhinoplasty specialist experienced with Asian noses.  You can achieve the changes you seek by using grafts from your own body (rib cartilage, fascia) to augment your bridge, refine your tip, and reduce the size of your ala.

Posted in Asian rhinoplasty, rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Upturned nose Asian Rhinoplasty. Do I need revision?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: It’s one month since I got open rhinoplasty in Jakarta, but I am living in Europe. My surgeon put I-shaped implant with ear cartilage for the tip. He also changed the shape of my nostrils. He works gentle and most of his patients have good results. But I now have uneven nostrils, hanging ala, the bridge is like ski slope, and frontal view also makes me unhappy and uncomfortable. I am thinking of having a revision.

A: Early in the recovery period after Asian rhinoplasty the tip of the nose will be rotated up slightly more than the position it will be after full healing.  This is largely due to swelling in the nose after surgery.  You can expect your tip to lower slightly.  Whether that amount is satisfactory to you or not, only time will tell.  Give your nose 3-6 months for the majority of the swelling to resolve.  If you can see that the shape is not heading in the direction you like then you can consider a revision in the 9-12 month post-operative period.

Posted in Asian rhinoplasty, Revision rhinoplasty, rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How long should an out of town patient stay in the area after rhinoplasty with rib grafting?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: I am a 19-year-old Asian female from Singapore. I want to fly to CA to have rhinoplasty with rib grafting since I have thick skin and a flat nose. How long should I stay in the area after the procedure? I really worry about graft infection and absorption due to thick and oily skin. Also, is the infection rate a constant as long as I have the grafts in my nose? Or the rate is the highest during the first couple of months and decrease to almost 0 after I fully healed? Thank you!

A: Surgeons will vary on their preference, but for my out of town/out of country patients my preference is a 2 week stay in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles.  The highest risk of infection is between 1-2 weeks after surgery while the nose is early in its healing stages.  Sutures and a cast will be on your nose for a week, but the incision lines are still a little raw until 2 weeks after surgery.

2 weeks after surgery the incision lines will be nearly healed, and makeup can be applied to the nose.  This is the point that most patients feel comfortable going back to their daily routine.  With autologous grafts (rib grafts) the risk of infection is exceedingly low, and after the nose is healed there is no increased risk of infection over your natural nose.

Posted in Asian rhinoplasty, Healing/Recovery, rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are the nose reshaper products effective or not?

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: My nose is curve. Please tell me if the nose reshaper products are effective or not?

A: The nose reshaper products on the market are ineffective at best, and hazard to the safety of your nose at worst.  The best way to reshape your nose safely is with nonsurgical or surgical rhinoplasty with a rhinoplasty specialist.

Posted in Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can I add more filler to my nose?

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: Hi! 3 days ago I had filler injected to my nose to make my nose straight and hide the bump. He injected filler into two areas (top and bottom of my nose) and I loved the result but now 3 days later the bump is coming back!!! What can I do? When can I add a little more filler and why have the results changed? Please help!

A: After nonsurgical rhinoplasty there is always a period of initial swelling (typically 3-4 days) followed by resolution of the swelling.  Once the filler has had a chance to fully “settle” (~2 weeks) this is an appropriate time to go for a touch-up if necessary.

Posted in Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My nose tip is very round. Is there any way that I can change my shape without surgery?

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: I have never been happy with my nose. I think it’s too big, round and undefined. I am still a teenager. Is there any way that I can change my shape without surgery, or will it change as I grow older? How long should I wait? And if I get surgery, what kind of rhinoplasty and what will it cost?

A: Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is an excellent option for dorsal augmentation in a temporary fashion.  Also in patients with medium to thin skin, it is possible to have a moderate degree of refinement created in the tip of the nose.  However, for patients with very thick skin, the result will be very limited as the filler will not be thick enough to show definition through the skin.

Posted in Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Which is better: non-surgical or surgical?

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: My nose is wide and thick with big holes. It looks ugly. Please suggest which one to go with surgical or non-surgical nose reshape. I want permanent solution and that should add-on look and boost my lost confidence.

A: For patients ok with a temporary change, nonsurgical rhinoplasty can be a nice way for patients to improve the shape of their nose without surgery.  However, for the most significant improvement and for a permanent change, surgical rhinoplasty is the best option.

Posted in Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty, rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should I get a nose filler?

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: I have a hump on my nose and it is because the skin above it is very flat. When I make the skin above the bump bigger it camouflages it. Should I get a non- surgical nose job? And how much would it cost?

A: Based on your description it does sound that your profile can be made straighter and the appearance of your nose improved with nonsurgical rhinoplasty.  In-person evaluation with a rhinoplasty specialist experienced in nonsurgical rhinoplasty will give you the best nonsurgical vs. surgical options to improve the appearance of your nose.

Posted in Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is there any way to make my nose straight permanently without surgery?

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: Is there any way to make my nose straight permanently without surgery? The top of my nose is curved, is there any way to make it flat without surgery?

A: The safest way to permanently straighten your nose is with surgery.  I highly advise against using any permanent filler in the nose as it can create issues as you age.

With nonsurgical rhinoplasty using Restylane or Juvederm Voluma it is certainly possible to create a straighter profile in a safe, predictable manner.  However it is temporary.

Posted in Nonsurgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is fascia needed for thick skin?

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Donald B. Yoo, M.D.

Q: My nose skin is very thick (southeast asian), is fascia still needed? What about DCF?

A: While surgeons will vary on technique, I personally prefer to use fascia in a diced cartilage fascia (DCF) technique whenever dorsal augmentation (building the height of the bridge) is needed.  I find that this allows for precise shaping and placement of the graft.

Posted in Asian rhinoplasty, rhinoplasty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment