Patients considering rhinoplasty are often concerned with what the final result will look like. “Does my surgeon understand what I want?” or “Am I being realistic?” are common question from rhinoplasty patients. Of all facial cosmetic procedures, rhinoplasty is the most difficult for surgeons to effectively communicate expected results to their patients.

Video imaging has helped all of that. Using specialized software, surgeons can use a patient’s image and create an expected post surgery result. Side views, which patients do not often fully appreciate, can be viewed. Side by side before and after comparisons can be viewed by both the surgeon and the patients. This allows the surgeon to portray his expected outcome. It also allows the patient to make sure that their surgeon is on the same page as they are. All of this leads to a tremendous improvement in communication.

Video imaging does have limitations. As I tell all of my patients, video imaging is a goal and not a guarantee. It represents what both the patient and the surgeon would like to see. Other factors, such as anatomy encountered at surgery and post operating healing, cannot be predicted. And while the post operative results are often very close, they are rarely exactly the same as the video imaging.

Video imaging has greatly improved patient-doctor communication with rhinoplasty. With proper understanding of its limitations, patients can now have a better understanding of what rhinoplasty can do for them.

Posted by Mark M. Hamilton M.D. FACS

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Question:
How long is a typical chin implant surgery? What is the implant made of?

Answer:
Chin augmentation typically takes around an hour or less to perform. There are a wide variety of materials that can be used for chin augmentation including mersilene mesh, silicone, medpore and Gortex. My personal choice is typically mersilene mesh. It a made from a nylon mesh material that can be individually contoured to each patient’s needs. The material is soft and pliable providing a natural result that patients appreciate the implant can’t be felt once completely healed. The body’s tissue grow into the implant over time allowing further integration.

The first step to seeing if chin augmentation is right for you and which implant would be best is to set up a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Posted by Mark M. Hamilton M.D. FACS

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Question:
The tip of my nose is too round. Can this be corrected with rhinoplasty?

Answer:
Patients often feel the tip of their nose is too large or round. This can be corrected during rhinoplasty with a variety of techniques. Cartilage removal techniques can decrease the size of the lower nasal cartilages decreasing the size of the nasal tip. Suturing techniques can be used to narrow and refine the nasal cartilages as well. With healing, these sutures provide a permanent change in the appearance of the nasal tip. Patients with thicker skin may require more aggressive cartilage cutting techniques to get the definition they want. Your nasal surgeon will have other techniques as well to give more definition to the nasal tip.

Video imaging can be used to visualize what your nose would look like after surgery. This can be used to make sure you and your surgeon are on the same page with goals for the appearance of your nasal tip and nose.

Rhinoplasty can improve the appearance of the nasal tip. Finding out which techniques are right for you starts with a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Posted by Mark M. Hamilton M.D. FACS

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Question:
In what ways is septoplasty different from rhinoplasty? 

Answer:
A septoplasty is a procedure to straighten the septum inside the nose, correction of this often improves airflow allowing patients to breathe easier.
Rhinoplasty is surgery to alter the outside structure of the nose. It is usually done to improve the aesthetic appearance of the nose, but can also be done to improve breathing. Deciding which or if possibly both procedures are right for you begins with a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Posted by Mark M. Hamilton M.D. FACS

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Question:
Is microdermabrasion similar to sandblasting? What is used for the “sand”? Does this treatment provide any long lasting effects?

Answer:
Microdermabrasion treatments provide a smoothing effect to the skin similar to an object that has been sandblasted. Some Microdermabrasion treatment machines utilize aluminum oxide crystals that are abrasive feeling like “sand” across your skin. We use the Diamond-Tome Microdermabrasion machine that utilizes diamond-tipped wands instead of aluminum oxide crystals. This method is actually less messy. Microdermabrasion treatments do provide long lasting effects with regular routine maintenance.

Posted by Mark M. Hamilton M.D. FACS

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