To determine candidacy for a procedure such as rhinoplasty, the first step should be schedule a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon. The surgeon will assess the patient’s condition of the nose and face, skin quality, medical history, personal cosmetic goals, and emotional preparedness to undergo rhinoplasty.

Dr. V is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing rhinoplasty and various other procedures for the face, breast and body to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations.

Optimal Candidates

Most of the candidates who seek nose reshaping surgery are unhappy with the appearance of their nose and want to improve the harmony of their facial features. A smaller number of rhinoplasty candidates are individuals who suffer from breathing obstructions or discomfort due to previous nose injuries or structural abnormalities.

The optimal candidate for nose surgery will be an adult in suitable general health, having clear aesthetic goals and realistic expectations, and recognizing the potential risks and complications associated with rhinoplasty. Such candidates will also be fully committed to following the surgeon’s instructions from pre-operative consultation to post-operative recovery.

Common Concerns

A fine candidate for rhinoplasty may have one or more of the following concerns about their nose:

• The nose appears oversized or too small in relation to other facial features
• The nose bridge has a conspicuous bump
• The base of the nose is too wide
• The nasal tip is enlarged, drooping or protruding
• The tip is bulbous
• The nostrils are pinched, flared or large
• The nose is crooked looking or off-center
• The nose has lost symmetry following an injury
• Breathing difficulties due to structural anomalies of the nose

Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

Teen Candidates

One of the most popular cosmetic surgeries among teens is rhinoplasty. But not every teen may be a suitable candidate for this procedure. The surgeon and the teenage patient should carefully consider whether or not rhinoplasty is an appropriate cosmetic surgery option. The surgeon should ensure that the decision to receive nose surgery is the teen patient’s own choice, rather than an outcome of parental or peer pressure.

Most surgeons recommend that girls should wait until the age of 14 or 15, and boys should wait another few years before they decide to undergo rhinoplasty. Irrespective of the reason for rhinoplasty, it is critical to ensure that the nose has developed completely before the surgery is performed.

Key Goals with Rhinoplasty

A candidate may seek to improve the size, shape, and overall appearance of the nose with rhinoplasty. Sometimes the cosmetic surgeon may recommend chin augmentation surgery along with rhinoplasty to achieve proper facial balance. A righteous and ideal candidate should also recognize that minimal scarring may occur if rhinoplasty is performed as an open procedure. They should carefully weigh the aesthetic benefits against the downsides of the surgery.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Ashburn, Reston, Chantilly, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other surrounding Virginia and Washington DC areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/

Nasal reconstruction may be required to correct major defects of the nose, which could have occurred by birth or by injury to the nose. The surgeon will use the uninjured side of the nose as a guide to rebuild the nose. The procedure can restore both functional and aesthetic aspects of the nose.

Nasal reconstruction should only be performed by a fully trained and experienced surgeon. Dr. V is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing nasal reconstruction to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations.

Surgical Options in Nasal Reconstruction

Depending on the patient’s condition and their aesthetic needs, the surgeon will choose an appropriate nasal reconstruction technique.

Simple Suture Closure

If the nasal defects are minor or less than 4 to 5 mm, and limited only to the upper nose area, a simple suture closure technique may be used. Only a small amount of extra skin is available on the nose, which limits the size of the defects that can be sutured and closed. If larger defects are closed with limited skin, it can distort the remaining tip or nostrils.

Secondary Intention Healing

Secondary healing is used for small defects on the concave or flat surfaces of the nose. The surgeon will avoid this treatment approach near the convex tip or alar rim in order to prevent distortion of the nasal tip or nostril margins by scar contraction or the creation of a chopped off or blunted tip appearance.

Skin Grafts

Skin grafts are typically used for small, superficial defects of the nose. A skin graft is a piece of skin that is initially without blood supply, but when placed upon a vascular bed, it gradually begins to revascularize. For nasal reconstruction, the surgeon may take skin grafts from the front or behind of the ear or from the neck.

The usefulness of the graft will be determined by the size, depth and location of the nasal defect. The restoration may appear less than normal, but it can be an effective solution in various nasal reconstruction cases.

Local Flaps

Unlike skin grafts, local flaps provide a more natural looking color and texture. However, they do not add skin to the nose, but simply share remaining skin around the nose. It is important to use local flaps cautiously to avoid distortion of the nasal tip or nostril margin because of the limited availability of excess nasal skin. Local flap technique is best applied when the defect is superficial and less than 15 mm in size.

Regional Flaps

In regional flap technique, the surgeon will move excess tissue from facial areas adjacent to the nose, such as the nasolabial fold or from the forehead. Larger or more complex nasal repairs can be performed with this technique, depending on the size, shape, depth and location of the wound. The procedure appears more complicated, but often creates more sustainable and effective outcomes.

Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for nasal reconstruction surgery.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Ashburn, Reston, Chantilly, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other surrounding Virginia and Washington DC areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/

Septoplasty is a procedure involving the functional reconstruction of the nasal airway passage. The goal of the procedure is to improve the airflow in patients who are suffering from nasal airway obstruction.

Board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) provides septoplasty to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations.

Causes and Symptoms

Nasal airway obstruction can occur due to a variety of causes. One of the common causes of this condition is a deviated nasal septum. This occurs when the cartilage that separates the nostrils is malpositioned. This condition can cause breathing difficulties through the nose as well as pain and nosebleeds.

Some people may have a deviated septum by birth, while some others may develop it following an injury to the nose. In most cases of deviated septum, one nasal passage will be significantly smaller than the other, which can create breathing problems.

Corrective Procedure

Septoplasty surgery is primarily the only way to correct a deviated septum and remove breathing obstructions. The key goal of septoplasty procedure is to correct the alignment of the septum and improve the airflow. It is typically performed as an outpatient surgery using general or local anesthesia. The entire procedure can be completed in about 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of a case.

In a typical septoplasty procedure, the surgeon will begin by making an incision on one side of the nose to access the septum. Through the incision, the surgeon will lift up the mucous membrane, which covers and protects the septum. Then the deviated septum will be moved to its appropriate position. The surgeon will also remove any barriers, such as extra pieces of cartilage and bone, at this point.

Finally, the surgeon will reposition the mucous membrane. Sometimes stitches may be required to hold the septum and the membrane in their correct position. But in other cases, packing the nose with cotton may be enough to maintain their position. Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for septoplasty.

Recovery

Once the effect of anesthesia wears off, the patient will feel mild pain and soreness in the incision areas, which can be managed with pain medications. Swelling will be more pronounced in the first week, and the nose will be packed with cotton to control bleeding. The packing may be removed in a day or two.

Vigorous activities should be avoided for two to four weeks following the surgery. These activities can increase blood pressure and put the patient at the risk of excess bleeding. The patient should keep the head elevated at night for a few days in order to resolve swelling faster. They should avoid blowing the nose for at least three days after surgery.

Insurance Aspect

In many cases, septoplasty costs may be covered under the patient’s health plan. Sometimes the surgeon may have to provide a letter addressed to the insurer in order to obtain approval.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Ashburn, Reston, Chantilly, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other surrounding Virginia and Washington DC areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/

Rhinoplasty procedure is usually completed in about two hours, but the total journey from surgical preparation to post-operative recovery will require a significant time commitment from the patient. Recovery can be smooth and swift if the patient follows the surgeon’s instructions diligently.

The surgeon will explain various aspects of recovery during the initial consultation. Board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen provides rhinoplasty to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations.

How to Prepare for Recovery

Advance preparation will make the recovery easier. The patient should have someone to drive them home after the rhinoplasty procedure is over. For the first 24 to 48 hours, the patient should ideally have a family member, friend or a professional nurse to help with certain chores at home. Working people should apply for a leave of about one week well in time so that they can adequately rest at home during the initial recovery stage.

Before the patient leaves for home after the surgery, the medical staff will provide them with detailed post-operative care instructions. These instructions should be followed carefully in order to minimize discomfort, reduce the risk of complications, and expedite the recovery.

The patient should be prepared to follow a diet rich in lean proteins in the post-op recovery phase, and should stay sufficiently hydrated. Ice packs should be arranged in advance or cold compresses should be performed in the first two to three days to reduce swelling.

Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

Initial Recovery Phase

Mild pain, irritation, bruising, swelling, nosebleeds, and headaches are expected in the first two to three days. The patient should avoid blowing the nose during this early phase. In the first 24 hours, the head should be rested in an elevated position as far as possible.

Mild walks at home can begin from the second day, but heavy lifting of weights and strenuous activities should be avoided for about two to three weeks. The surgeon will most likely prescribe pain medications and antibiotics for the first three to five days to keep the patient comfortable and minimize the risk of infection.

Recovery in the Following Weeks

The first follow up appointment with the plastic surgeon will usually be scheduled at the end of the first week. At this time, the surgeon may remove the sutures as well as the splint of nasal packing, if any. In the week following the surgery, bruising would begin subsiding rapidly, but swelling would reduce gradually over several weeks and months.

Most patients will be in a position to go back to work or resume a more normal routine at home in about one to two weeks after surgery. While most of the side effects experienced after rhinoplasty will disappear in about two weeks, the patient should continue to follow the surgeon’s instructions about refraining from smoking and avoiding strenuous exercises until healing is completed.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Ashburn, Reston, Chantilly, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other surrounding Virginia and Washington DC areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/