A nose job or as they call it in aesthetic medicine lingo –Rhinoplasty- is one of the most popular sought-after cosmetic procedures according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
According to Dr Kamal Sawan, an American Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who is based at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery clinic in Dubai, a rhinoplasty is a procedure which sculpts the shape of the nose externally for aesthetic purposes or internally to help with breathing problems. He says that the goal is to essentially give the patient a natural look to the nose which perfectly balances the patient’s face.
‘Some individuals are not happy with the shape of the nose they were born with and others simply desire to improve changes on their nose which were caused by injury or aging. A rhinoplasty procedure can help in improving the mentioned issues, leaving you with your desired facial appearance and self-confidence’, says Dr Kamal.
Since we wanted to delve deeper into this really popular surgery, we decided to ask Dr Kamal some more questions about it as he has performed hundreds of rhinoplasty procedures and is an expert in this field.
What is the best age to have a Rhinoplasty and who is the ideal candidate?
A rhinoplasty can be performed at any age although we tend to wait until the nose has fully grown and that is when someone is around 15 years of age and above. Patients for rhinoplasty in Dubai are typically 18 or above, as this is the adult age where a patient can give their own consent. At this age the patient fully understands the implications, risks and purpose of the surgery.
An ideal candidate for rhinoplasty is someone who has emotional maturity and also has realistic expectations. A patient might seek rhinoplasty if he or she is experiencing one or more of the following;
- Nasal width refers to a nose that is too wide or too narrow.
- Dorsal hump. This is a bump at the bridge of the nose.
- Asymmetry. A nose that is deviated or twisted.
- Drooping nasal tip. This is when the angle between the upper lip and lower nose is less than 90 degrees.
- Prominent nasal tip. A nasal tip that is bulbous, round, fatty or disproportionate to the rest of the face.
- Post traumatic deformities. Nasal injuries resulting in shape aberrations.
- Nasal airway problems. Septal deviation and internal valve collapse.
What is unique about rhinoplasty?
The marriage between the form and the function is one of the things that make rhinoplasty unique. It requires a detailed understanding of not only the anatomy and aesthetics on the outside of the nose but also how breathing works. For my patients I have to ensure that the breathing is as good as it was before the surgery or better. As for patients who seek rhinoplasty surgery for better breathing, I normally devise a strategy that simultaneously improves their breathing while at the same time makes their noses more attractive.
Often people say that rhinoplasty is a complex surgery and they are right to a certain degree. This is because we are treating a functioning organ which is in a 3 dimensional anatomy. The complexity of mastering a rhinoplasty procedure is significant as it takes 7 years or more just to master 70% of the procedure. But thanks to technology the techniques have evolved for the better therefore eliminating much of the risk and the creation of an unnatural result. I personally try to deliver results which will make the patient happy and satisfied with the work done.
What should a good rhinoplasty look like?
After a rhinoplasty procedure the nose should fit into the patient’s face. This means it has to blend harmoniously into the patient’s facial features and look like it has always been there. In simpler terms, the results should be natural looking. One of the ways I use to achieve this is by the use of computer imaging during the consultation. That is 2 dimensional and imaging whereby it is like doing the procedure before the actual procedure. This helps in making sure that the proportions of the nose after the surgery match the face. However, the patient should be realistic and understand that there is no such thing such as a ‘perfect nose’. The surgery is normally done to the best of the aesthetics abilities.
What is the recovery from a rhinoplasty like?
Many people think that since rhinoplasty is a complex surgery, the recovery might be long and painful. This is compounded by the fact of how it used to be decades back. However since the techniques being used nowadays are different and better from the ones used before, they not only help in achieving great results but minimize recovery time as well. Pain is also not a big issue because of the kind of medication used during and after the procedure. Most patients resume work or school a week after the procedure which is the recommended recovery period. Also, thanks to modern techniques, bruising is normally not visible. It is important to note that although patients can resume social activities within a week after the procedure, it actually takes a year to 2 years for the nose to completely heal because of the remodelling of the soft tissue and the entire swelling to go down.
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If you have more questions about rhinoplasty contact us at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery Dubai and we will be happy to answer them. If you are interested in discussing your personal preferences and aspirations with Dr Kamal Sawan himself, you can book a consultation with him at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery Dubai.
