September 2014 - GeoffreyKeyesMD

Hump Reduction Rhinoplasty: Enhancing the Bridge of the Nose

102216925 xs - Hump Reduction Rhinoplasty: Enhancing the Bridge of the Nose | Beverly Hills | Los Angeles When it comes to improving the overall appearance of your face, it's important that you consider visiting the Keyes Surgery Center. Patients throughout Los Angeles have benefited from our expert care, which includes a special focus on rhinoplasty (nose job), a procedure that can improve the size, shape, and contour of the nose.

Rhinoplasty can be performed to address various kinds of aesthetic flaws. Right now, let's focus on bumps located on the bridge of the nose, alternatively referred to as humps and bumps.

The Aesthetic Problems of Bumps and Humps

If you have a pronounced bump or hump on the bridge of your nose, it can dominate the general appearance of your face. Sometimes the bump may lend your face some character, but other times the bumps can be very distracting, and may even be the source of major self-consciousness or low self-esteem.

How big a difference can hump reduction make?

Quite a major difference. The nose is such a central and prominent facial feature, that even a small adjustment can leave you looking much different. During a consultation, digital imaging may be used to help you see what the likely results of your surgery will be like before it is actually performed. Think of it as a predictive before and after photo.

Ideal Candidates for Revising the Bridge Through Rhinoplasty

The best candidates for hump reduction are people who have bumps or humps on the bridge of their nose that lead to major self-consciousness or issues with self-confidence. They should be in relatively good health otherwise and not suffer from medical conditions that would make a surgical procedure a risky endeavor.

It's important that patients have realistic expectations about the recovery process as well as these will help contribute to positive patient experience and overall satisfaction with the results of the procedure.

Will bone or cartilage be revised?

It actually depends on the location of the hump on the bridge of the nose. If the bump is located in the upper third of the nose, bone will be revised. If the hump is in the lower two-thirds of the bridge, cartilage will be revised. In many cases, a combination of bone and cartilage will be revised during the rhinoplasty procedure.

The exact nature of the procedure will be discussed during the consultation process so you have a solid understanding about the nature of the surgery beforehand.

What to Expect During Hump Reduction Surgery

Patients will be placed under general anesthetic while undergoing surgery in order to prevent major pain and discomfort. Incisions will be made either inside of the nostrils or along the skin between the nostrils in order to access the cartilage and the bone structure.

Recovering from Rhinoplasty

As patients recover from the hump reduction surgery, they will experience some amount of discomfort for the first few days. Swelling and bruising are also common after undergoing rhinoplasty as this is a common surgical side effect in general.

Heavy lifting, strenuous physical activity, air travel, and blowing your nose will all be prohibited as you heal given just how sensitive your nose will be after surgery. In fact, the bridge of the nose will be so delicate that patients will be instructed to not wear sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses. The bridge of the nose really will be that tender that a slight bit of weight and pressure can affect the overall results of surgery.

Schedule a Consultation for Rhinoplasty

If you would like to learn more about rhinoplasty and how it can benefit you and your needs, be sure to contact our facial plastic surgery center today. Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes looks forward to your visit and helping you achieve all of your aesthetic goals.

TIME.com’s Article “Joan Rivers’ Death Raises Questions About Outpatient Care Centers”

Time magazine logo - TIME.com's Article "Joan Rivers' Death Raises Questions About Outpatient Care Centers" | Beverly Hills | Los Angeles

September 5, 2014

Just under half of states, including New York, require that the latter centers receive accreditation from any of four organizations that set criteria for patient care and safety. The New York Department of Health lists three—Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), and the Joint Commission.

As one of the organizations that accredits centers for which Medicare reimburses procedures, the AAAASF has a 162 page checklist of items, from requiring that a circulating nurse is in both the operating room and the recovery rooms, to board certification of surgeons performing the procedures and the presence of crash carts for resuscitating patients should complications occur. Centers also need to have an agreement with a nearby hospital to respond to any emergencies. Because of these criteria, says Dr. Geoffrey Keyes, president of AAAASF, death rates at ambulatory surgery centers that are accredited are similar to those at hospitals.

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Improve the Shape of the Nose with Rhinoplasty and Cartilage Grafts

132023546 xs - Improve the Shape of the Nose with Rhinoplasty and Cartilage Grafts | Beverly Hills | Los Angeles As a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes commonly sees patients who are dissatisfied with the size or shape of their nose. Rhinoplasty allows the nose to be reshaped so that its proportions are a better fit for the patient’s facial features. By reshaping the nose and addressing imperfections in size or shape, Dr. Keyes can help patients achieve the nose they have always wished for. Often times, for our Los Angeles patients, rhinoplasty and cartilage grafts are both necessary in order to perfect the shape of the nose. Placed during a rhinoplasty procedure, cartilage grafts offer support to the structure of the nose and can rebuild the nose to a more pleasing and proportionate shape.

Are Cartilage Grafts Always Used in Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty surgery does not always involve the use of cartilage grafts. However, it is very common for these grafts to be used. Even in the case of noses that are being reshaped because they are too large, cartilage grafts can be helpful. This is because it is very unusual for a nose to only require a change to its size. Oftentimes the shape of the nose also requires alterations. Whether it is a poorly shaped nasal tip or if the bridge of the nose has areas that are high or concave, reshaping of the nose is likely to be a part of just about all rhinoplasty procedures. In addition, the skin on the nose is not always responsive to size changes, so in order to ensure that the shape of the nose remains attractive, without resulting in loose skin, cartilage grafts may be necessary.

Where Do the Grafts Come From?

There are cases in which silicone or artificial grafts can be used, but, in general, Dr. Keyes prefers cartilage grafts. These grafts are composed of the patient’s own natural cartilage or bone, and so are less likely to result in complications or an allergic reaction. There are many options for where the cartilage can be taken from and this includes the septal cartilage (from the nose), ear cartilage, or rib cartilage or bone.

Benefits of Cartilage Grafts

There are a multitude of benefits to using cartilage grafts during rhinoplasty surgery. By carefully placing these grafts, Dr. Keyes can achieve any (or all) of the following:

Offer improved support to the structure of the nose
Fill out areas of the nose that are flat
Add shape to an area of the nose that is too small
Keep the airways of the nose stable
Improve the shape and strength of the nasal tip

Although not the case for all patients, there are many cases in which cartilage grafts can greatly improve both the functional and aesthetic results of rhinoplasty surgery.

Schedule a Consultation

If your nose seems too small or large for your face, or if there are imperfections that you’d like to correct, rhinoplasty may be the solution. To learn more about the rhinoplasty procedure and how it could benefit you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hearing from you.