Facial Plastic Surgery

Question: If I just want to narrow my nose by reducing the width of the base, do I have to undergo an anesthetic? Answer: The answer to this is ‘no’ if that is all you want done in terms of a limited rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty. We have several patients…

Many patients inquire about septoplasty for nasal obstruction, or difficulty breathing through the nose, and ask whether I perform suture technique to straighten the septum. The answer to this is ‘no’ in terms of my primary surgical technique for septoplasty. The reason for this is that the cartilage of the…

I just completed an interview today with an independent journalist here in San Diego who was researching the topic of injectable filler use for the nose. This idea has actually been around for many years but has been gaining increasing media attention. It has been called among other things the…

One of my San Diego revision rhinoplasty patients was just in and asked what many patients ask regarding nasal exercises. Is it normal to have pain with the exercises? The answer is absolutely. In fact, if you are not pushing hard enough on your nose to elicit some degree of…

Question: I had an ear graft done as part of a complex revision rhinoplasty. Is it normal for my ear to hurt more than my nose? Answer: Thank you for your inquiry. The answer is yes. It is quite normal to have more attention drawn to the ear as a…

This is a frequent question that I get asked from potential rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty patients. Normally most rhinoplasty patients will look ’supermarket’ presentable in about 10-14 days. I will remove the sutures, tape and cast (if placed) 5-6 days following your surgery. The nose looks swollen that day but,…

The short answer to this question is – yes, if you have symptoms of nasal blockage that are not improved with medications. If you are found to have evidence of a deviated septum, or crooked septum, on examination by a facial plastic surgery or otolaryngology specialist, they will likely recommend…

Question: What are steroid injections and why are they used for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty patients? Answer: Steroid injections refer to an injectable corticosteroid (called steroid for short) solution that is used to decrease swelling and dissolve unwanted scar tissue. I use steroids quite commonly to help during the healing…

Artefill, made by Suneva Medical in San Diego, is the only FDA approved permanent injectable filler on the market. Artefill is a fantastic injectable filler product that is a great alternative to Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse and Sculptra. It is used very much like the other fillers for smoothing out…

We have been quite busy around the office lately, consulting with many of you about a wide variety of facial plastic/cosmetic surgery procedures. As my staff has likely already explained to many of you, we are embarking on a very busy time of year when it comes to facial plastic…