What is a successful Rhinoplasty?
Discussion on Rhinoplasty From an interview for Golden Hall magazine, 2015During the last years, more and more women and men, do not hesitate to go for aesthetic operations. Does this also apply for rhinoplasties?
It is true that nowadays men and women take care of themselves, more than in previous times. The nose is a central element of the face, and, as such, any nasal disfigurement is obvious and impairs the general appearance. I agree that aesthetic surgery is no longer a taboo, and so, both men and women, if they do not like something about their nose, they ask for correction. Yes, we see more people for aesthetic surgery than in the past.
When a patient comes to your office for rhinoplasty, do they know exactly what they want to be done?
In every rhinoplasty case, the first and most important part of the operation is the discussion with the patient. The surgeon must understand exactly what bothers them on their nose, and the patient must have a realistic idea on what it is possible to be done about it. During this sincere and friendly interaction, we try to develop a relationship of mutual trust and understanding, which is essential for the success of the operation. If somebody does not like their nose, without being sure about the exact defect they want us to correct, we help them to identify the imperfections and we suggest solutions.
“Rhinoplasty is successful, when the result is natural and non-provocative”
Otherwise, the definition of “beauty” is subjective. I personally agree with a rhinoplasty master, who once said that after a successful rhinoplasty, the patient accepts compliments about their eyes and not their nose. In other words, I believe that the result must be natural and not too beautiful. The nose must match with the rest of the face in such harmony, that it is aesthetically “invisible”!
What is the best age for rhinoplasty?
The development of the bones of the face is completed in the age of 18 years, therefore we avoid to operate on the nose before that age. On the other hand, there is no upper age limit for the operation, provided that the patient is in good general health and fit for anaesthesia.
What is the percentage of success?
I do not think that it is right to give percentages in numbers. Rhinoplasty is a technical procedure, and as such, its result depends upon the experience and aesthetic perception of the surgeon, but also upon the individual characteristics of each patient. The preoperative structure and statics of the nose, the quality of the skin, various conditions during surgery, the healing process, can play a role in the final result. The patient must discuss with the surgeon all details of the procedure and postoperative period, the aesthetic and functional problems of the nose, and the expectations one can have. They must also ask to see previous cases, operated by the surgeon, to understand how he functions in this surgery and how he manages common disfigurements, possibly similar to theirs.
Generally speaking, if this communication is completed with positive vibes, the patient can expect a good result from an experienced surgeon.
Finally, it is clear that an aesthetic operation is considered successful, if the result is liked by the patient, not the surgeon. So, I personally discourage surgery if the patient is in a fragile psychological status or under pressure because of events irrelevant to the nasal condition, which can push towards a surgical procedure, which is not needed. The conscious patient before, is the satisfied and happy patient after surgery.