Rhinoplasty - Medical Before & After Case 128

Nose plastic surgery (rhinoplasty) can treat both the outside and inside of the nose. Patients from the Washington DC area often request nasal surgery to improve both the form and function of the nose. For example, patients may want to improve nasal congestion from a deviated septum and reduce a nasal bump or narrow the tip at the same time. One benefit of combination nasal surgery is that cartilage modified from one area may be used for grafts during the another portion of the procedure.

This Washington DC patient had chronic nasal congestion, which did not improve with allergy medication, from a severely deviated septum. She consulted with another nasal surgeon who only recommended septoplasty on the inside of her nose to improve her nasal breathing and suggested a separate rhinoplasty procedure to improve the outside deviation. A friend suggested getting a 2nd opinion to see if procedures could be combined in one setting and to see Dr. Chaboki for consultation. Examination revealed a crooked nose on both the outside and inside of the nose, in addition to a small bump.

The patient underwent a closed rhinoplasty, septoplasty, and turbinate reduction. Osteotomy (bone reshaping) and cartilage grafts were used to improve nasal symmetry. She wore a nasal cast for a week after rhinoplasty. She still looks herself after rhinoplasty, but has an improved nose on both the outside and inside. Dr. Chaboki performs all types of rhinoplasty procedures, but most commonly utilizes a “closed” approach for nasal surgery, which avoids external incisions. Closed rhinoplasty allows rhinoplasty surgeons to both improve both the form and function of the nose.