Rhinoplasty
Dr. Mustoe's rhinoplasty patients can attest to the fact that small changes to the nose can yield vast improvements. This is because the nose is the central feature of the face, and directly affects facial harmony and symmetry. Since the nose plays such a large role in our appearance and our breathing, you should choose your rhinoplasty surgeon in Chicago with care.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Mustoe specializes in nose surgery for both cosmetic and functional correction. To visit him in Chicago for rhinoplasty, request a consultation online. Or you can call us at (312) 695-6022 and one of our helpful staff members will schedule your appointment.
A Better Rhinoplasty
Through extensive research and experience, Dr. Mustoe has developed several innovations for a better rhinoplasty procedure and result. These include:
- Predictable, natural looking outcomes
- Use of local anesthesia with sedation
- Shortened, more comfortable recovery
Enhancing Your Nose with Rhinoplasty
Dr. Mustoe performs rhinoplasty – also called nose surgery or a "nose job" – for Chicago patients to change the shape and structure of the nose. From a cosmetic standpoint, this can mean:
- Narrowing the bridge
- Altering the angle or shape of the tip
- Smoothing bumps or indentations
- Reshaping large, wide or upturned nostrils
Nose surgery can also be performed to correct sinus or breathing problems, congenital defects, or damage caused by injury or prior surgeries. Nose surgery often combines both cosmetic and functional benefits, so you can look and feel your best.
Dr. Mustoe believes that rhinoplasty results should be completely "transparent," meaning no one should be able to tell that you've had plastic surgery. He has extensive training and experience with this procedure, as he is board certified in both otolaryngology and plastic surgery. His years of research and experience have culminated in surgical innovations that achieve predictable, natural-looking results that enhance your appearance while still maintaining the character of your nose. Furthermore, Dr. Mustoe's patients experience a shorter, more comfortable recovery due to the use of these innovative techniques.
Leading Edge Rhinoplasty Techniques
Whether performed for cosmetic or functional improvement, nose surgery involves making changes to the internal framework of the nose. Access to the interior anatomy of the nose is made through incisions that Dr. Mustoe makes either within the nostrils (closed rhinoplasty) or through a small incision on the underside of the nose (open rhinoplasty). The approach Dr. Mustoe uses will depend on the issues being corrected.
The open approach allows a change in the shape of the internal framework supporting the nose while retaining its strength, which allows confident correction of the deformity without fear of future collapse or pinching of the nose. Approximately 1/3 of the procedures Dr. Mustoe performs are revisions of undesirable outcomes from previous rhinoplasties performed elsewhere, and knowledge of the problems created from previous surgeries has given Dr. Mustoe the experience to avoid these problems.
Dr. Mustoe will carefully make changes to nasal structure to enhance the appearance of your nose. He may also correct such functional issues as a deviated septum, sinus problems or other breathing issues. Revision rhinoplasty, which corrects damage resulting from a prior nose surgery, may take longer and be more involved than an initial rhinoplasty. Once all of the internal changes are complete, the skin is repositioned, and sutured closed.
Dr. Mustoe surgical techniques, and precise dissection allow reshaping of the cartilage and bone with less need for grafts and major structural changes. He has developed a technique to precisely control the tip shape and projection which has allowed the large nose to be reduced in size without creating a surgically altered look. This allows for a more natural improvement of the nasal shape and an attractive nose without a drastic change in the patient's unique individual facial appearance. The goal of the surgery is to increase attractiveness while retaining enough of the individual characteristics of the nose that make a patient so identifiable to their family and friends.
Revision Rhinoplasty
Dr. Mustoe performs a large number of revision rhinoplasties, sometimes on patients that have had even 3 or 4 previous surgeries. These procedures are usually more involved, and can involve harvesting cartilage from the ear or rib, and fascia grafts from the temple. Dr. Mustoe is able to do virtually all of these procedures under local anesthesia with sedation, with similar advantages in reduction and swelling and more rapid recovery.
Improved Recovery and Results
While everyone's experience will be unique after a "nose job" in Chicago, Dr. Mustoe's patients typically benefit from a much more comfortable and shorter recovery than the average rhinoplasty patient. His techniques minimize tissue damage, bruising, and bleeding – therefore, his patients have less swelling, do not require nasal packing, and can feel good about their appearance as soon as the splint is removed. Most of Dr. Mustoe's patients require only over-the-counter pain medication to manage their discomfort.
Following the procedure, the nose is splinted for about a week to stabilize it and aid in proper healing. During this time, most visible bruising should resolve, and you should be able to return to work or normal activities in approximately 7 days. Initial swelling will subside within a few weeks, but changes in the shape of the nose will continue to emerge for up to a year.
