Rhinoplasty is not a single standardize procedure for all patients requesting aesthetic improvement of the nose area. As plastic surgeon we divide the nose into 3 general parts, the nasal dorsum, nasal tip and alar lobule area. Depending not only on your surgeon’s preferences, but also on the desired results. Cosmetic enhancement of the nose would vary, base on the area that is of great concern to the patient. For the nasal dorsal area, this would require dorsal augmentation for an Asian patient but would require a reduction rhinoplasty for a Caucasian patient. Round nasal tip would require better contour and definition, which would be address with tip rhinoplasty. Alterations may be made to increase or decrease the nasal bridge, reduce the size or the width of the nose, narrow the nostrils, reshape the tip, or change the angle between the nose and the upper lip.
Not all nasal procedure require implant placement or alar trimming, this will depend on the patien’s desired external appearance of the nose. Nasal implants could be in many forms e.g. silicon block, gortex, medpore etc. These implants are biocompatible, can be contoured and removable. We plastic surgeons don’t use silicon oil injection for nasal augmentation due to many complications accompanying its use, just to mention; infection, extrusion and unpredictable result are among its complication.
Surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure, under local anesthesia or intravenous sedation. You may be required to wear a splint in the form of tapes or plaster of paris on your nose for approximately a week or longer depending on the type or extent of operation and surgeon’s preference. Some bruising and swelling should be expected on the first 2 to 3 days after the procedure but will subside after 1 to 2 wks. It may take several months for your nose to fully settle, so it takes time before you may appreciate the full effect of the procedure.
Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck/Tummytuck
Abdominoplasty or commonly known to many as tummy tuck, is recommended for patients with excessive fat tissue, redundant abdominal skin and poor abdominal musculature due to aging and massive weight loss. It also benefits patients with scar deformities in the lower abdomen such as striae of pregnancy or stretch marks. A large area of the lower abdomen is removed to include the skin and fat, the abdominal wall tightened, and the remaining skin edges sutured together. It is ideally or best done to women who are beyond their reproductive years, and suffer the consequences of abdominal wall laxity and redundant fat and skin after pregnancy. Incision line and the resulting scar are oriented in the lower abdomen, below the panty line for concealment. There could be some swelling at the immediate post-op period that usually subsides after several weeks to months. Sutures are removed on the 5th or 10th day after the procedure. This is done under general anesthesia, with patient confined for a few days in the hospital.
Facelift/Face lift/Rhytidectomy
Rhytidectomy or commonly known as Facelift can reduce and addres the sagging skin, deep cheek folds, and jowls at the lower part of the jaw of the face and neck, making these areas more youthful in appearance. We Plastic surgeons usually divide the face into 3 general parts, the upper, mid and the lower 3rd . Aging affects these areas of the face in different way. At the upper third, there is there is the transverse line of the forehead and the glabellar frown line. Middle 3rd you would note the deepening of the Nasolabial folds, sagging of the cheek skin and hallowing of the suborbital area. And at the lower third there are the jowls, marionette lines and the platismal bands at the neck-mandible area. Due to aging and other multifactorial cause, the support structure and skin of the face loosen. Face lift or mini face lift surgery is a procedure that would resuspend or reposition the soft tissue of the face to obtain a youthful appearance. The scars from the incision lines are mostly hidden within the hairline or within normal lines of the face and neck, making it inconspicuous once it matures. This is usually performed, either under local or general anesthesia depending on the extent of the face lift procedure and usually requires a short hospital stay for patient undergoing a full face lift. The patient will experience some temporary skin discoloration, swelling and a certain amount of tightness or numbness in the face and ears that usually resolve after 7 to 10 days. Healing takes time and is gradual, so be patient and expect several weeks or months for optimal results.Philippine Facelift/face lift/rhytidectomy/rhytidoplasty/facial rejuvenation is common cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines.