This is not a new concept for me, but I am writing about it because I really believe that the rhinoplasty procedure can be a very rejuvenating surgery. The thought that most people have about the nose and aging is that the nose continues to grow with age. The truth is that the nose does not grow with age. However it does change with time. As the nose ages, the ligaments that hold the cartilages together become weaker. The nasal tip cartilages also become weaker with time. As a consequence, the tip of the nose drops, giving the nose a longer, “droopier” look.
Rhinoplasty, apart from removing any humps on the bridge of the nose and narrowing the nasal bones, also changes the nasal tip. The tip is raised, narrowed, and defined. My preferred technique for elevating the nasal tip is the “tongue and groove “ technique. This uses the nasal septum as a brace to attach the cartilages of the nasal tip. It provides a very strong support for a nose that that has inherently weak cartilages from the aging process. In addition, cartilage grafts may need to be added to provide additional support to the nasal sidewalls.
One of the fears that older patients have about undergoing a rhinoplasty is the fear that they “will change their look” or that “people will notice.” These thoughts are normal in anyone undergoing a rhinoplasty, but are often magnified in these particular patients. The one constant in my practice, which I tell all of my patients, is that most people will not notice that you had cosmetic nasal surgery. The reason is as follows; People only notice a plastic surgery result if it looks strange, out of place, or un-natural. When the result is natural, like a nose you could have been born with, people do not notice.
In conclusion, rhinoplasty can have a very rejuvenating effect in the right patient. I see it often in my practice, and I invite you to at least consider it.