What is rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty, or cosmetic nasal surgery, is also referred to as a nose job, and it is a plastic surgery procedure that improves the shape and size of the nose. The procedure can remove a hump, change the shape of the nasal tip, and straighten the nose. Occasionally, the size and shape of the nostrils can be changed. The goal of the rhinoplasty surgery is often to achieve better harmony between the nose and the other facial features and, often times; even the slightest alteration can greatly improve a patient’s appearance. If the patient has breathing difficulty, Dr. Bustillo may perform septal and turbinate surgery at the same time.
Who are good candidates for rhinoplasty?
Healthy teenagers and adults who wish to have an improvement in their nasal appearance are good candidates for the rhinoplasty procedure. Patients that undergo nasal surgery with Dr. Bustillo are generally very satisfied with the new appearance of their nose. They all have an improved appearance when the before and after pictures are taken after the surgery.
Can rhinoplasty be performed at any age?
Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Bustillo performs the rhinoplasty procedure beginning at age fourteen in female teenagers and fifteen in male teenagers.
What happens during a consultation for rhinoplasty?
Dr. Bustillo will personally meet with you during the consultation. He will examine and evaluate you. He will then show you before and after pictures and then explain the rhinoplasty procedure from beginning to end. This explanation will include what surgical technique he will use, where the surgery will be performed, what type of anesthesia, and a step-by-step explanation of what the recovery will be like. You will then meet with the patient care coordinator, who will explain the scheduling details and the cost.
Where is the rhinoplasty procedure performed?
Dr. Bustillo performs the rhinoplasty procedure in an AAAASF certified facility.
When performing rhinoplasty, what type of anesthesia is used?
Dr. Bustillo usually performs the rhinoplasty procedure with general anesthesia. Using general anesthesia allows Dr. Bustillo to be fully focused on performing the nasal surgery while the anesthesiologist administers the anesthesia. Dr. Bustillo only works side by side with board certified anesthesiologist (an M.D.). He does not work with nurse anesthetist. While this may bring the cost of the rhinoplasty procedure up a small amount, you will be taken care by the best anesthesia providers available. The anesthesia providers are all part of the Baptist Hospital Anesthesia Department.
How is the actual rhinoplasty procedure performed?
The rhinoplasty procedure can be performed via one of two approaches. They are the open (also called external) and the closed (also called endonasal) approach. These are simply approaches, which mean the way in which Dr. Bustillo will have access to the internal structures of the nose. Once Dr. Bustillo has access to the internal structures, he will work on the bridge of the nose. He will make the bridge straight, if needed, and then narrow the bridge if needed. He will then proceed to change the shape if the tip if needed. At the end of the procedure, Dr. Bustillo will place a splint to help the nose heal in the proper shape.
How long does the actual rhinoplasty procedure last?
Dr. Bustillo takes about two hours to perform the rhinoplasty procedure. Revision rhinoplasty may take longer.
For rhinoplasty, where are the incisions made?
Dr. Bustillo performs the rhinoplasty procedure using either the open or closed approach. If the open approach is used, a small incision in the columella is made. This incision heals very well and will not be noticeable once it is fully healed. The closed approach is performed with incisions inside the nose. Dr. Bustillo will discuss with you what the best approach is for you.
Should I expect to experience much pain with my rhinoplasty procedure?
Most patients that undergo the rhinoplasty procedure experience a mild pressure above the nose for about two hours after the procedure. From there on after, the patients do not experience any pain.
What is the recovery like after rhinoplasty?
The recovery for rhinoplasty is rather mild. The patient is allowed to return home after the procedure. The post-operative period is painless, although pain medication is usually given in case the patient has some discomfort. Miami cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bustillo will see the patient in his office the morning after surgery. Most patients that have the rhinoplasty procedure with Dr. Bustillo do not have “black and blues” over their eyes. They may have some swelling in the lower eyelids, which usually resolves in five days. The patient returns to the office on the fifth post-operative day. At that point the splint is removed and the patient will get a first glimpse of what the nose will look like. Seventy percent of the swelling resolves in the first three weeks and the remaining thirty percent takes months. The final result is at one year.
How soon after rhinoplasty surgery will I be able to return to work?
Patients are generally able to return to work about one week after the rhinoplasty procedure.
How soon after rhinoplasty surgery will I be able to exercise?
Dr. Bustillo asks that his patients resume exercise three weeks after having the procedure.
How soon after rhinoplasty surgery are the stitches removed?
If the rhinoplasty was performed via an open approach, the stitches will be removed on fifth post-operative day.
What are the risks or complications that can occur with rhinoplasty?
As with all types of surgery, there are potential risks or complications associated with rhinoplasty surgery and these may include bleeding, infection, and cosmetic imperfection. Bleeding during the rhinoplasty procedure is rare, and happens about 1% of the time. However, if the patient bleeds after the procedure, they should call Dr. Bustillo’s office. If this occurs, Dr. Bustillo will place a small cotton inside the nose to control the bleeding. Infection is also rare, we give I.V. antibiotics before the surgery and for three days after. If there is a small cosmetic imperfection on the nose after the surgery, Dr. Bustillo will correct this, free of charge.
Does insurance cover the cost of rhinoplasty?
The rhinoplasty procedure is not covered by insurance. Dr. Bustillo does accept insurance for functional surgery (such as septoplasty) that may be combined with your rhinoplasty procedure.
How much does a rhinoplasty cost?
The cost of a rhinoplasty procedure varies from surgeon to surgeon and from state to state. Dr. Bustillo charges anywhere from $7,200.00 to $8,200.00 for a primary, or first time rhinoplasty. This includes operating room and anesthesia.
Is there anything else I should know about the rhinoplasty procedure?
What most patients say after having the rhinoplasty procedure with Dr. Bustillo is that they all wished they could have had the surgery sooner. Another common statement that Dr. Bustillo’s patients say is that they thought the recovery was going to be much worse. Both of these common statements say great amount about how Dr. Bustillo takes great care to craft a beautiful nose and in a way that the patients recover quickly and easily from their nasal surgery.
Do patients travel to have rhinoplasty surgery with Dr. Bustillo?
An ever increasing number of patients travel to have surgery with Dr. Bustillo. Approximately 25% of the rhinoplasty surgeries Dr. Bustillo performs are from patients that travel from outside the United States; Central and South America, and Europe. Many patients travel from New York City, where the cost of rhinoplasty surgery is extremely high. Dr. Bustillo delivers excellent rhinoplasty results at a fraction of the cost of New York surgeons.
Does Dr. Bustillo have before and after photographs of rhinoplasty patients?
Dr. Bustillo has performed thousands of rhinoplasties and has many before and after photographs of his patients. He will be happy to show them during your consultation for your rhinoplasty. He will show you results that may be similar to yours, so that you can have an idea of what your nose will look like after surgery.
Dr. Andres Bustillo achieves excellent Miami rhinoplasty results.