Cosmetic surgery has advanced enormously in recent years. Thanks, in part, to the progression of technology. From 3D microscopes to microdevices, the ability to access new, advanced equipment has enhanced the experience and the outcomes of a full range of procedures. And one of the most useful tools for facial adjustments is the infrared camera.
Now a fixed feature of my practice, infrared cameras enable experienced doctors to assess blood flow in a patient. And this is really important. Because when you carry out surgery, or even insert fillers, there is the potential to interfere with a complex network of arteries and veins. And if you insert too much filler or inhibit blood flow through the blocking of veins in surgery, it can have serious ramifications for the patient.
Take the nose, for example. Although it is a relatively small area of the body, the mucopeniosteum of the nasal cavity is supplied by five arteries. Some of which connect with the eyes, others with the mouth. If blood flow is cut off, it can lead to necrosis or infection. In extreme cases, it can even impact the eyes – sometimes leading to blindness.
The use of infrared cameras prevents this.
By using an infrared camera after face (or breast) surgery, I can better identify any potential areas of concern. And this allows me to take action before a small problem grows into something much more sinister.
It takes more than technology to become a surgeon. It takes years of training and decades of dedication. But with the right technology, you have the power to deliver the best results for your clients every time.
Rhinoplasty is a well-known procedure used to repair or reshape a person’s nose. It can be used to address health problems, purely cosmetic concerns, or a combination of the two. But what many people don’t realise is that Asian rhinoplasty is distinct from other forms of nose surgery. So, what do you need to know about Asian rhinoplasty?
Asian Rhinoplasty: What Do You Need to Know?
What is Asian rhinoplasty?
Asian rhinoplasty is a form of nose surgery developed specifically to answer the needs of people of Asian descent. Because Asian noses are often shaped slightly differently to other cultures – often characterised by a low nasal bridge and broader nostrils, or an enlarged bridge area – Asian people will often have different requirements from their rhinoplasty surgeon. With the focus frequently being on narrowing the nostrils and building up the bridge.
Asian skin is thicker than Western skin which changes the way the surgery is performed. Dr Uppal specialises in this approach to thick skin to get the best results from nose surgery.
The different types of Asian rhinoplasty
There are three different types of Asian rhinoplasty. Medical rhinoplasty combats problems with the function of the nose. Its primary purpose is to improve the nasal structure to facilitate better breathing and fix other related problems.
Cosmetic rhinoplasty (which is often paired with medical rhinoplasty) is used for aesthetic adjustments. Usually, if a person is unhappy with the shape of their nose.
Lastly, revision rhinoplasty is to correct or adjust previous nasal surgery. This is only ever required if a person isn’t entirely happy with the results of earlier surgery. Or, occasionally, if a person has injured their nose post-operatively, and impacted the shape.
What is involved in Asian rhinoplasty?
There are various different approaches to Asian rhinoplasty. The procedure varies according to each patient’s specific needs. Whether medical or cosmetic. So, depending upon your requirements, you may experience:
· Open rhinoplasty – Whereby the skin is lifted from the nose so that the surgeon can access the inner structure and nasal passages.
· Closed rhinoplasty – Using this approach, your surgeon will enter your nose through your nostrils.
· Non-surgical rhinoplasty – In cases of minor adjustments, fillers can be used to reshape the nose non-invasively.
· Rib graft to build up the nose rather than using silicone implants which can fall out or get infected over time.
How long does Asian rhinoplasty take?
Every patient is treated on an individual basis. So, the time that rhinoplasty takes will vary according to that person’s needs. However, Asian rhinoplasty rarely takes more than three hours. And can be significantly faster for non-surgical procedures.
What is the recovery period for Asian rhinoplasty?
Because some Asian ethnicities have slightly thicker skin than Caucasians, they can experience increased swelling post-surgery. This means that the recovery period can take longer. However, Mr Uppal is highly experienced in this area, and is able to provide a range of strategies to help expedite recovery. In most cases, you will be able to return to your usual activities after around a fortnight. But complete recovery can take between 10 months and two years.
Rhinoplasty is a very personal procedure. The way your nose looks and feels can dramatically impact the way that you feel about yourself, as well as the way that you breathe. It can impact your confidence, even your mental wellbeing. Finding the right surgeon to work with, who will guide you through the process and help you make the right decisions for your needs, is imperative to achieving the best results.
Deviated septum correction is a really common type of surgery. It is required when the septum – the thin wall of tissue that separates the nostrils – moves off-centre. Leaving one nostril – and one nasal passage – far smaller than the other. It often completely restricts the air flow to one side of the nose. And it can cause a range of problems, from congestion to nasal crusting and bleeding. And it usually requires corrective surgery. So, what causes a septum to become deviated? And how can it be treated?
Deviated Septum Causes and Treatments
What causes a deviated septum?
A deviated septum can be caused by a range of factors.
· For some people, a deviated septum is present at birth. It develops within the womb, and because it has always been there, children often adapt to it. Sometimes not even realising that there is a problem until much later in life.
· An injury to the nose can also cause a septum to be moved out of its natural position. And we often see these injuries in those who enjoy contact sports. Or in people who have experienced a road accident or other trauma.
· The structure of the nose can also change with age, or as a result of repeated sinus infections. Over time, this can cause the septum to deviate.
How can a deviated septum be treated?
In minor cases, medication can be administered to reduce the swelling caused by a deviated septum, easing airflow. But the most common treatment for a deviated septum is septoplasty. This involves surgery to reposition and straighten the septum.
During the surgery, you will be administered with either a local or general anaesthetic, depending upon the complexity of your particular surgical requirements. An incision will be made at the base of the septum. And the required adjustments will be applied. Once the surgery is complete, the incision will be closed with a dissolvable suture. In most cases, this will leave no noticeable scar.
After surgery, you will usually need to take a few days off work. Discomfort will continue for two to three weeks afterwards. But most people will be fully recovered within two months.
Can I combine septoplasty with cosmetic adjustments?
Every patient requires individual assessment. But in many cases, it is possible to combine septoplasty with rhinoplasty. Enabling you to reshape your nose through the removal of bone or cartilage, at the same time as undergoing the necessary medical treatment to ease your breathing.
How do I arrange septoplasty and rhinoplasty?
A deviated septum is usually diagnosed by your doctor but the NHS has limited capacity to treat this condition. Once you have a diagnosis and have decided that you would like corrective surgery, you will need to organise an appointment with your surgeon.
Your surgeon will then take your medical history and conduct a physical examination. With that complete, they will be able to discuss the potential treatment options for you.
If you are considering rhinoplasty at the same time as your septoplasty, think ahead of the results you would like to achieve. But be realistic. And remember that not all nose shapes will suit your face. It’s also important to remember that in some cases, physical adjustments may not be possible for you. Depending upon the structure of your nose, rhinoplasty may pose a risk to your breathing. So, always work with a reputable surgeon to ensure that your health is never endangered.
The prospect of septoplasty can be daunting. But it can also be transformative. Helping to improve the way that you breathe, and putting and end to other nasal difficulties. And if you wish to combine it with rhinoplasty, it can also change the way you feel about yourself too.
Rhinoplasty (AKA ‘a nose job’) is no longer the guilty celebrity secret it once was. Nose surgery is not a matter of shame or embarrassment. And it is not limited to the wealthy few. It’s simply a way to help people feel better. Whether medically or aesthetically. Often both. But while people are generally a lot more open about having rhinoplasty now, the procedure itself can still be open to confusion. Patients often seek surgery, not fully understanding the options available to them. One of which is keyhole rhinoplasty. So, what do you need to know?
There are two main types of surgical rhinoplasty. Open and closed.
· Open rhinoplasty involves an incision being made into the tissue that divides the nostrils (the columella). This allows the surgeon open access to the interior structure of the nose. It will leave a scar. But in most cases, it will become unnoticeable over time.
· Closed rhinoplasty (AKA keyhole) is managed purely through incisions made to the interior of the nostrils. This procedure leaves no outward scarring.
Is there any benefit to keyhole rhinoplasty?
We’ve already mentioned that this procedure leaves no outward scarring. But because keyhole rhinoplasty is less invasive, it also usually causes less swelling. And the surgery takes less time to complete. Often as little as 30 minutes, depending on the nature of the alteration.
Are there any disadvantages to keyhole rhinoplasty?
Keyhole rhinoplasty is only suitable for a limited number of alterations. More complex revisions will require open rhinoplasty. Where the surgeon can clearly see the nose. Both its shape, without having to factor in the stretching of the skin. And the anatomic structures, so any relevant diagnoses can be made – such as when an issue may be impairing a patient’s breathing.
Keyhole rhinoplasty is also a lot more difficult to perform. This means that it is offered by far fewer surgeons than open rhinoplasty. And it is particularly important that you find a highly experienced, well-reputed surgeon to work with.
What adjustments can be made with keyhole rhinoplasty?
The most common revisions made by keyhole rhinoplasty are:
· Bump removal. All nose shapes can be beautiful. But if you have what is commonly termed a ‘roman nose’ and are uncomfortable with the bump, or have a lump on your nose following an injury, keyhole rhinoplasty can be used to remove or rearrange small amounts of cartilage or bone.
· Septoplasty. If you have a deviated septum, it can impact your breathing. Rhinoplasty can be used to remove any obstructions.
Nose augmentation surgery, where bone from the hip, elbow, skull, or cartilage from the ear, is used to build up the shape of the nose, is usually performed via open surgery.
What anaesthetic is used for keyhole rhinoplasty?
Keyhole rhinoplasty can be performed using either general or local anaesthetic. Your surgeon will discuss the options most suited to your particular procedure and circumstances.
Keyhole rhinoplasty cannot provide the answer to every patient’s needs. But if you require a relatively small adjustment, it can offer a fast, effective solution, with a faster recovery time.
If you are considering rhinoplasty,book a consultation to find out how Rajan Uppal could help.
One of the most common reasons for nose surgery is fixing a crooked nose. Bent noses come in all sorts of forms, and can be caused by a wide variety of factors. But their one uniting feature is that they make their owners unhappy. This may be purely for cosmetic reasons. But what many people don’t realise is that a crooked nose can also cause breathing difficulties. So, what do you need to know about fixing a crooked nose?
What You Need to Know About Fixing a Bent Nose
What causes a nose to be crooked?
There are several reasons why a person might have a crooked nose. It can be caused by birth defects, extreme infections, injuries, previous surgery, or it can just develop by itself over time. In some cases, it is purely an aesthetic concern – and the importance of that shouldn’t be underestimated. As our appearance plays a large part in our self-confidence and can be linked to mental wellbeing. But there are physical considerations too. When the exterior of the nose is crooked, the interior structures may also be misaligned. Meaning that the septum – the wall inside the nose that separates the left nostril from the right – is preventing adequate airflow on the one side of the nose. Which means that breathing is impaired. This is known as a deviated septum.
How do you know if you have a deviated septum?
There are several common symptoms associated with a deviated septum. The most common is nasal congestion. And the sensation that one side of the nose is blocked. This will usually impact breathing. But you may also experience frequent nosebleeds and sinus infections.
How can you treat a crooked nose?
The treatment of a crooked nose varies according to the severity of the deviated septum and whether any cosmetic alterations are required by the patient.
Non-surgical
In some cases, the non-surgical approach is the best option. This involves the use of soft tissue fillers. These injectables can mask the crookedness by filling in the soft tissue around the bone and cartilage to create a more symmetrical appearance.
Septoplasty
If you have problems with the interior of your nose, septoplasty is a minor surgical procedure that will straighten your septum and relieve nasal congestion. Results are not instant, but the benefits should be felt within a few weeks.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty refers to surgery relating to the structure of your nose. And it can be used for both functional and cosmetic procedures. Addressing crookedness, while helping patients to breathe more easily, rhinoplasty has been found to be one of the most successful ways of fixing a bent nose.
A crooked nose can impact different people in different ways. But while the treatment is often relatively simple, the results can be life changing. So, if you have concerns about the way your nose looks or feels, don’t think that it’s just something you have to live with. See your doctor or surgeon to find out what options are available to you.
One of the most difficult aspects of surgery is precision. You’re working at such a high degree of accuracy that there is no margin for error. The smallest deviation can have a dramatic impact on your patient’s life. And that is the benefit of using new 3D microscopes.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to use the latest 3D microscope, and the results were impressive. With extra features that help surgeons focus on the specific area of surgery – adjustable magnification, clear illumination, and perfect visualisation – surgeons are empowered to increase precision. This not only improves patient safety, but in cosmetic surgery helps to ensure that the final results are as close to patient expectations as possible.
Integrated with various imaging modalities, including fluorescence imaging, augmented reality, and optical coherence tomography (OCT), 3D microscopes have the potential to change surgical practices for the better. And I don’t think it will be long before every surgeon has access to one.
