Dr. Craig is a board-certified plastic surgeon who, trained at Yale for plastic surgery and completed a microsurgery fellowship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Both Houston doctors have established their practices on surgical excellence and individualized patient care and treatment. Dr. Craig has committed time to learning directly from internationally recognized rhinoplasty expert Dr. Rod Rodrich to achieve optimal cosmetic results.

What Is Rhinoplasty?

Your nose is essentially a combination of bones, upper lateral cartilage, lower lateral cartilage, and the septum. Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that corrects both cosmetic defects as well as structural problems, such as a deviated septum. If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your nose and want to correct your breathing, Dr. Fusi and Dr. Craig can perform a combined rhinoplasty that addresses aesthetic and functional issues simultaneously.

What Are the Cosmetic Benefits of Rhinoplasty

Houston residents can have the most beautiful eyes, the shiniest, straightest teeth, perfect complexion, and great bone structure but still have a nose that is distracting. If your nose detracts from the rest of your features and makes you feel self-conscious rhinoplasty can change the way your whole face looks. The centrality of your nose balances other facial features and can either enhance or detract from your overall attractiveness. While aesthetic ideals vary, a nose that is symmetrical and proportional to your face enhances your appearance. Many people have inherited the shape of their noses as a result of genetics. If you come from a long line of relatives that have the “family nose,” but it doesn’t suit your face, rhinoplasty surgery can give you the nose you’ve always wanted while still keeping mom’s eyes or dad’s smile.

A cosmetic rhinoplasty can:

  • Alter the profile of your nose.
  • Alter the width of the bridge of the nose.
  • Correct the shape, size, and position of your nostrils.
  • Treat the nasal tip.
  • Establish symmetry by altering any nasal features that appear disproportionate.

Beyond Aesthetics

A Broken Nose

Being that your nose is the facial feature that projects the farthest it usually takes the brunt of any accidental trauma. If you have broken your nose as the result of an accident, a physical altercation, or even by bumping into a wall, it can alter both the shape and internal structure of your nose and requires rhinoplasty surgery so the bones will mend correctly. For Houston residents whose noses were broken and allowed to heal improperly, rhinoplasty surgery can re-shape and re-structure previously broken noses.

Deviated Septum

Most people take being able to breathe through their nose for granted. They’re usually only bothered when they have a cold or allergies. But men and women who have a deviated septum are forced to breathe through their mouth, suffer from snoring, and other health problems. Rhinoplasty surgery is used to improve obstructed airways. A deviated septum refers to a nasal septum that is crooked or off-center and inhibits breathing; then a septoplasty can correct breathing trouble by:

  • Straightening your septum.
  • Repositioning your septum.
  • Removing parts of your septum.

Both rhinoplasty and septoplasty require extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and the underlying anatomy responsible for structure and function.

Different Nasal Shapes that Rhinoplasty Can Correct

People sometimes assume that rhinoplasty is used just to minimize an overly large nose. While that is something that rhinoplasty can certainly correct, there are others nasal shapes the procedure addresses, such as:

  • Dorsal Hump. A dorsal humped nose has a raised curvature on the bridge of the nose and is best seen from a side view.
  • Pinched Nasal Tip. This description refers to the nasal tip being excessively narrow, often as the result of prior surgery.
  • Boxy Tip. Individuals whose have a boxy tipped nose sometimes mistake it for a bulbous nose. A boxy tipped nose is defined by its broad, rectangular appearance that is best seen from below.
  • A bulbous shaped nose is rounded and has an overly-large tip. Characteristics of a bulbous nose include thick nostrils and a ball-like tip that is poorly defined. Rosacea sometimes accompanies this type of nose shape.
  • Plunging Tip. A plunging tipped nose has a drooping appearance that is more pronounced when you smile. Rhinoplasty surgery corrects the heavy-looking, dominant tip that is medically referred to as a ptotic nasal tip.
  • Widened Nose. Some Houston men and women have noses that they feel are too wide. In general, a widened nose is broad and flat across the bridge.
  • Hanging Columella. If your nostrils are much higher than the tissue that separates them; you have what is referred to as columellar show and is most noticeable seen from a profile view.

What Happens During a Rhinoplasty Procedure?

After addressing functional and cosmetic conditions that you want to alter during a consultation, Drs. Fusi and Craig will schedule your rhinoplasty procedure at a nearby outpatient surgery center in the Houston area. On the day of your surgery, a trained anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia or sedation. Our doctors will then:

  • Make an incision to gently expose the entire structure of the nose either through a closed or open approach. During a closed procedure, your incisions are hidden inside of your nose. The incision is made across the columella during an open procedure.
  • Reshape the nasal structure which may require the removal of tissue, cartilage, bone, and skin. Some patients may require a cartilage graft to restore shape.
  • Correct a deviated septum, if needed, to improve breathing.
  • Close the incision by draping skin and tissue over the cartilage and bone to rebuild your new nose.

When Will My Results Be Noticeable?

Following your rhinoplasty surgery, your nose will require gauze packing and a splint for a short while. These reinforce the structure of your nose, protecting the tissue, cartilage, skin, and bone while it heals. After the split and gauze are removed, many Houston patients will continue to experience:

These symptoms are normal and will resolve on their own in the first 7-10 days after surgery. However, the final results may take two to six months to be apparent due to residual swelling. Dr. Fusi and Dr. Craig will provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for your nose and reduce discomfort from your symptoms. Your results will become gradually apparent as your nose heals and your results should be long-lasting.

Your Final Result

After a few weeks of healing, you will begin to notice a difference in the structure of your nose. If your deviated septum was corrected or you had a combined functional and aesthetic rhinoplasty, then you will also experience an improvement in breathing once all of the swelling has resolved. The final result of your rhinoplasty will gradually emerge in the months following surgery, and the shape of your new nose will be fully formed after one year.

To schedule a rhinoplasty consultation, call our office in Houston today at (713) 346-9909.