Rhinoplasty FAQ

Our Plastic Surgeon Serving Atlanta, Dunwoody, and Beyond Answers Nose Surgery Questions

The decision to undergo rhinoplasty is a major one and can vastly improve the self-confidence of a person who has always been self-conscious about his or her nose. Therefore, it is understandable that patients have many questions about the procedure and are curious to know how they will look after having had the surgery. Dr. Burke Robinson can help provide information. He has performed the procedure for patients from Atlanta, Dunwoody, and other areas and has mastered the art of nose surgery. His consistent and predictable results and expert surgical technique, as well as his status as one of the very few double board-certified surgeons in the area, have made him one of Atlanta’s top nose surgery doctors.

• At what age is rhinoplasty (nose surgery) usually performed?
• If I were to have surgery, would I have an open rhinoplasty or a closed rhinoplasty?
• Why is chin augmentation sometimes recommended in combination with nose surgery?
• What is the recovery from rhinoplasty like?
• What should I consider when choosing a rhinoplasty surgeon?

At what age is rhinoplasty (nose surgery) usually performed?

Nose surgery can be performed on an adult of any age, but it is most commonly performed on patients ages 18 to 30. By this time, many patients will have experienced schoolyard teasing because of their noses, but they will also have the perspective and maturity necessary to make decisions for themselves about whether to have rhinoplasty surgery. In select cases, younger teens may be operated on, but they must be past the adolescent growth spurt, possess the maturity to make such a decision, and be responsible enough to follow through with all pre- and postoperative instructions that Dr. Robinson provides.

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If I were to have surgery, would I have an open rhinoplasty or a closed rhinoplasty?

Some minor aesthetic issues can be corrected with closed rhinoplasty surgery, but many more complex nose surgeries necessitate open rhinoplasty. The choice depends on the doctor – some surgeons favor the closed approach, as it results in less scarring, while others prefer the access of the open nose surgery technique. Dr. Robinson is experienced in both methods and prefers to make this decision on a patient-by-patient basis. A customized approach is best because it allows Dr. Robinson to formulate an individualized surgical plan based on the particular patient’s needs. To learn whether the open or closed approach will best suit your surgical goals, schedule a consultation with Dr. Robinson.

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Why is chin augmentation sometimes recommended in combination with nose surgery?

Though some people fail to notice the importance of the chin to overall facial balance, it is extremely important. A weak chin can make a large nose look larger than it really is simply because of facial proportions. By adding a small implant to the chin in a straightforward surgical procedure, a surgeon can greatly diminish the prominence of the nose. For this reason, Dr. Robinson occasionally recommends chin augmentation to his rhinoplasty patients. Viewing before-and-after photos of the procedure on this website or in his office may also help you to see the surprisingly dramatic improvement that can be achieved by subtly enlarging the chin. If a chin implant would be beneficial, Dr. Robinson will inform you in his Atlanta and Dunwoody-area offices during your nose surgery consultation.

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What is the recovery from rhinoplasty like?

For a week after the surgery, the patient must wear a splint to protect the nose and help it heal with structural support. The face may be puffy, and there is often some bruising and discomfort in the throat. "The throat will actually hurt worse than the nose," says Dr. Robinson. Pain medication can alleviate this discomfort, which should not last more than a few days after surgery. In a week, the patient visits Dr. Robinson again to have the dressings removed. After this initial recovery phase, nose surgery patients are usually able to return to work and get back to their normal lives, with a few exceptions. "For six weeks after surgery we suggest no glasses or contact sports," Dr. Robinson advises.

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What should I consider when choosing a rhinoplasty surgeon?

People should be careful when choosing a doctor to perform nose surgery, advises Dr. Robinson. "Rhinoplasty is an evolved technique, referred to as the most difficult plastic surgery to do." This difficulty arises because of the complex aesthetic issues involved – a good result for one patient may look unnatural or unappealing on another – as well as the importance of preserving the functionality of the nose. If you are interested in rhinoplasty surgery, seek a qualified and experienced doctor, preferably one with over 10 years of experience with rhinoplasty. Be careful, though: putting too much weight on years of experience might also be deceiving. If a surgeon performs only facial plastic surgery, he or she may actually have more experience with rhinoplasty than a plastic surgeon with more years in practice.

Board-certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), Dr. Robinson is extensively qualified in both of these areas. He also has more than 20 years of experience in performing facial plastic surgery solely. In this time, Dr. Robinson has performed hundreds of nose surgeries, far more than the average plastic surgeon who performs facial plastic surgery in addition to breast and body procedures.

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Contact Dr. Burke Robinson for Nose Surgery

Rhinoplasty is often considered to be the most difficult plastic surgery procedure to perform, which is why it is important to seek the finest care before entrusting your nose to a surgeon. For more information, contact our cosmetic surgery offices in the Atlanta area (locations in Dunwoody and Alpharetta) for a nose surgery consultation.