COSMETIC TOWN JOURNAL



Expert Doctor

Microrhinoplasty

A microrhinoplasty is a nose job procedure done usually under local anesthesia where a very small incision is made on the inside of the nose for nose altering. The incision is made using a small, micro instrument that can be placed under the skin. It vibrates very fast and only affects bone and not cartilage or skin. This procedure can take down a small bump. The patient rarely has any discomfort and it is about a 10-minute procedure.

 

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Ideal candidates for microrhinoplasty fall under two categories. One category is someone who had prior surgery or trauma and now has a small bump on the bridge or side of their nose that they want removed. The other category is someone born with a little bump that has always bothered them and they want that bump to be eliminated.

 

MICRORHINOPLASTY VS. LIQUID RHINOPLASTY 

In addition to microrhinoplasty, there is liquid rhinoplasty that involves an injection of filler to camouflage bumps by filling in the shallow, depressed areas surrounding the bump.  By filling in the shallow area in front of or behind the bump, the doctor creates a plateau on the nose of the patient. Microrhinoplasty removes the bump. A patient gets a smaller nose with microrhinoplasty and a bigger nose with liquid rhinoplasty.

 

THE MEANING OF RHINOPLASTY 

Rhinoplasty means changing the shape of the nose. When a person talks about liquid rhinoplasty, they are talking about changing the shape of the nose using fillers as opposed to using medical instruments. The traditional way of discussing rhinoplasty is talking about someone having surgery with actual instruments placed in and around the nose to change the shape of the cartilage and the bone.

Liquid rhinoplasty does not change the cartilage, nor does it change the bone. It injects filler material that increases the volume in and around the nose to camouflage any irregularity.

Microrhinoplasty is a version of the more traditional form of rhinoplasty. It is actually a procedure where an incision is made on the inside of the nose with an instrument. The instrument is exceptionally small so the incision needs to be exceptionally small. The dissection needs to be exceptionally small as well as very targeted and limited.

 

LIMITATIONS 

Size is the main limitation of microrhinoplasty. At some point, the bump is large enough that it is really not amenable to being treated in such a minimal fashion. The bump will then have to be removed with a larger device. Larger devices mean larger incisions. A microrhinoplasty is determined by the size of the bump.

 

RISKS

The main risk of microrhinoplasty is not removing the entire bump or potentially removing too much.  If too much of the bump is removed, more cartilage can be added to the area. Filler can also be added to the area.  If not enough is taken out, the surgeon can go back in and remove a little bit more. Since the problem that is being addressed with microrhinoplasty is relatively minor, all of the complications and consequences are very minor.

 

RECOVERY 

Since the procedure is small, it only takes about 10 minutes. As a result of the small nature of the procedure, there is virtually no recovery time involved for the patient.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Microrhinoplasty is a good option for patients who wish to make a change in the appearance of their nose. The nose is a body part that is front and center when meeting others and it is important for a person to feel comfortable about their appearance. The procedure is similar to the traditional perception of rhinoplasty in that medical instruments are used during the procedure.  However, the instruments used are on a much smaller scale since it is a “micro” procedure.

The first step in having a microrhinoplasty is scheduling a consultation with an experienced doctor. It is important for patients to do their research when selecting a doctor to perform the surgery. A skilled doctor with a history of performing microrhinoplasty surgeries is best suited to remove a bump from the nose of a patient.

 

Written by Cosmetic Town Editorial Team- MA

Based on an exclusive interview with Philip Miller, MD in New York, NY