Rhinoplasty

• To bring a better proportion to the nose and overall facial features.
• To reduce the size of the nose that is too large or too wide for your face.
• To correct a hump on your nose.
• To reshape the tip of your nose.
• To straighten you nose.
• To achieve an overall refinement to you nose.
• To correct the deformity caused by prior injury.
• To get help with breathing difficulties.
• To treat inborn nasal deformities.

Dr. Rayham performs Rhinoplasty procedure in his offices or hospital setting in Manhattan/NYC, Brooklyn or Staten Island, New York. This procedure generally lasts from one to three hours. Depending upon the complexity of the operation it could be done either under local anesthesia with twilight sedation or a general anesthesia. Incisions are usually placed inside the nostrils, so that they are not visible upon completion of the operation. If the complexity of you nasal deformity requires a so called ‘open’ approach, a small incision will be placed at the base of the columella, or midline portion of the skin strip between the two nostrils. The cartilaginous and the bony portions of the nose will be accessed and changes will be made to improve the appearance of your nose.

Sometimes a septoplasty needs to be performed to open the passageways for an improved airflow and improvement of breathing difficulties. Septoplasty is removal of the portion of the cartilage from the septum, which is the dividing partition deep between the nostrils. The cartilage removed from the septum can be utilized to improve the shape of the tip or the profile of your nose.

A situation where you have already had a rhinoplasty before and need to have a revision, requires a procedure known as a Secondary Rhinoplasty. Secondary Rhinoplasty may take a longer time to perform, and usually requires an ‘open’ approach, although small modifications can be performed by a more simple ‘closed’ technique.

Our Manhattan/NYC, Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York practices also provides minimally invasive special rhinoplasty procedures for correction of the deformities of the nose and other facial soft tissues with the use of such fillers as Perlane®, JUVÉDERM™, and Radiesse®.

The decision of whether a closed or an open approach or an injection procedure will be utilized to perform your procedure or whether or not you will need a septoplasty will be dependent upon the complexity of the problem that needs to be addressed. Dr. Rayham will discuss with you all possible options and the best approach to reach your goals.

Upon completion of the operation you nose will be splinted and a gauze will be placed at the nostrils. Generally, there will be some swelling present immediately after the operation, however, it will disappear within a few weeks. A splint, bandages, and/or gauze are applied immediately following surgery to expedite the healing process and to minimize the movement of the nose. The splint will be removed in about a week time. There are usually no sutures that need to be removed. Dr. Rayham encourages his patients to refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after the surgery. Also, if you wear glasses, we will show you how to position and tape them in such a way to prevent undue pressure that may negatively influence your healing process. Although some minor pain is usually associated with immediate postoperative period, it can be effectively treated with oral medication and/or cold compresses. While complications are rare, patients can minimize the risk of potential problems by carefully following the post-surgical directions given by the surgeon.

If you live in New York or nearby, you can go home the day of your rhinoplasty procedure. Our out of town patients normally stay overnight in one of our recommended hotels and can be driven home or fly home the next day following their postoperative check-up with Dr. Rayham.