Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX with Dr. Ali Abtahi
Patients often want to improve the appearance or function of their noses for a variety of reasons. Rhinoplasty surgery, colloquially referred to as “nose surgery” or a “nose job,” is a highly technical plastic surgery procedure that can be customized to meet each patient’s unique needs. Rhinoplasty is a major surgical procedure, and to obtain the best results, the patient must partner with a surgeon with exceptional levels of artistry, technical skill, education, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to communicate and listen thoughtfully.
When choosing Dr. Ali Abtahi, patients gain a highly trained professional who has their best interests at heart. To Dr. Abtahi, plastic surgery is a cog in the wheel of overall health. It is a stepping stone – not a solution. His role as a surgeon and good steward of medicine is to help patients obtain an overall healthy lifestyle, which includes looking and feeling better about themselves.
Learn more about rhinoplasty surgery by reading on or scheduling a consultation with Dr. Abtahi today. We are located in Southlake, TX, and proudly serve patients visiting from Fort Worth, Southlake, Aledo, Keller, Frisco, Grapevine, Colleyville, Arlington, Alliance, Coppell, and other nearby areas. We also cater to patients traveling from outside the state of Texas from all parts of the country. Dr. Abtahi is licensed in over 30 states across the country and provides virtual consultations to discuss your specific cosmetic surgery goals.
What are the Common Reasons for Cosmetic or Functional Rhinoplasty (Nose Job Surgery)
The second most common reason is dorsal hump prominence. If a patient looks at their side profile, the dorsal hump is the slope from the radix (i.e. Bridge) to the tip of their nose. On some people, the dorsal hump is very prominent. Patients bothered by this often want it to be smoothed out so that they have a much straighter or “ski sloped” dorsum.
Another common reason for rhinoplasty surgery is having the tip of the nose appear as if it’s downward-turned or “drooping”. This nose position can have an unappealing appearance and give an unwanted perception of the patient’s face that is not typically considered ideal.
A bulbous tip of the nose is very round in shape, and in general, patients desire a more refined tip. The problem with the appearance of a bulbous tip is often an imbalance between the upper and lower halves of the nose, specifically the upper and lower lateral cartilages. Patients will often complain of the appearance of a “clown nose” or “ball-like” tip.
Length can actually be two different factors that plastic surgeons must analyze to determine which measurement is truly the one that is “too long.” Dr. Abtahi will take both lengths into consideration when deciding if nasal shortening is indicated and the specific dimension which should be shortened.
Sometimes, the nose may appear disproportionately large or overprojected simply because the chin is set-back or recessed. This is most notable in the patient’s side profile. When the chin is undersized, it can be augmented to balance the face in a way that doesn’t require extensive shortening of the nose.
Overall, the number one reason patients pursue rhinoplasty is to correct functional breathing problems. When patients can’t breathe through their nose, it frequently prompts seeing someone to have it repaired. The issue may be that they can’t breathe through one or both sides of the nose, which forces them to breathe through the mouth.
What are the Components of Rhinoplasty Surgery?
Rhinoplasty aka nose job surgery entails multiple parts, and the procedural details depend on the patient’s overall aesthetic goals. The two main components addressed during each surgery are the following:
- Functional (how well the nose works): Sometimes, patients pursue rhinoplasty because of difficulty breathing through their nose. If this is the case, Dr. Abtahi can address obstructions in the airway passage through each nostril. This may include widening an area called the internal nasal valve, resecting portions of the turbinates, or in some instances, correcting a deviated septum.
- Aesthetic (how the nose appears): In many instances, patients may desire a more refined appearance to their nose. For example, patients will often say they don’t like the appearance of the dorsal hump, which is essentially where the bridge of the nose is more prominent than the tip of the nose. If this is the case, Dr. Abtahi can address this and other aesthetic components at the time of surgery.
Any rhinoplasty procedure can address functional issues, aesthetic issues, or both, depending on the reason that the patient has come to our office.
Meet Ali R. Abtahi, DO MSc
Dr. Ali R. Abtahi, DO MSc is a highly skilled surgeon with extensive training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Comprehensive Aesthetic Surgery, and General Surgery. Through his artistic vision and sincere passion for plastic surgery of the utmost quality, Dr. Abtahi is dedicated to delivering an elite, personalized experience.
What are the Basic Steps Involved in Dr. Abtahi’s Dallas-Fort Worth Rhinoplasty/ Nose Job Procedure?
Prior to the operation, Dr. Abtahi and the patient will decide on an open rhinoplasty or closed rhinoplasty approach.
Open Rhinoplasty: Approximately 70 to 90% of Dr. Abtahi’s patients are candidates for open rhinoplasty. This means that he will make a cut on the underside of the nose in an area called the columellar waist. Once the incision heals, the scar is imperceptible and this allows the surgeon full access to the underlying cartilage and nasal bones.
Closed Rhinoplasty: 10 to 30% of patients may be candidates for closed rhinoplasty, which means the operation can be performed through hidden incisions made inside of the nose. Closed rhinoplasty surgery may be appropriate for a smaller subset of patients which do not require extensive reshaping of their nasal dorsum and tip.
During rhinoplasty surgery, Dr. Abtahi will:
- Open the nose, remove the skin envelope, and evaluate the lower lateral cartilages of the tip
- Evaluate the nasal septum to see whether it’s straight or deviated and which way it needs to be moved (if at all)
- Inspect the dorsum and decide at this time whether preservation or structural rhinoplasty is needed. Regardless of the technique he employs, Dr. Abtahi will reshape the dorsum to achieve the best aesthetic result
- Harvest a portion of the septum and make cartilaginous grafts to shape and refine the nasal tip
- Insert tip-defining sutures that will straighten, elevate, and sharpen the appearance of the nose
- Perform osteotomies (i.e. cut the bones of the nose) in order to mobilize and straighten the upper vault.
- Wash everything out and close the incisions
Unlike the vast majority of rhinoplasty surgeons, Dr. Abtahi uses only external splints and taping during the postoperative period. Patients rarely require the more cumbersome internal splints inside each nostril. All patients are seen one week postoperatively for external splint removal and evaluation. Patients will then be seen at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months to monitor for resolution of swelling, complications, and changes in the nasal shape.
What is Dallas-Fort Worth Preservation Rhinoplasty?
Preservation rhinoplasty is a powerful new technique developed and popularized by rhinoplasty leaders in France and Turkey. Known for its incredible results and rapid recovery, the technique has only recently made its way into the United States surgical community. Dr. Abtahi has had extensive training in preservation rhinoplasty. Not every patient, however, is a candidate for this technique and after initial evaluation in the office, Dr. Abtahi will make the final decision intraoperatively once the internal structures of the nose have been revealed. From there, Dr. Abtahi can perform minimal dissection and keep the entirety of the dorsal unit together. In contrast to traditional structural rhinoplasty, patients experience an easier recovery and overall less likelihood of dorsal complications such as an inverted V deformity.
How to choose the Right Rhinoplasty Surgeon?
Choosing a rhinoplasty surgeon can be a daunting task. Oftentimes, patients may be lured by extravagant marketing or prominent academic names like Harvard, Yale, Hopkins, etc. The truth is, finding the best rhinoplasty surgeon is MUCH more involved and requires a bit of work and research. Click the button below to learn tips to help you navigate the plastic surgery market.
What Patients Should Know Before Considering Rhinoplasty?
Our goal is to make things better, not perfect.
Perfection simply doesn't exist in nature. Instead, we strive for improvement and refinement of the natural features of your nose. Medicine is an imprecise science where multiple factors can contribute to your postoperative result. Unfortunately, surgery is not like apps like face lab or face tune whereby every minute detail can be dialed in to perfection. Mild asymmetries and minimal irregularities may occur in addition to palpable differences of the nose after surgery. As seen with split-face studies (one side of the face is mirrored to create the opposite side), faces appear odd when they are perfectly symmetrical. However, improvements can be made to make the nose appear more balanced and harmonious with other facial features. Patients must understand that even the best rhinoplasty surgeons can only achieve 80 to 90 percent of your dream nose. Having realistic expectations will set patients up for success as opposed to a huge let down.
Full results take time.
Rhinoplasty results don't truly manifest until at least 12 months after surgery, so patients should be aware of the lengthy time commitment involved. Initially, patients may see some degree of change from before to after, but it may be engulfed in swelling that takes months and up to a year to finally resolve. Additionally, the skin envelope takes a lot of time to shrink down to its new underlying framework and is dependent on how thick and sebaceous the nasal skin is. The bottom line - patients need patience! Remember…Rome was not built in a day!
Revision rhinoplasty is a possibility.
It is expected that a certain percentage of individuals (national average 10 to 15 percent) will require some degree of major or minor revision surgery after a cosmetic procedure. Although we love to see great before and afters on social media, oftentimes these photos do not tell the entire story. Some patient’s transformational journey is an easy and direct straight line, and others are a more cumbersome zigzag. Regardless of the path, we are always focused on the end result. But it should be understood that with any initial rhinoplasty procedure, secondary rhinoplasty may be needed.
Schedule Your Dallas-Fort Worth Rhinoplasty Consultation Today
Contact Amor Propio Aesthetic Surgery to schedule a consultation for rhinoplasty with Dr. Ali Abtahi. After a physical examination and brief interview to understand your goals, Dr. Abtahi will provide you with his recommendations for the safest and most powerful approach to help you achieve your desired results. He’ll explain the pros and cons, what to expect at each stage of the process, and most importantly, will invest in getting to know you as an individual! Dr. Abtahi would love to guide you along your plastic surgery journey and help cultivate your overall commitment to health and wellness.
Call us at (469) 293-2533 or reach us online today!