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If you are interested in more information on the benefits of having an open or revision rhinoplasty at Dr. Whitfield's plastic surgery practice near Milwaukee and Madison, please fill out the form below to contact us.
Robert Whitfield, MD, FACS Department of Plastic Surgery 8700 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 Ph: 866-721-4575
Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic procedure in which the shape (and sometimes the function) of the nose is altered. Dr. Robert Whitfield has performed rhinoplasty surgery on many patients at his Milwaukee and Madison-area practice who aren't satisfied with the size, shape, or look of their nose. The patient may wish, for example, to smooth a noticeable bump, reshape the tip, or reduce the width of his or her nose. In some cases, rhinoplasty can be performed to correct a deviated septum, when the bone separating the nasal cavity into the two nostrils is slanted, obstructing the airway into the nasal passage and causing breathing trouble.
The preparation for surgery begins several weeks before the actual procedure. Dr. Whitfield sits down with the rhinoplasty patient at his office near Milwaukee and Madison and addresses the patient's expectations for the surgery; he then formulates a surgical plan to correct each part of the nose that the patient would like fixed. Dr. Whitfield provides explicit instructions for surgery preparation, including a list of medications to stop taking before the procedure, directions for the day of surgery, and post-operative care guidelines. If you have more questions about the pre-surgery preparation, please contact Dr. Whitfield at his plastic surgery practice.
To perform an open rhinoplasty, Dr. Whitfield makes an incision in the tissue that divides the nostrils, called the columella. After making the incision, he then lifts the tissue off of the bone; this gives him greater access to the bone and allows him to precisely sculpt the features. He can smooth a bump, reshape the tip, or balance the contours of the nose to enhance its overall appearance. Dr. Whitfield recommends an open rhinoplasty at his Milwaukee and Madison-area practice for patients with complex cosmetic requests.
Dr. Whitfield also performs revision rhinoplasty surgeries to correct a previous unsatisfactory rhinoplasty by another surgeon. Maybe the first rhinoplasty did not meet the initial requests of the patient, or perhaps the patient suffered trauma or a blow to the nose after the surgery; despite the motivation for having a revision rhinoplasty, Dr. Whitfield works with each patient to develop a surgical plan that addresses each element the patient wants to correct. It's important to wait at least one year after the first rhinoplasty before considering a revision surgery, so the final results are clearly visible. If you are interested in having a revision rhinoplasty performed, contact Dr. Whitfield, serving Milwaukee, Madison, and the surrounding areas.
After waking up from surgery, the patient needs to rest in bed, keeping the head elevated, and wear a splint to support the nose's altered shape and structure. Dr. Whitfield can prescribe medications to ease any pain or discomfort. The initial results will look swollen and bruised, but that will go away in about two weeks. The doctor meets with the patient several times after the surgery to ensure the nose is recovering and healing properly. Final results are usually visible after six months to a year, after the swelling has gone completely down.
A nose surgery can be performed in conjunction with another facial plastic surgery, like eyelid surgery or BOTOX® injections. For more information on combining a rhinoplasty with another procedure at our Milwaukee and Madison-area practice, or to set up a consultation, contact the office of Dr. Robert Whitfield.