Rhinoplasty

A balanced, harmonious nose is an essential part of facial beauty and proportion. Many factors contribute to the appearance of the nose, including size, shape, projection, and its relationship to the rest of the face. For patients seeking a more refined appearance while preserving their unique character, rhinoplasty can create elegant, natural-looking results that enhance the face as a whole.

What Is an Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty With the Piezoelectric Device? 

Most rhinoplasty techniques include some type of nasal bone modification in order to achieve a slimmer nasal profile with better alignment of the bony architecture that shapes the upper part of the nose. Traditionally, sculpting the nasal bones in rhinoplasty includes using a bone chisel and hand-held hammer to mobilize or shape the nasal bones into a more favorable alignment. A hammer and bone-chisel technique can result in more injury to the surrounding tissues that do not need any modification. This can result in significantly more bleeding, swelling, and discomfort for the patient recovering after rhinoplasty.

An ultrasonic piezoelectric rhinoplasty is the technical name for performing a rhinoplasty using ultrasound energy. This is a form of rhinoplasty which avoids a hammer and chisel to reshape/sculpt the nasal bones and surrounding bone pyramid. The piezoelectric device uses ultrasonic energy to carefully transmit energy to the bones that are to be sculpted and/or mobilized; the piezoelectric device will not cut or reshape cartilage since it will only target the much denser bony structures. The ultrasonic device provides more precision and reduces the chance of any inadvertent adjacent soft tissue injury, which can occur more frequently using the traditional chisel/hammer combination. 

Dr. Gianfranco Frojo was the first plastic surgeon in the Hampton Roads area to adopt the ultrasonic rhinoplasty technique utilizing the piezoelectric device for bone cutting in rhinoplasty.

What Is the Advantage of an Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Using the Piezoelectric Device for Patients?

The original, traditional rhinoplasty maneuvers that utilize a hand-held hammer and bone chisel can result in undesirable inadvertent outcomes, particularly in inexperienced hands, including more bleeding, bruising, swelling, and potentially inadvertent fracturing of the nasal bones in an undesirable pattern. The more precise, gentle technique of sculpting/moving the nasal bones with the piezoelectric device significantly minimizes patient bruising, bleeding, and swelling. This is because the ultrasonic device delivers the minimal amount of energy required to appropriately sculpt the nasal bones, which is not possible even with the finest bone chisel. In addition, the use of the ultrasonic piezoelectric device permits the resurgent trend of preservation rhinoplasty. Preservation rhinoplasty is a unique rhinoplasty philosophy of reshaping/sculpting rather than the more aggressive reductive traditional techniques of bone fractures with a hammer and chisel. The more precise, lower-energy approach delivered to the nasal framework permits a more rapid recovery with significantly less pain, bruising, and swelling for the patient. 

Ideal Candidates

The best candidates for a rhinoplasty are in good physical and emotional health and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve.

Rhinoplasty may be appropriate for Individividuals looking to improve  the  shape, size, symmetry, or overall proportion of the nose in relation to their other facial features.

Procedure

Dr. Frojo performs rhinoplasty procedures on an outpatient basis under deep sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure typically takes approximately 3–4 hours to perform. Rhinoplasty using piezoelectric ultrasound is designed to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the nose while using less aggressive techniques than traditional methods. This approach helps minimize trauma to surrounding tissues and allows for a more rapid recovery.

Costs

Several factors determine the total cost of rhinoplasty surgery, including:

• Facility fees
• Anesthesia fees
• Surgical fees
• Prescriptions for medication

A rhinoplasty is not typically covered by insurance because it is considered a cosmetic procedure. Feel free to contact the surgical coordinator for pricing and to request more information about this or other cosmetic procedures.

Potential Risks and Complications

As with any surgical procedure, rhinoplasty carries certain risks and potential complications, including bleeding, infection, swelling, changes in sensation, asymmetry, scarring, difficulty breathing, and the possibility of needing additional treatment. While complications are uncommon, it is important for patients to understand that every surgical procedure carries some degree of risk.

During your consultation and pre-operative appointment, Dr. Frojo will take the time to thoroughly explain your procedure, discuss potential risks, and answer any questions you may have so you can feel confident and well-informed about your decision.

Recovery

Following ultrasonic rhinoplasty using the piezoelectric device, patients can expect swelling, bruising, and nasal congestion during the first week. Small internal nasal splints or packing may be placed temporarily, and an external nasal splint is commonly worn for approximately one week to protect and support the nose during early healing. Swelling gradually improves over the following weeks. Subtle swelling, particularly around the nasal tip, may persist for months as the nose continues to refine.

Results

The results of a rhinoplasty will be apparent after surgery. However, due to swelling, it may take several months, up to a year, for the nose to fully settle and for the final results to become fully apparent.

To find out more about rhinoplasty surgery, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gianfranco Frojo by calling Mancoll Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery at (757) 305-9185 or filling out our online contact form.