The nose is the center point of the face and plays a critical role in facial symmetry. It is also considered the golden section in your facial aesthetics because of its position between the eyes and the chin. If it is crooked or not in proper proportion, you may have a ruined balance of your facial features.
This begs the question of what can be done to reshape your nose to improve your facial aesthetics.
Well, you can get your nose reshaped and resized with rhinoplasty or nose job – the surgical procedure that removes excess bone and cartilage to give you a more proportionate snout. Developed by Dr. John Orlando Roe in 1887 in Rochester, NY, rhinoplasty has become a mainstream surgical treatment to improve the function and appearance of the nose.
And like other surgeries, a nose job involves incisions, tissue removal, stitches, swelling, and bruising, all of which can cause significant discomfort and lead to an extended recovery period. And as shuddery as it may sound, the hard tissue removal and sculpting during this procedure involve using chisels, rasps, and hammers.
However, if the nose correction you want is more cosmetic than functional, you can get it through a less invasive procedure. You can go for ultrasonic rhinoplasty – a less invasive alternative to a traditional nose job.
Table of Contents
- 1 What is Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?
- 2 Who Is A Good Candidate For An Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?
- 3 How Does It Work?
- 4 What Is The Difference Between Ultrasonic and Traditional Rhinoplasty?
- 5 Is Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Better?
- 6 What Is The Recovery After Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?
- 7 How Long Does Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Take?
- 8 Wrapping up
What is Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?
Ultrasonic rhinoplasty, also called Piezotome Rhinoplasty, is an advanced cosmetic nasal surgery to reduce nose size and improve shape. This surgical procedure uses ultrasound energy to cut and trim nose cartilage and bone. Through this technique, your surgeon can remove excess hard tissues without damaging the surrounding soft tissues.
Ultrasonic rhinoplasty is considered a more accurate and safer method to create a straighter, slimmer, and more symmetric nose appearance.
Who Is A Good Candidate For An Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?
A good candidate for an ultrasonic as well as traditional reduction rhinoplasty is someone:
- With a bump or hump on the nose bridge
- Who has a deviated nasal septum
- With complete facial growth
- Who is physically healthy
- Who has realistic expectations of the procedure
- Who doesn’t smoke
Similarly, some patients may not be the best candidates for rhinoplasty. Those include:
- People with extensive nose deformity or those wanting to reduce the nasal tip
- Individuals above 18
- People facing psychological issues like depression
- People experiencing a crisis like the recent death of a close one
How Does It Work?
Ultrasonic rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. During this procedure, the surgeon uses an ‘open’ approach, which involves an incision of 3mm to insert an ultrasonic device. This device has a tip that micro-vibrates at a high frequency to trim and shave the nasal bone and cartilage. This process accurately sculpts tissues in the treatment area, allowing for precise nose structure improvement.
What Is The Difference Between Ultrasonic and Traditional Rhinoplasty?
The difference between these rhinoplasty techniques lies in how they are performed. Ultrasonic rhinoplasty is a less traumatic procedure, thanks to the precise tissue removal powered by ultrasound energy. On the other hand, traditional rhinoplasty uses chisels, rasps, and hammers to remove bone tissue and excess cartilage. Moreover, ultrasonic or piezo rhinoplasty causes less bruising, redness, and swelling than traditional rhinoplasty.
Is Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Better?
An ultrasonic nose job may be a better option than traditional rhinoplasty due to the following benefits:
- A more precise procedure: One of the primary benefits of ultrasonic rhinoplasty is its greater precision when sculpting the nose. This is because the technique used in this procedure significantly prevents fractures, even in delicate nasal bones.
- Reduced trauma in the tissues: Although some swelling and bruising may still occur during an ultrasonic nose job, they are not as significant as with traditional rhinoplasty. This makes ultrasonic rhinoplasty a safer option for many candidates.
- Faster recovery: With greater precision and less tissue damage comes faster recovery. , you can resume your routine activities much sooner than after a traditional nose job.
What Is The Recovery After Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?
You can return home after the procedure, but your nose will be bandaged for optimum protection.
The initial recovery after ultrasonic rhinoplasty takes place in 2-3 weeks. You will experience some swelling, bruising, and pain during this time. However, you may be able to wear makeup after the first week. Complete healing may take 12-18 months, but you should be able to resume your routine activities after a month.
How Long Does Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Take?
An ultrasonic procedure may take 2-3 hours, depending on the amount of tissue removal and reshaping work involved. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision on the columella and lifts the nose tip to get a visualization of the treatment area under the skin. They then insert an ultrasonic device into the treatment area through that incision to cut away the excess tissue and sculpt the nasal structure.
In other words, the treatment procedure will last longer when it involves removing more than the usual amount of tissue.
Wrapping up
Ultrasonic rhinoplasty is an innovative approach to sculpting your nose and offers myriad benefits. It is a precise treatment that naturally improves your nose shape and size. Additionally, this procedure is a safer and less invasive alternative to a traditional nose job and leads to faster recovery and reduced bleeding, swelling, and bruising.
It is pertinent to note that ultrasound rhinoplasty is more suitable for patients with little to no problems with nose function. So if you want to improve your nasal function, you will benefit more from traditional rhinoplasty than an ultrasonic nose job.
Moreover, like other surgical procedures, this treatment is not without some risks and complications. Therefore, it is always necessary to consult a highly experienced surgeon with particular expertise in ultrasonic rhinoplasty to improve your nose appearance.