Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
 At Brisbane Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery Centre, rhinoplasty & otoplasty are performed by Dr Cheng, a qualified plastic surgeon with a special interest in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. He performs cosmetic surgery such as rhinoplasty, otoplasty, breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift, for patients desiring to enhance their appearance.
Rhinoplasty can reshape, reduce or augment a person's nose to achieve facial harmony and boost self-confidence. It may be performed as a reconstructive procedure to correct a birth defect or an injury such as a broken nose.
What Can Rhinoplasty Do For Me?
Rhinoplasty is an excellent procedure for achieving the following:
- Balance the size of the nose with the other facial features
- Modify the width of the nose at the bridge
- Improve the nasal profile, including removing humps or depressions
- Contour a nasal tip that is too large, "boxy," drooping or upturned
- Change the angle between the nose and the mouth
- Narrow and reshape the nostrils
- Correct asymmetry or deviation
How Is Rhinoplasty Performed?
Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Cheng prefers open technique for rhinoplasty. The incision is made across the columella, the tissue between the nostrils. Dr. Cheng gently lifts the soft tissues covering the nose. He sculpts the bone and cartilage to the desired shape. Any additional cartilage needed to augment the nose can often be taken from the septum. Then the tissues are re-draped and stitched closed. If the patient desires nostril reshaping, this is done as the final stage of rhinoplasty. The entire procedure generally takes two hours.
What Is The Recovery From Rhinoplasty Like?
For a short time after surgery, patients may experience puffiness, nose ache or a dull headache, some swelling and bruising, bleeding or stuffiness. Most patients feel like themselves within two days and return to work in about a week.
The results of rhinoplasty become gradually apparent as the days pass after surgery and swelling recedes. Swelling may reappear from time to time in the first year after the procedure. It is typically more noticeable in the morning and fades during the day.
What Are The Possible Risks Of Rhinoplasty?
Complications are rare and, when they occur, minor.
These may include:
- Anaesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Nose asymmetry
- Change in skin sensation
- Nasal airway alterations that may interfere with normal passage of air through the nose
- Nasal septal perforation
- Pain
- Scarring
- Skin contour irregularities
- Skin discoloration and swelling
- Possibility of revisional surgery
You can discuss these risks, along with any other concerns you may have with Dr. Cheng to reduce anxiety and worries about your surgery.
Otoplasty (Ear Surgery)
 Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of a person's ears. Although otoplasty does not affect hearing, it can provide great psychological benefits to anyone who has been teased about the size or shape of their ears, has had a serious ear injury, or simply wants to improve their appearance.
Am I A Good Candidate For Otoplasty?
Candidates for otoplasty may be anyone who feels self-conscious about their ears and wants to improve their appearance. Although the operation is most often performed on children aged four to fourteen, this procedure can be very beneficial to people of all ages. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and early surgery can prevent a child from being teased in school.
How Is Otoplasty Performed?
Otoplasty generally takes 1-2 hours and is performed on an outpatient basis. The type of anesthesia used typically depends on the age of the patient. General anesthesia is recommended for very young patients, while local anesthesia and a sedative may be used for older children and adults.
The otoplasty procedure begins with a small incision made behind the ear, in the natural crease where the ear meets the head. The cartilage is then sculpted and bent into its new position to achieve the desired appearance. In some types of otoplasty, skin is removed but the cartilage is left in one piece and merely bent back on itself for a smaller-looking ear.
After sculpting the cartilage to the preferred shape, sutures are used to hold the ear in the new position until healing is complete. A bandage is then wrapped around the head to ensure the new positioning. To achieve better balance, both ears may be operated on even if only one has a problem.
What Is The Recovery From Otoplasty Like?
Patients of all ages usually feel back to normal after a few hours, although the ears may ache or throb for a few days. Prescription medication will be made available to help alleviate any discomfort.
A few days after the otoplasty procedure, the bandages around your head will be replaced with a head band that should be worn for about 6 weeks. All stitches are absorbable so there is no need for suture removal. Otoplasty patients should avoid sleeping on their side for the first two weeks after surgery.
After about one week following otoplasty, children may return to school and adults are often able to return to work and resume normal daily activities. After the ears have healed completely, there will usually be a faint scar on the back of the ears. However, because of the strategic placement of the incisions in ear surgery, the scars should be virtually unnoticeable and will typically fade with time.
What Are The Possible Risks Of Otoplasty?
As with all surgery, there are risks associated with otoplasty. A small percentage of patients may develop a blood clot on the ear. This generally
dissolves naturally or can be treated with a needle. Another potential risk is an infection in the cartilage, which can cause scar tissue to form. This can usually be treated with antibiotics, but may occasionally require surgery. Also, you should not expect your new ears to match exactly; even normal, natural ears are not identical.
Complications are rare and usually minor, and can typically be minimized by carefully following Dr Cheng’s aftercare instructions.
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