Men and women seek Dr. Mosser’s expertise in rhinoplasty here at our San Francisco cosmetic surgery practice for various reasons. Some find their noses too large or too broad for their face while others think that the base is too wide, the tip doesn’t seem to “fit in” when they smile, or it’s either too projected or not projected enough.

Whatever their reasons are for wanting a nose-reshaping procedure, there’s no denying the fact that how your nose looks like will significantly affect your overall appearance and consequently how you feel about yourself.

Achieving Facial Balance and Harmony

By and large, Dr. Mosser’s primary goal in a rhinoplasty surgery is to achieve facial balance and harmony. During your assessment and evaluation for surgery, you and Dr. Mosser will carefully craft a rhinoplasty surgery plan that will make subtle changes yet dramatically improve your overall look. For Dr. Mosser, improvement through plastic surgery happens through establishing harmony, not by manipulating your fundamental appearance.

Choosing an Experienced Rhinoplasty Surgeon

Rhinoplasty itself is a very meticulous procedure and choosing an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon from the inexperienced ones will make a significant difference in the outcomes. Dr. Mosser’s philosophy focuses on preserving the best features of your natural appearance, utilizing his knowledge of aesthetics to balance and improve the desired area of your body.

Rhinoplasty is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Procedure

An experienced plastic surgeon will explain to you that there is no one-size-fits-all technique used in rhinoplasty. Consider the differences between a male and a female nose. Generally, nose-reshaping procedures in males and females tend to differ on the final shape of the nose. The goal of male rhinoplasty is to make the nasal profile more masculine in appearance — strong bridge and a lower tip. On the other hand, rhinoplasty in women often aims for a more concaved tip, slightly elevated than the ones in males.

Apart from gender, ethnic differences is another important factor that should be taken into consideration when creating a nose-reshaping surgical plan. A skilled and highly experienced plastic surgeon will recognize this fact and will be able to improve the appearance of your nose while retaining your ethnic heritage.

To help you figure out if you’re an ideal candidate for rhinoplasty here at our practice , you can read more about it here. Moreover, if you’d like to learn how rhinoplasty can specifically help improve your overall appearance and find out which techniques will suit your goals and preferences, call us at 415.398.7778 or fill out this contact form to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you make subtle changes that can dramatically improve your life!

Definitely each ethnicity has different characteristics.  Once upon a time surgeons were trained to view the Caucasian aesthetic as the ideal look when performing a rhinoplasty.  However, over time that training has evolved, and instead of a “one size fits all” mentality, surgeons now try to create an ideal that fits the individual, rather than the masses.

The goal usually is to achieve an aesthetic that is pleasing to the patient without diminishing ethnic traits, and respecting each person’s individuality and facial harmony.  With Hispanic patients, there is often a bit of extra tissue on the dorsum (ridge) of the nose, or a lack of bone in the upper part of the nose (the nasion or bridge area).

A board certified plastic surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty will be able to identify and explain clearly to you the particular ethnic features of your nose, and how they would be addressed with rhinoplasty while still maintaining your look.

Injection rhinoplasty is when a filler such as Radiesse is used to fill in a portion of the nose to alleviate the appearance of a bump.  This is typically a procedure used to correct small defects, and should be done with extreme caution by a surgeon highly skilled in the arts of rhinoplasty and injectables.  Nasal skin is extremely thin so any abnormality can become very visible, and detract from the results you were hoping for.

Injection rhinoplasty is very different from a rhinoplasty surgery in which the structure of the nose is modified to bring balance & harmony to the face.  And while a traditional procedure may take a bit longer to heal and be a bit more of a recovery, it’s also more likely to offer a result you will be pleased with.

First & foremost, it is important that you consult with a surgeon who is Board Certified.  This ensures that they meet a strict set of criteria which are very important when considering a rhinoplasty, as it takes quite a bit of skill and experience to perform one successfully.

The second question you need to ask is how many rhinoplasty surgeries have they done?  You want to make sure the surgeon you choose has a great deal of experiencing in performing a rhinoplasty, and does them on a fairly regular basis.

I’d also recommend asking to see before and after photos of previous patients to ensure that your aesthetic and the surgeon’s are a good match.  Digital imaging can also be an extremely helpful tool in helping you and your surgeon set a realistic goal in terms of your final results.

Ultimately you need to feel 100% comfortable with your choice of surgeon.  Be sure to give them a detailed medical history, including any issues such as snoring, trauma, allergies, use of nasal sprays, recreational drugs, etc.  Schedule a consult and allow them to perform a detailed internal and external exam of your nose and bring in any records of past trauma they can review.  This will help them to make an informed decision on just how they can help you achieve a desirable result.

In any rhinoplasty surgery, bringing balance & harmony to the face is the goal.  For men, this is very important since a nose that appears feminine would in fact detract from the face.  A poorly shaped or disproportionate nose not only affects your appearance but can also impact your self esteem.  The end result should be masculine & well balanced.

Specifically men tend to prefer a stronger profile than women, which means the dorsal line of the nose needs to be straighter and very, very slightly curved for women.  Also the angle of the nose (the angle the lower nose creates with the upper lip) needs to be slightly smaller for men than for women, usually close to a 90 degree angle for men versus more like a 100-110 degree angle for women.

Ultimately though, it’s a balance between what you envision and what your surgeon feels capable of providing.  It might be a good idea if available to get a computer rendition of what you’re picturing, to give your surgeon a better visual to work with.

Though the nose is in the most prominent location of the face, it should never take “center stage” to the facial features.  That is, the nose should always should compliment the face, not dominate it.  If the nose is too prominent, it will draw attention away from the beauty of other facial features.  Likewise, if surgery of the nose makes it look sculpted and overdone, it will be just as badly out of balance.

So the key is to bring the nose back into balance with the face, which is why rhinoplasty is such an individualized surgery.  This need for balance is all the more true in the San Francisco Bay Area, since there is such a priority on looking and feeling natural in our Northern California culture.

Although bruising after Rhinoplasty isn’t uncommon, following your surgeon’s post operative instructions can assist with minimizing your recovery time as much as possible.  The splints and packing strips used immediately after your surgery assist in preventing swelling and bruising.

Also, your surgeon may recommend things like avoiding blood thinning medications such as Aspirin or Vitamin E two weeks prior to surgery and will usually give you a complete list to adhere to.

For my Rhinoplasty patients, I always suggest they use a supplement plan pre and post surgery to further reduce bruising and swelling as well, such as Bromelain and Arnica capsules.  Additionally, compresses can be used with good result.

Also, please keep in mind that patient factors will contribute to how much bruising and swelling occurs, as well as the skill of your surgeon.  Some people tend to bruise easily, and that is just the way of things.  But a skilled surgeon is adept at performing the procedure in a way that reduces recovery time as much as possible for each individual.

The best course of action is to discuss recommendations with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and go from there.

For some patients, injecting a filler such as Radiesse to the nose can be a good alternative to a Rhinoplasty. Costs can add up over time however, so consider your long-term goals and your budget.  Whether or not a patient is a good candidate depends upon their specific goals and their anatomy.

Most filler’s are generally not permanent, and will only correct specific anatomical issues, not things that may cause problems with your breathing.  They also are only good at ‘filling’, not taking away.  So it is difficult to make an area smaller if that is your goal. They are usually best when used for small irregularities, and are not a replacement for surgery.  Results typically only last up to a year.

There are permanent fillers, but those come with their own complications, and may be inferior to surgery itself.  I recommend meeting with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for a consultation, and specifically working with someone who is experienced in this particular use of facial fillers.  During the consultation, you and the surgeon will discuss your goals, and the surgeon can discuss the best options for your unique case.

I understand how disappointing and frustrating it can be to be disappointed by the results of your initial Rhinoplasty procedure.  I recommend that you look for Plastic Surgeons who specialize in Rhinoplasty procedures.  Nothing can take the place of experience, so don’t be afraid to ask about their experience and of course, always confirm they are Board Certified.  I would also recommend seeing more than just one or two; get the opinion of several surgeons, and base your decision on that.

An experienced surgeon can give you a realistic idea of what you could expect from a revision Rhinoplasty, and help you determine a surgical plan that makes sense for you.  Generally however, you will need to let yourself heal properly, and that can take up to a year.  An experienced Rhinoplasty surgeon will not consider a revision before that time, because it can compromise the possibility of success.  Don’t rush into any decisions until the healing process is complete.