The Art and Science of Augmentation Rhinoplasty
One of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures is augmentation rhinoplasty (commonly called nose lifts). This is specially true for Asians. Many Filipinos, especially those who reside in countries like the United States, the U.K., and countries in Europe, where nose bridges are commonly very high, get a boost of self-confidence and feel more attractive when they have their noses surgically enhanced. Indeed, since the nose occupies the prominent central area of the face, it determines to a major extent whether the face is considered attractive or not, and a higher nose bridge makes a big difference in the overall balance and appearance of the face.
A big difference, yes, but unfortunately, not always a positive difference. Augmentation rhinoplasty is a deceptively simple operation. Thus, many doctors who have not had special training in plastic surgery think they can easily do it well. After all, what could be so difficult about placing an implant to increase the bridge of the nose?
As any well trained and experienced plastic surgeon can explain, rhinoplasty is one of the most delicate plastic surgery operations. Everyone has a different nose and the plastic surgeon should evaluate the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, your skin, and your age since these factors influence his decisions about what techniques to use for the surgery to get the desired result.
Although rhinoplasty usually takes only an hour or two, this operation is difficult to learn and difficult to perform well. A skillful surgeon knows where to make incisions so that they will be practically invisible after healing. With proper technique, scar tissue doesn’t interfere with achieving the desired results. A skillful surgeon also knows where to make incisions to minimize the amount of bleeding during the operation. The surgeon can have better results when there is less bleeding because he can clearly see what needs to be done. An experienced surgeon also knows how to minimize intra-operative swelling. Swelling can make it hard for the surgeon to see what the nose’s final shape will be and what needs to be done during surgery.
A surgeon does not only need technical expertise to perform augmentation rhinoplasty. He not only needs to be an expert on the “science” of this operation, he must also be an artist. There is so much artistry involved in the planning and execution of this operation. The best plastic surgeons carve an implant especially for each patient in the right size and shape to create a new nose that will look natural. Your surgeon must have a fine aesthetic sense such that the surgical results of your nose operation will appear natural and unnoticeable. The new nose should look like it “fits” together with the rest of your features. With this need for surgical skills, aesthetic judgement, sense of beauty, and an ability to visualize the end result, untrained doctors find out that augmentation rhinoplasty isn’t so easy after all.
Dr. Carlos I. Lasa, Jr. is the only Filipino plastic surgeon ever accepted for advanced fellowship training at the prestigious Institute of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He also trained at the University of the Philippines, & at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Ohio,USA. He is currently based in Metro Manila, Philippines, where cosmetic surgery is very affordable due to favorable exchange rates, and lower overhead costs and professional fees. Dr. Lasa specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery procedures such as liposuction, rhinoplasty (noselift), breast augmentation, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhytidectomy (facelift), abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck) and more. Dr. Lasa’s office and outpatient surgery clinic is located at the 3rd floor of Korben Place, 91 Roces Avenue, corner Scout Tobias St., Quezon City, Philippines. For more information about having safe and affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines, visit his site at cosmeticsurgeryphil.com cosmeticsurgeryphil.com or email mailto:clasamd@cosmeticsurgeryphil.com clasamd@cosmeticsurgeryphil.com.
