Rhinoplasty
(Nose Job) San Diego

Because precision is critical, Dr. Laverson prefers open rhinoplasty technique.  Performed in our fully accredited surgery center under general anesthesia, the open rhinoplasty approach allows direct visualization of all nasal structures, accurate evaluation of important details, and incremental adjustments until your desired appearance is achieved.  Rhinoplasty is best accomplished by surgeons with an intuitive sense of proportion and excellent surgical skills.  Dr. Laverson performs rhinoplasty under high quality optical magnification.  The procedure is disciplined, and executed as planned in sequential steps.  Like movements in a symphony, your result comes together during the course of a two to four hour operation.  The board certified highly experienced anesthesiologist monitors your vital functions throughout, protecting you and assuring your safety and comfort.  Splints are applied at the conclusion of rhinoplasty to stabilize structure during the first post-operative week.  These are removed in our San Diego office, at which time you get your first inkling of the result.  Like many aesthetic procedures, swelling persists for some time.  Healing and contraction progress for many months.  You can expect to look very presentable in 2-3 weeks, but your appearance continues to improve gradually.  Dr. Laverson has a revision rate of about ten percent.  These are most often minor adjustments desired by patients and accomplished in our San Diego office under local anesthesia at minimal cost to you.

Brief questions about your medical history will be asked.  Past and present illnesses, medications, surgery, treatments, and injuries to the nose should be disclosed.  When you visit our San Diego office, the inside of your nose will be examined to check your airway and other features.   Characteristics of your nasal skin, bone, and cartilage will be observed in the context of changes you request and other aspects of your face.  Dr. Laverson will consider whether or not he agrees that your requested changes will improve the appearance of your nose and your face.  If he does agree, he’ll explain the best technique to you, and associated risks.  If he doesn’t agree, he’ll explain why, and make alternative recommendations.  Dr. Laverson may advise placement of a chin implant during your procedure to improve proportion with the nose.

The cost of of rhinoplasty in San Diego depends on the duration and complexity of your rhinoplasty, whether or not implants are used, and whether other procedures are accomplished under the same anesthetic.    If only the tip is corrected, cost is less.  If the nose is crooked and there are breathing problems, cost may be more.  Price range including anesthesiologist, surgery center, and post-operative care six to twelve thousand dollars.

Visible scars from rhinoplasty are rare.  Dr. Laverson performs rhinoplasty with bright surgical lighting and high quality optical magnification through an “open” technique for maximum precision.  A tiny scar across the bottom skin bridge between your nostrils usually disappears over time.  Stitches are removed after one week.  Changes that Dr. Laverson can directly visualize through the open technique include lowering or raising the nasal bridge, diminishing size and refining definition of the tip, narrowing your nostrils, and changing angles to raise the tip of the nose or at the top of your nose where it joins the forehead.

If necessary, the base of your nose may be narrowed by removing small skin wedges at your nostril margins.  This produces scars that are hidden, and become obscure or undetectable over time.  Occasionally, if desired, an office procedure to improve the appearance of scars is indicated.

Tens of thousands of rhinoplasties are performed around the world each year without complications. Still, problems may occur. If you are considering rhinoplasty, learn about possible complications in advance. Our informed consent document explaining common risks is HERE. Should a problem occur, Dr. Laverson will be beside you to continue your care until the problem is resolved with the best possible outcome.

• If you smoke, stop at least three weeks before rhinoplasty.
• Do NOT take aspirin, Bayer, Excedrin, Ibuprofen, or any other anti-inflammatory medication for at least ten days before rhinoplasty. These increase bleeding and bruising, prolonging your recovery.
• Clear your calendar for the week following rhinoplasty.
• Arrange a ride home the day of surgery, and someone to stay with you overnight.

Your rhinoplasty will be performed at a fully accredited ambulatory surgery center in San Diego. Upon arrival at our San Diego surgery center, front desk staff asks you to complete documentation.

General Instructions to Follow Before & After Your Rhinoplasty Procedure >>

You change clothing and meet nursing staff in the pre-operative room. Your Anesthesiologist will meet and interview you briefly, and examine you, and Dr. Laverson will ask if you have last minute questions, concerns, requests, or reminders. You are then walked to the operating room with the nurse who stays in the operating room during your entire procedure. Dr. Laverson and the anesthesiologist will be there.

The anesthesiologist starts an intravenous line, wishes you pleasant dreams, and before you know it (there is no sense of time under anesthesia) you awake from surgery in the recovery room! After 60-90 minutes in recovery, you are usually awake enough to go home. The week following rhinoplasty is the most unpleasant time. There is a splint on top of your nose, so you won’t get to see the result right away. Splints inside your nose force you to breathe through your mouth, even while eating. For several days afterward, you may have post-nasal drip of blood and/or secretions. A “moustache” dressing beneath your nostrils may also help absorb drainage.

There will be swelling and bruising around the nose, visible beneath your eyes and on your cheeks. Bruising usually resolves in several days. Sleep with your head elevated on several pillows to minimize swelling of the nose and face. Take prescribed pain medicine as needed. At your one week follow up appointment with Dr. Laverson, splints and sutures are removed. This is not painful or uncomfortable. You will then get the first indication of your result, although still quite swollen. By two weeks after your procedure, swelling and bruising are further diminished, and most normal activities can be resumed.

Rhinoplasty should produce a nose that looks natural and blends well with your other features.  Because healing progresses slowly, plan to wait about one year for your final result.  Still you’ll begin enjoying your new look two to four weeks  after the procedure.  If an area is imperfect, “touch up” revision can usually be accomplished in our San Diego office, and is much less extensive than the original procedure.

Avoid straining, bending, and lifting during the week following surgery. Return to work is usually eight to ten days after rhinoplasty.  Most normal activities including exercise are safely resumed three to six weeks after surgery. If the bones of your nose were moved, Dr. Laverson recommends supporting glasses with tape for two  weeks to avoid pressure on healing nasal bones.

Rhinoplasty results are permanent, except for age associated changes and/or future trauma.

Long term follow-up visits in our San Diego office is an important part of your procedure, and will help you achieve your best result.  Issues may only become apparent as swelling resolves by 6-12 months.  At these times, your final result will be evaluated.  Residual imperfections, if any, will be addressed.  Even if your result seems perfect, Dr. Laverson needs to see you to understand the impact of each technical maneuver and of healing.

Although rhinoplasty is highly individualized, some changes are common.  Feminizing the caucasian nose is achieved by diminishing size and more delicate contours.  Lowering a bump on top of the nose, raising the tip, narrowing the bridge and/or nostrils, and adding subtle angularity to the tip of the nose are often part of the procedure.  The relatively smaller nose visually enlarges surrounding eyes and lips.

Many present other requests, but a smaller nose with narrowed base, narrowed top of nose, straightening the nose, improved breathing, and delicate more angular tip of the nose are frequent changes.

For men, a strong, straight nose with well defined tip facets may be preferred.

South Asian, Hispanic, Black, and Middle Eastern skin is often thicker.  A “bump” on top of the nose may or may not be present, but narrowing the base and top of the nose, projecting and/or defining the tip, and adjusting other features are commonly desired.  Dr. Laverson applies safe, proven, and consistently reliable techniques to produce these modifications.

The process begins with a meeting in our Rancho Santa Fe San Diego office or with a review of photos you send.  We learn about and understand your vision and adjustments you want.  Then, we simulate those changes on your profile photograph.

Dr. Laverson learns how you want your nose to appear. Besides lowering the bump on top of the nose, narrowing the nose, and refining the nasal tip, other possible changes are increasing or decreasing length and/or projection of the nose, raising the top of the nose with graft(s), narrowing and/or reshaping nostrils, and lowering or augmenting the root of the nose (between the eyes).  Airway issues (obstruction with difficult breathing) may be addressed as well.  Your rhinoplasty result may be simulated in our office with Canfield surgical simulation to help you visualize expected results.  Even more valuable are Dr. Laverson’s hand drawn proposed profile changes, as in the adjacent sketch on left of page.  Using your photos as a beginning, he sketches proposed results on acetate overlay.  You decide whether or not the planned changes are what you want. When you and Dr. Laverson come to agreement about what should be done, he uses the diagram as a guide during your rhinoplasty procedure to produce an outcome you’ll be pleased with. Schedule a free consultation in our San Diego location today.

Your wishes represent our directive for planning your rhinoplasty. Dr. Laverson will explain the technique to accomplish your desired changes, and what to expect. He may also suggest additional or alternative changes to maintain proportion with other features of your nose and face.

In the operating room, Dr. Laverson uses sophisticated instrumentation and materials for maximum control and precision in your rhinoplasty, including Mectron Piezosurgery®, Medtronic XPS Nexus® , Medpor® porous polyethylene implants, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation Biologics and more or others as indicated.

If you’re ready to take the next step, book a consultation with our team today to discuss your goals and explore your options.