Nasal Reconstruction Chicago
Nasal reconstruction is a broad term to describe complex surgeries of the nose to repair and reconstruct the nose in form and function after trauma or after tumor removal. The surgery is typically performed when there are asymmetries or defects of the nose. The complexity of the surgery depends on how extensive the defect is and what aspects of the nose require reconstruction. The reconstruction can involve all three layers of the nose: nasal lining, cartilage framework, and nasal skin.
Nasal reconstruction can also be useful to treat:
- A skin defect of the nasal bridge or nasal dorsum
- A skin or full thickness defect of the middle portion of the nasal dorsum or nasal sidewall
- Missing or absent nostrils
- Abnormally shaped or absent nasal tip
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR NASAL RECONSTRUCTION?
If you have an asymmetry of the nose from trauma or skin cancer removal, you may be a candidate for nasal reconstruction. If you are unhappy with the way your nose looks after a previous nasal surgery and still have asymmetries, nasal reconstruction may be an option for you.
Patients who have had skin cancer of the nose removed with Mohs surgery are good candidates for nasal reconstruction. Open wounds of the nose can be reconstructed with local tissue of the nose or regional tissue from the cheek or forehead.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CONSULTATION
Any medical center or practice you choose should be willing to sit down with you and take the time to explain all aspects of the procedure beforehand, including associated risks and recovery. At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we thoroughly review your medical history, speak with you about your expectations, and provide you with an extensive overview of the nasal defect or asymmetry and how we will be performing the nasal reconstruction.
HOW NASAL RECONSTRUCTION IS PERFORMED
In most cases, nasal reconstruction after Mohs surgery for skin cancer can be performed in the office with local anesthesia. When the defect is small, local tissue and flaps can be used to reconstruct the nose. When defects are larger, the procedure may have to be performed in the operating room with general anesthesia or sedation in order to ensure safety and comfort during the procedure. If the defect is small, the hole may be closed primarily or sutured together. If the defect is too large to be closed together primarily, local tissue nearby can be used to close the defect. At time, cartilage from the ear has to be used to support the nose during the reconstruction. If the defect is large, tissue from the cheek or forehead may have to be used close or reconstruct the nose, for example cheek flaps or forehead flaps. Once the flaps are thinned and contoured, they are rotated to close the hole and sutures are placed to close the incisions. Incision lines are strategically placed to be hidden in shadow lines of the nose so that scars are not prominent.
RECOVERY AFTER NASAL RECONSTRUCTION
If the reconstruction is performed in the office with local anesthesia, the recovery is relatively quick. Immediately after the procedure, the patient is able to go home. If the procedure has to be performed in an operating room under sedation or general anesthesia, the recovery is longer. Patients are required to remain at the surgical facility until anesthesia wears off. It is also necessary to have another adult bring you home after a the nasal reconstruction procedure.
Recovery on the day of surgery should involve lying in a comfortable position, a lot of rest, liquids, soft foods, and prescribed medications. Immediately after surgery, the nose and the area under the eyes will typically be swollen and bruised. The swelling will go down within a few weeks. Patients should avoid any strenuous physical activity right after surgery, as it can increase the risk of bleeding and inhibit healing.
It is very important to follow all instructions issued by the plastic surgeon and to attend follow-up appointments so that your doctor can check your healing progress and let you know when it is safe to return to a normal activity and work schedule.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF NASAL RECONSTRUCTION
Patients should be aware that nasal reconstruction, as with any medical procedure, come with potential risks. Each individual should consider both the benefits and known risks before undergoing nasal reconstruction. Such risks may include:
- Scarring
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Altered sensation in affected area
- Nasal asymmetries
Always make sure that the surgeon performing the procedure is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and that the surgery is being carried out in an accredited surgical facility.
WHAT DOES NASAL RECONSTRUCTION COST?
The cost of this type of procedure is going to fluctuate based on location, surgeon, center, and the individual patient’s needs. Nasal reconstruction is usually covered by medical insurance, but be sure to contact your health insurance carrier to verify your benefits prior to your consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago welcomes any questions from both potential patients and returning patients regarding any of the procedures that we offer. We are committed not only to excellent patient care, but thorough patient education; our professional staff will answer any questions you have and ensure that you understand every step of the process. If you’re interested in looking and feeling like the best version of yourself, call us today for a consultation.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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Happy for this patient and her 6 week post-operative result from a breast augmentation. We placed a 400 cc gel implant, in a sub-muscular plane, and through a periareolar incision. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #mastopexy #gummybear #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient and her transformation. This patient is transfemale who underwent facial feminization. Can you tell what surgeries were performed? Still have to perform the tracheal shave. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #craniofacialsurgery #FFS #facialfeminization #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
6 month follow-up on a mastopexy augmentation case. The patient’s goals were to have her breasts lifted and the volume restored after pregnancy. No patient has perfectly symmetric breasts, which is normal. This case was challenging because of the asymmetries of the nipples; trying to lift, augment, and level the nipples all at the same time is difficult. Many variables to control but the post-operative photos demonstrate improved symmetry with all of the patient’s goals achieved. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #mastopexy #breastlift #gummybear #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
6 month follow-up on a challenging revision rhinoplasty case. The patient had 3 prior rhinoplasty surgeries by another surgeon and was not happy with the aesthetics of the dorsum or tip. In the pre-operative profile views, you can see a dorsal hump, under-projected tip, and abnormal alar-columellar relationship. On frontal view, there are asymmetries of the dorsal aesthetic lines and C-shape deviation of the nose. The goal of the surgery was to make the nose straighter, improve the dorsum and tip proportions, increase tip projection, and improve the alar-columellar relationship. Look closely at the post-operative profile views and how the tip, nostril and columella appear. Posted with permission.
#plasticsugery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Many ways to do a breast augmentation but the periareolar incision is a great option because the scar becomes imperceptible as the scar matures. This patient is 6 months out from a breast augmentation and the access incision we made was at the bottom border of the nipple areolar complex. It’s hard to see the scar at this point and the scar gets even better at the 12-18 month mark. Also, nipple sensation is unaffected after surgery. The other incisions that plastic surgeons use include an incision underneath the breast, at the breast fold, or the armpit. Each incision has their pros and cons but the periareolar is my preferred approach.
#plasticsurgeon #plasticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gummybearimplants #breastimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #cosmeticsurgery
Challenging #gynecomastia case where the patient had grade 2/3 gynecomastia or male breasts with excess skin and significant asymmetries. The challenging part of this case relates to how to manage the excess skin and achieve a symmetric result. Do you remove the excess skin which will leave scars or try to contract the skin with minimally invasive techniques? In this case I performed liposuction, removed the breast tissue through a nipple incision, and performed #Renuvion to facilitate contraction of the skin. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #gynecomastia #liposuction #Renuvion #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Nasal reconstruction for a patient who had a full thickness defect or hole of the left nostril after Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma. The patient was missing all three layers of the nose and if you look closely, you can see into the nose and visualize the septum. We re-built the nose using tissue from his forehead or a #forehead flap. In the post-operative photos, you can see a nice reconstruction of the nostril with restored form and function. Additionally, the reconstructed side is symmetric with the unaffected side. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nasalreconstruction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
3 month follow-up on this patient who wanted improvement in the projection of her chin and definition of the jawline. The patient has retrogenia or a small chin and underwent #chinaugmentation with a #genioplasty. In the pre-operative photos, you can see the chin is short and recessed and therefore I moved the chin forward and down. In the post-operative photos you can see improvement in the projection of the chin, a more defined jawline and neck, and a more balanced lower 1/3 of the face. This case highlights the advantages of a genioplasty versus a chin implant, a chin implant cannot lengthen and advance the chin to the same extent that a genioplasty can. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #genioplasty #chinaugmentation #craniofacialsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Gym or surgery? This patient underwent hi-def liposuction or abdominal etching to improve the contour of the abdomen and to define the abdominal muscles. In the post-operative photos, the patient has natural washboard abs. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominaletching #hidefliposuction #liposculpture #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Long term follow-up on a revision mastopexy augmentation case. The patient had a previous augmentation with gel implants and wanted the implants removed, breasts lifted, and re-augmented with fat but downsized. The patient underwent explantation of the implants, a capsulectomy, a breast lift, and fat transfer to augment the breasts. In the post-operative photos, you can see the breast/nipples are lifted to a more aesthetic position and we were able to maintain volume, although smaller, with fat transfer alone. This patient has a very natural result using only fat from her abdomen to restore volume. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastlift #breastaugmentation #mommymakeover #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a primary rhinoplasty. This patient’s goals were a straighter profile, smaller and more refined tip, and a nose that was not drastically different. In the post-operative photos you can see the dorsal hump was removed and the nasal bones narrowed, the tip was refined, rotated, and projected more. Overall, still her nose but more refined and aesthetic. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nosejob #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Early follow-up on a #facialmasculinization surgery for a trans male who wanted to improve the contour of the lower 1/3 of the face and neck. The patient underwent a sliding #genioplasty, custom #mandibularimplants, and #neckliposuction to achieve his goals. We used computer software to design the cuts in the bone and #3Dprinting to make the custom mandibular implants. Can you see the improved contour of the chin, jawline, and neck in the post-operative photos? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #craniofacialsurgery #genioplasty #chinimplants #facialimplants #facialmasculinization #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted fuller and more symmetric breasts after having deflation with pregnancy. The patient is athletic and therefore it was very important to her to have a smaller augmentation that appeared natural. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with gel implants (250 cc) through a periareaolar incision and in a submuscular plane. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #breastaugmentation #gummybear #breastlift #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
This patient had a full thickness nasal defect of the left nostril after a skin cancer was removed by our Dermatology colleagues. Even though the wound is relatively small, this is a challenging reconstruction because all layers of the nose have to be rebuilt without making the reconstructed area bulky and noticeable. Also, you have to make the area strong enough so that the nostril doesn’t collapse as the area heals and scars. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #skincancer #nasalreconstruction #nosejob #rhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
A 1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted a rhinoplasty to remove the dorsal hump and improve the aesthetics of her tip. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the nose made straighter, the tip refined, and the tip rotated and projected more. Her new nose fits her face without overtly changing the ethnic features of her face. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #rhinoplasty #ethnicrhinoplasty #nosejob #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Proud of our research team for getting this important manuscript published in the #1 plastic surgery journal in the world. In this study, we looked at the published literature to develop guidelines on how to treat visual impairments related to droopy eyelids and excess skin of the eyelids.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient who underwent full facial rejuvenation surgery, which included a brow lift, upper/lower blepharoplasty, facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. How much younger does he look now? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #browlift #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Amazing transformation for this lovely patient who wanted to have fuller, more symmetric, youthful, and natural breasts. The patient underwent a #breastaugmentation with gel implants. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #gummybearimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
One year follow-up on a #BBL or Brazilian butt lift. As you can see from the post-operative photos, the fat that is transferred stays and is permanent. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #BBL #360degreeliposcution #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Male patient in his late 60’s who was able to turn back the clock after undergoing a #facelift, #neck lift, #blepharoplasty, and #fattransfer. Pay close attention to the “bags” underneath the eyes, the jawline, and neck. The scars have healed nicely and are inconspicuous even with short hair. In the post-operative photos, the patient has maintained his natural facial features and anatomy, but just looks like a more youthful version of himself. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
