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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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
We had a great time hosting the 60th Annual Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons (MAPS) meeting in Chicago this past weekend, where I finished my tenure as president. We had expert panels and speakers from around the country and over a hundred abstract presentations from fellows, residents, and medical students. We also had the largest overall attendance in recent memory. The MAPS organization is great hands and I am excited about its future!
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #MAPS #MidwesternAssociationofPlasticSurgeons #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
#Primaryrhinoplasty to fix the dorsal hump, droopy tip, and crooked nose. In the post-operative photos, the patient has a nice dorsal profile on side view, the tip has been lifted, and the nose is straight. To evaluate how straight the nose is, look at the dorsal aesthetic lines on bird’s eye view and follow the two light reflexes along the dorsum. Posted with permission.
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Challenging #tertiaryrhinoplasty on this patient who had nasal deviation, a dorsal hump, and an under-rotated/under-projected tip. In the post-operative photos, you can see a straighter nose with more symmetric dorsal aesthetic lines and tip defining points. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #tertiaryrhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #chicagoplasticsurgeon
Honored to be inducted into the Rhinoplasty Society. The Rhinoplasty Society was founded in 1996 by plastic surgeons who have pioneered modern rhinoplasty. The society is dedicated to the education and advancement of nasal surgery.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #therhinoplastysociety #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Relatively small surgeries can yield big changes. This patient wanted to improve the contour of her chin and the overall profile of her face. The patient’s lower 1/3 of the face and chin were short and set back. Additionally, the patient had asymmetries of the chin and jawline that she wanted improved. The patient underwent a #slidinggenioplasty to achieve these goals where the chin was cut and mobilized forward and downward. In the post-operative photos, you can see a more aesthetic and balanced facial profile. The advantages of a #genioplasty over a #chinimplant are that the chin can be moved in numerous planes, the advancement can be more significant, and asymmetries can be addressed. Posted with permission.
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This patient had a bilateral constricted ear deformity where the top portion of the ear folds over the rest of the ear. In this deformity, the ear appears shorter in height and there are abnormalities of the outer and inner folds of the ear. In the postoperative photos you can visualize the ear is longer in height, the helical rim or outer portion of the ear is lifted up and the antihelical fold or inner portion of the ear is more defined. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgey #otoplasty #cupear #constrictedeardeformity #earreconstruction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Challenging #breastaugmentation case where the patient had asymmetries of the breasts in terms of size, shape, and position on the chest. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with #gelimplants with a larger size in the left breast to balance the size difference. The left breast fold was also lowered to match the fold level of the right. Posted with permission.
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Plastic surgery can sometimes be subtle or dramatic. In this case, this patient’s outcome was life altering after a lipoabdominoplasty or tummy tuck. The patient can now do all of the things in life that she was limited in doing due to her body habitus. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominoplasty #liposuction #tummytuck #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Plastic surgeons pioneered microsurgery and free flaps nearly 50 years ago. The surgery involves harvesting tissue with its arteries and veins and transplanting it to another part of the body. The arteries and veins are re-attached at the new site using a microscope and sutures smaller than human hair. In this case, this patient was in a bad car accident where he had an open wound of the leg with exposed and fractured bone. Before microsurgery was invented, many of these patients would have their limb amputated. To salvage his leg, I took a muscle from his thigh and transplanted it to the lower leg to cover the exposed bone after Ortho fixed the broken bone. As you can see in the video, he is on his way to a full recovery and can walk now. After more physical therapy, he will be able to walk without a walker. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #limbsalvage #microsurgery #freeflap #reconstructivesurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Amazing transformation for this patient who underwent a lipoabdominoplasty or tummy tuck. In this case I removed excess fat from the abdomen and flanks, removed excess abdominal skin, and rebuilt the abdominal muscles. The incision is kept low so that it is inconspicuous. Posted with permission.
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A former collegiate wrestler who developed moderate cauliflower ear of the left that resulted in a thick and more protruding ear. A cauliflower ear forms after blunt trauma to the ear where a blood clot develops. If left untreated, the ear cartilage becomes thick and hard, which makes these cases difficult to treat. After surgery, the patient now reports feeling more confident when he looks in the mirror and when he is communicating with people in social settings. Posted with permission.
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What a transformation for this patient who wanted a #snatched waist and augmentation of the buttock and hips or #BBL.
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Breast augmentation on a pro athlete who wanted a natural augmentation and to be able to still perform at a high level. We opted for a smaller implant to meet those goals. The patient is tall and lean and the implants fit her frame perfectly. Posted with permission.
#breastaugmentation #breastimplants #plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Maintaining masculinity and core features without major alterations were the plan for this patient who underwent a #revisionrhinoplasty. The patient reports that when people see him now after surgery, the comments he receives are along the lines of “you look well rested or more handsome” and not “did you have a rhinoplasty or you look completely different”. Exactly what we like to hear. Posted with permission.
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Check out this transformation on a mom of 2 who developed significant deflation of her breasts after pregnancy and breast feeding. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #breastimplants #mastopexy #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Midterm follow-up on this lovely #rhinoplasty patient who wanted nasal surgery to improve her nasal breathing but also to improve the aesthetics of the nose. Fixing the crooked nose is a challenge in rhinoplasty and on the bird’s eye view, you can visualize improvement in the dorsal aesthetic lines. Dorsal aesthetic lines are two curvilinear light reflex lines that travel from the inner eyebrow to the tip of the nose on frontal view. On profile view you can see a nice profile with the dorsal hump removed. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #hybridrhinoplasty #septoplasty #crookednose #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Honored to lead the Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons (MAPS) as president for 2021-2022 with this group of esteemed colleagues on the board with me. MAPS is a plastic surgery society that was founded in 1961 to foster the development of plastic surgery in the Midwest region and involves plastic surgeons and plastic surgery programs from the states of Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. We are currently planning our annual meeting which will take place in Chicago on May 20-21st. The meeting will have renowned plastic surgeons from all over the United States to share ideas and to advance our specialty forward.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #MAPS #cosmeticsurgery #craniofacialsurgery #microsurgery #aestheticsurgery #handsurgery #pediatricsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #burnsurgeryspecialist
Happy for this mother of 2 who wanted to improve the contour and aesthetics of her abdomen and waist with an #abdominoplasty or #tummy tuck. After children, women can experience rectus diastasis or separation of the abdominal muscles as the uterus expands. During a tummy tuck, plastic surgeons will address this separation by stitching the muscles back together. In the post-operative photos you can visualize the muscles re-positioned more centrally. Additionally, we will perform liposuction, remove excess abdominal skin and re-set the belly button. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #tummytuck #abdominoplasty #rectusdiastasis #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
