Rhinoplasty
Refine Your Profile with Precision Nose Surgery in St. Louis, MO
FAQs
You’ve likely heard of rhinoplasty—but what does this popular face procedure actually involve? For many, it’s the key to transforming not just their nose, but their overall facial balance. Whether you feel your nose is too prominent, too petite, uneven, or simply doesn’t match your ideal profile, rhinoplasty from St. Louis' West County Plastic Surgeons is designed to refine, reshape, and harmonize. Even small adjustments can dramatically enhance your confidence and bring your features into better proportion.
Considering rhinoplasty in St. Louis? Speak with the experts at West County Plastic Surgeons—call (314) 996-8800 or request your consultation online to explore a custom surgical plan designed around your features and goals.
What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty—also known as a nose job or nose reshaping surgery—is a surgical procedure that modifies the shape of the nose. At West County Plastic Surgeons in St. Louis, we customize every rhinoplasty procedure based on your facial structure and personal goals. Whether you’re concerned with symmetry, size, previous trauma, our team employs advanced techniques to ensure results that look natural and feel right. This can often be combined with an insurance-covered procedure for breathing.
The appearance of the nose is influenced by other existing facial features, such as the position of the chin and upper jaw. Nose reshaping surgery requires a careful assessment of goals, as well as a clear understanding of a patient's expectations and how they relate to what the surgery can reasonably achieve.
Which Rhinoplasty Technique Is Right for You?
At West County Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum, Dr. Terry Myckatyn, and Dr. Trina Ebersole evaluate your nose in the context of your entire facial structure to create a personalized, harmonious surgical plan. For patients seeking subtle refinements, a non-surgical nose job with injectables can camouflage small irregularities and reshape the nose without anesthesia or downtime—and results can last for 1-2 years.
When surgery is recommended, we offer both open and closed rhinoplasty. The open approach uses a tiny incision on the columella to provide full visibility and precision for more detailed reshaping. The closed approach relies on internal incisions, leaving no visible scars and allowing for refined adjustments. Your surgeon will guide you toward the option that best aligns with your goals.
Depending on your needs, nose surgery may involve removing or repositioning tissue or adding structural support with cartilage grafts from the septum, ear, or rib. Our aim is not to create an entirely new nose, but to craft one that fits seamlessly with your natural facial proportions.
Click here to view a video on rhinoplasty.
What Does the Rhinoplasty Procedure Involve?
Anesthesia: Rhinoplasty is typically performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
Length of procedure: 1 to 5 hours, depending on the extent of the nose surgery.
Estimated recovery time: You can return to work after 2 weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure, but should avoid vigorous activities—especially those that may cause injury to the face—for 4 to 6 weeks. You may be required to wear a splint on the inside or outside of your nose for several days after surgery. Visible bruising should clear up within 2 weeks. Significant swelling may resolve in a couple of weeks, but subtle swelling may be noticeable to you for several months to a year. To learn how to prepare for a nose job and what to expect afterward, click here to download our patient instructions for rhinoplasty.
Side effects: Nose surgery commonly causes bruising and swelling, as well as results in a well-hidden scar, and possibly well-hidden scars, within the nose, along the inner surface of the ear, or underneath the breast if cartilage was required. Click here to download a detailed consent form from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that lists the risks and benefits of rhinoplasty surgery.
Before-and-after photos of rhinoplasty results: Click here
Refine your look with confidence. Call West County Plastic Surgeons at (314) 996-8800 to schedule your consultation for rhinoplasty in St. Louis.
Which is Better, Septoplasty or Rhinoplasty?
One question many people have is, “Are rhinoplasty and septoplasty the same thing?” While both are surgical procedures involving the nose, rhinoplasty and septoplasty have different goals. Rhinoplasty focuses on reshaping the nose for cosmetic reasons, such as refining the bridge, tip, or nostrils. Septoplasty, on the other hand, is a functional procedure that corrects a deviated septum to improve airflow and breathing.
It’s not uncommon for functional nasal problems to accompany aesthetic concerns. For example, a deviated septum—the wall that separates the left and right nasal passages—can make breathing through the nose difficult. When performed with rhinoplasty, a septoplasty can straighten the septum, restoring airflow and enhancing both appearance and function. This aspect of rhinoplasty may even be covered by insurance when medically necessary.
In addition, insurance-covered breathing procedures can address enlarged turbinates—the curved bone structures inside the nose that humidify and filter air. When turbinates become swollen or inflamed, they can obstruct airflow. Surgical correction of these structures is often combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty to improve breathing. By incorporating both cosmetic and functional elements, rhinoplasty offers a dual benefit: a more harmonious facial profile and significantly improved nasal airflow.
FAQs About Rhinoplasty
Yes, rhinoplasty can be a life-changing procedure for many patients. Beyond cosmetic enhancement, it often improves self-confidence, facial harmony, and even breathing function. Patients frequently report feeling more comfortable in photos and social interactions. For individuals who have long felt self-conscious about their nose, the results can lead to a significantly more positive self-image and overall emotional well-being.
Yes, rhinoplasty can subtly rejuvenate the face. By refining the nose’s size, angle, or projection, it restores balance and symmetry, which are often associated with youthful aesthetics. Addressing features like a droopy tip or prominent dorsal hump can create a softer, more refreshed appearance. Although rhinoplasty doesn’t target wrinkles, it complements other rejuvenating procedures to enhance your overall look.
Yes, but the goal of rhinoplasty is to harmonize—not dramatically alter—your appearance. Adjustments to the nose often bring facial features into better proportion, enhancing the eyes, lips, and chin. While your friends may not immediately pinpoint the change, they’ll likely notice a more balanced and attractive facial profile. It’s about refinement, not reinvention.
Yes, rhinoplasty can reduce the size or flare of wide nostrils using techniques such as alar base reduction. This involves removing small wedges of tissue at the nostril base and carefully suturing the skin to maintain natural-looking proportions. This is commonly requested by patients who feel their nostrils are disproportionately large or draw too much attention.
Rhinoplasty is not a treatment for post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip typically results from sinus issues, allergies, or infections—conditions that affect mucus production or drainage. While septoplasty or turbinate reduction (sometimes performed with rhinoplasty) may improve airflow, they don’t address the underlying causes of post- nasal drip. You should consult an ENT specialist for that concern.
Absolutely. A crooked or deviated nose can be straightened using cartilage reshaping, grafts, or osteotomies to reposition nasal bones. Whether the deviation is congenital or due to trauma, a nose job can effectively correct it and restore facial symmetry and nasal function.
Swelling decreases in stages. Most visible swelling improves within the first two to four weeks, allowing you to return to social activities. However, minor residual swelling—especially around the nasal tip—can last up to a year. It’s important to follow all post-operative care instructions and attend follow-ups to monitor healing and optimize your final outcome.
Preservation rhinoplasty is a modern approach that minimizes trauma by maintaining the nasal dorsum rather than removing and reconstructing it. This often results in a more natural appearance, smoother contour, and faster healing. Patients benefit from fewer complications, reduced swelling, and a higher degree of predictability in outcomes compared to traditional techniques.
Why Choose West County Plastic Surgeons for Rhinoplasty?
Our experienced team of board-certified surgeons is known for their patient-centered approach and exceptional outcomes. With advanced imaging, a personalized consultation, and years of experience, we ensure that your nose surgery in St. Louis is safe, strategic, and successful.
Refine and Enhance: Which Procedures Pair Beautifully with Rhinoplasty?
Facial Implants: Balance Starts with the Right Proportions
Sometimes, what appears to be a large nose is actually an illusion caused by a receded chin. When the chin lacks projection, the nose can look more prominent by comparison. Chin augmentation with facial implants brings the lower face into better balance, helping the nose appear more proportional. Conversely, if your chin is overly pronounced, subtle reshaping can help your nose job results shine.
Cartilage Grafts: Structural Support for Long-Term Results
When more significant reshaping is needed during rhinoplasty surgery, your own cartilage provides strong, natural reinforcement. Grafts are typically harvested from the septum, inner ear, or rib and used to build or support the nose. This technique is especially beneficial in revision rhinoplasty or when straightening and structural enhancement are key to your outcome.
BOTOX® For Bunny Lines and Frown Lines: A Subtle Finish
Although the popular filler BOTOX® may be best known for smoothing out forehead lines, as well as frown lines that appear just above the nose, the West County Plastic Surgeons team also uses it to decrease the appearance of what are known as "bunny lines," which crinkle the bridge and sides of the nose. Named because of the way they form as the nose is wrinkled (similar to imitating a bunny's distinctive nose twitch), bunny lines can relax for months at a time with help from up to 10 units of this neuromodulator.
Facial Fillers: Frame the Face with Volume
If nose surgery refines the central profile, facial fillers help support the surrounding canvas. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers like Juvederm® restore volume to the cheeks, temples, lips, and jawline, helping balance your features. This non-surgical solution can further elevate your rhinoplasty results by giving your face a more lifted, youthful contour.
Blepharoplasty: Bright and Open Your Eyes
Drooping upper eyelids or under-eye bags can detract from your surgical results and leave you looking tired—even after reshaping your nose. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, corrects these issues for a more alert, rested, and harmonious appearance. Upper eyelid surgery and lower eyelid surgery procedures are often paired with nose reshaping surgery for a total facial refresh.
If you’re considering rhinoplasty in St. Louis or have questions about the procedure, contact West County Plastic Surgeons at (314) 996-8800 to schedule your personalized consultation.
