Rhinoplasty

The nose is the feature of the face which most often defines a person’s overall “look.” Even a slight alteration can make a big difference. Dr. Joseph Castellano has helped countless men and women in the Tampa-St. Petersberg area achieve natural looking results. He is board-certified in cosmetic surgery and has years of experience in rhinoplasty surgeries.

Request a consultation to learn more about whether rhinoplasty may be right for you.

Patients who are interested in rhinoplasty have either aesthetic or medical concerns about their nose. Some people feel that their nose is either too small or too large for their face or may simply not like the shape. Noses grow throughout our lifetime, so age may have caused some changes to an otherwise perfectly satisfactory nose which now may need to be repaired.

Injuries and birth defects may also necessitate a nose surgery procedure, particularly if there are breathing or sinus problems as a result. Deviated septums, nasal septal repair, chronic headaches based on sinus-related issues like persistent congestion and sinusitis may all be relieved or eliminated through rhinoplasty. In cases of medical necessity, the surgery may also be covered by your insurance.

As with any cosmetic procedure, it’s important to maintain realistic expectations. It’s also necessary to be in good physical health before undergoing surgery.

To start the procedure, Dr. Castellano will make several incisions, most of which are actually inside the nose rather than external. If an external incision is needed, it will be made in the skin which separates the nostrils at the very base of the nose.

Once the incisions are made, Dr. Castellano will have access to the underlying bone and cartilage structure, and he can begin the reshaping process by removing, adding to or rearranging the existing framework. Not only can the shape of the nose be adjusted, but so can the angle of the tip in relation to the upper lip.

Once the structural issues have been addressed, the skin is re-draped and the incisions will be closed.

Following surgery, Dr. Castellano will apply a soft splint externally which will help your nose retain its new shape during the healing process. Packing may also be used inside the nose to maintain internal stability within the septum. The splint will need to be worn for about a week, although the packing is often removed the day after your surgery.

Many patients report that their face feels puffy and swollen. There may also be visible bruising around the nose and eye area. Both swelling and bruising can be alleviated with cold compresses and pain medication if needed.

You will need to keep your head elevated even while sleeping during the initial healing stages. Light activity can be resumed within a couple of weeks. If you wear glasses, you will have to temporarily arrange a way to wear them so that they are not resting on the bridge of your nose.