Kansas City Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

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Rhinoplasty can reshape your nose in a number of ways to improve its appearance and proportion in relation to your other facial features. People most often elect surgery to alter the size and shape of the bridge and tip of the nose. Dr. Lamb may make one or more adjustments as necessary.

The earliest recommended age for rhinoplasty is the mid-teens, a time when the nose is near full development. There is no upper age limit for rhinoplasty. For older individuals, health is the primary consideration.

Your Rhinoplasty Consultation

The first step in determining if rhinoplasty is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lamb. During your consultation, he will talk to you about what you do not like about your nose what you are trying to accomplish. Dr. Lamb encourages you to write down any questions you have prior to the consultation so he can spend the time necessary to make sure you are comfortable with the procedure.

After your discussion and a thorough nose examination, Dr. Lamb can determine if the rhinoplasty procedure is right for you.

Your Rhinoplasty Procedure

If you decide to have the procedure, it is usually done on an outpatient basis. Rhinoplasty generally takes between one to two hours for Dr. Lamb to complete. To prepare for your rhinoplasty surgery, you should follow all of Dr. Lamb’s preoperative instructions to ensure the best outcome. If you have any questions before your rhinoplasty make sure to call the office to get answers.

During your surgery, Dr. Lamb will generally reshape your nose through incisions inside your nostrils. It may also be necessary for Dr. Lamb to make an incision passing across the central portion of the nose between the nostrils. Through these incisions, the nose is reduced, or in some cases built up, by adjusting its supporting structures---either removing or adding bone and cartilage. The skin and soft tissues then redrape themselves over this new "scaffolding."

In some instances, you may have internal deformity of your nose that can affect breathing. This may be due to an irregularity in your septum (the central structure of cartilage and bone that separates the two sides of the nose) or your turbinates (structures protruding internally from the lateral walls of the nose). In these situations, Dr. Lamb can adjust these structures to improve the nasal airway at the same time as alterations to the external appearance of the nose.

After Your Rhinoplasty Procedure

After surgery, some pain & swelling of the nose are to be expected, but they will subside gradually. You will wear a splint for approximately a week or longer and can wear cosmetics after it is removed. Your routine will be severely restricted for only a day or two, but you should curtail activities that raise your blood pressure---such as bending, lifting or exercise---for a few weeks.

Reserve judgment on your rhinoplasty for several months, even a year, until your nose has had an opportunity to fully heal and settle. The intention of rhinoplasty is for your "new nose" to blend in naturally with your face.

Dr. Lamb encourages you to review his before and after rhinoplasty pictures to see examples of his work. He has many more photos in his office and will be glad to review these with you at your consultation.

Financing

Rhinoplasty is generally considered an elective procedure and is not covered by insurance. As with any investment, you do have the option to finance your cosmetic procedure. Dr. Lamb offers financing through three companies: