Patient Question:

I have a bump on my nose, a droopy nasal tip and small chin.  What can be done to enhance my appearance?

Dr. Solomon’s Answer:

Rhinoplasty surgery is a common procedure which can dramatically improve ones appearance.    The goal of rhinoplasty surgery is to deemphasize the nose and to accentuate other facial features.   Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures.  Hundreds of thousands of Rhinoplasty procedures are performed annually in most of the developed and developing world.  Rhinoplasty surgery often is done to improve balance of ones facial features.  In circumstances where a nose is too large for ones face reduction rhinoplasty surgery is often suggested.  Reduction Rhinoplasty often requires removal of a nasal bump as well as narrowing of the nasal bones and often modification of the nasal tip.  If ones tip droops it can be lifted and strengthened to give a more balanced and attractive nose.
Risks of Rhinoplasty include suboptimal cosmetic results, and possible functional problems with the nose.  While the majority of patients who undergo rhinoplasty surgery are happy with their results approximately ten percent of patients may require a secondary procedure for best outcomes.

Chin augmentation often is done in conjunction with rhinoplasty surgery. 

A weak chin can also make a normal nose appear large and an already prominent nose seem even larger.  On the other hand, a too prominent chin may give the appearance of having too small of a nose or otherwise throwing the face off balance.  The desired result of surgery on the nose and chin should be a balanced relationship within the structures of the face.
Chin augmentation is performed by inserting a prefabricated silastic or medpore synthetic implant.  The Implant is placed either from an external incision just under the chin or from an incision within the mouth.  The procedure typically takes half an hour to an hour and is done with either local or general anesthesia.  The implant is permanent and in most cases the implant appears natural and is difficult to feel. While risks of the procedure are low they include infection, extrusion, poor placement, and numbness.  The Implant can be removed easily if desired by the patient.
Your surgeon will review different surgical chin implants and discuss what may be your best option.
To learn more about chin implants click here.
Following rhinoplasty and chin implantation a patient typically will have some swelling around the eyes and chin for about a week.  By 10 to 14 days most patients can return to work and look reasonably good.  Final results can take months.
Patients who undergo chin implantation will notice an immediate enhancement of the chin and often will notice an improved contour of their neck.
With combination of chin augmentation and rhinoplasty surgery patients often achieve dramatic enhancement of their appearance.  The combination of these procedures often achieves better aesthetic outcomes than if either procedure was done alone.