Asian Rhinoplasty Perth

You should still look like yourself, and that is the aim of the surgery. The accepted standard in rhinoplasty now is identity preservation, which means refining the nose so it suits your face while you remain recognisably you. Applying reduction techniques designed for European noses to different anatomy is outdated.

There is a practical reason for this as well as a respectful one. Published commentary notes that using Caucasian rhinoplasty guidelines on patients of colour can lead to breathing problems and higher revision rates, because the underlying structure is different. Dr Anh will ask you to describe what you want changed in your own words, and she will tell you if what you are describing would not suit your face.

Both are used, and the choice matters. Your own cartilage can be taken from the septum, the ear or a rib. Synthetic implants, most commonly silicone, are also widely used, particularly in surgery performed in parts of Asia where dorsal augmentation is common and available septal cartilage is limited.

A meta-analysis of seven randomised trials covering 1,233 patients found that augmentation using the patient’s own cartilage was associated with higher satisfaction, fewer complications and fewer secondary operations than silicone. A separate review of studies from 2000 to 2024 reported higher rates of infection and implant extrusion with synthetic materials over longer follow up. Synthetic implants do have genuine advantages in some cases, including a shorter operation and no donor site, and some large series report good long term outcomes with them. Dr Anh will explain what she would recommend for you and why.

Usually yes. An implant can be removed and the bridge rebuilt using your own cartilage, and this is one of the more common reasons patients come in for revision rhinoplasty. How straightforward it is depends on the condition of the tissue, how long the implant has been in place and whether there has been any infection or thinning of the skin.

Bring whatever you have about the original surgery, including what was placed, where, and when. Revision rhinoplasty is more complex than a first operation because scar tissue makes the tissue planes less predictable, and Dr Anh may recommend rib cartilage where there is little usable septal cartilage remaining. If the skin over the bridge has thinned, that changes the plan and is worth having assessed sooner rather than later.

Thicker skin over the tip limits how much fine definition can be achieved, however precisely the cartilage underneath is shaped. It also holds swelling for longer. With thicker skin the final shape can take twelve to eighteen months to settle, compared with roughly six to twelve months for thinner skin.

There is an upside, which is that thicker skin conceals small irregularities that would show through thin skin. The practical point is about expectations rather than technique. A sharply defined tip may simply not be achievable, and chasing it can mean removing cartilage the nose needs for support. Dr Anh will assess your skin thickness at consultation and explain what range of change is realistic for you.

Yes. Narrowing the nasal base, known as alar base reduction, involves removing small wedges of tissue where the nostril meets the cheek. It is often done alongside bridge augmentation, because raising the bridge on its own can make the base look comparatively wide.

The incisions sit in the natural crease at the base of the nostril and usually settle well, though they are permanent. One thing worth raising: people of Asian, African and Hispanic background can have a greater tendency towards hypertrophic or keloid scarring, so Dr Anh will ask how you have healed from previous cuts or surgery and factor that into both the surgical plan and your scar care.

Surgery can change your breathing for the better or for the worse, so the inside of the nose is assessed at the same time as the outside. A deviated septum can usually be straightened during the same operation. Where a low bridge is built up with proper structural support, the airway is generally held open, or improved, rather than narrowed.

Trouble breathing afterwards is a recognised risk, and it is more likely where cartilage that was holding the nose open has been over-reduced. Tell Dr Anh at your consultation if you already get blockage on one side, snore, or find it hard to breathe through your nose when you exercise. It changes the surgical plan, and it can also affect which Medicare item numbers apply.

Rhinoplasty is generally not performed until facial growth is complete, usually around sixteen to eighteen years of age. For anyone under eighteen, Australian requirements are stricter: a three month cooling off period applies, and an assessment by an independent psychologist, psychiatrist or general practitioner is required before surgery.

For adults the cooling off period is seven days following your second consultation. These requirements exist so the decision is a settled one rather than an impulsive one, and Dr Anh follows them regardless of how certain a patient feels. A referral from your GP is required in every case.

Plan on somewhere around one to two weeks away from work, though this varies from person to person. A splint is usually worn for the first week, and the obvious bruising and swelling ease off over the following two to three weeks. After that the nose carries on settling for a good while yet. Depending on how thick your skin is, the final shape can take twelve to eighteen months to show.

Where rib cartilage has been used there is a second site to recover from, which adds chest discomfort for a couple of weeks along with its own scar. Contact sports and anything carrying a risk of a knock to the nose are avoided for around six weeks. If the bridge has been altered, glasses may need to sit differently for a few weeks.

Risks include reactions to anaesthesia, infection, bleeding, altered sensation in the nose, breathing that is harder than it was before, scarring that is visible or thickened, asymmetry, swelling that lingers and the need for revision surgery. Where a synthetic implant is used, infection, movement of the implant and extrusion through the skin are additional recognised risks.

Rhinoplasty is considered one of the harder operations in plastic surgery to get right, and revision is not unusual even in experienced hands. Reported revision rates for patients of Asian and other non-European backgrounds are broadly similar to rhinoplasty generally when the surgery is done by someone experienced in the relevant anatomy. Dr Anh will go through your individual risks with you, including your scarring tendency and skin thickness, before you decide to proceed.

Filler can suit small changes, but it works differently and is not a substitute for surgery. Filler adds volume, so it may camouflage a minor irregularity or add a little bridge height, but it cannot make a nose smaller, narrow the base or improve breathing. The effect is also temporary.

The nose is regarded as a high risk area for injecting because of its blood supply. A systematic review of 37 studies covering 8,604 patients reported an overall complication rate of 2.52%, including vessel occlusion in 0.35%, skin necrosis in 0.08% and vision loss in 0.09%. Those events are uncommon but serious and time critical. In Australia, higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures are now covered by their own AHPRA guidelines. If you have had filler in your nose, tell Dr Anh what was used and when, because it affects the timing of any surgery.

Rhinoplasty performed for cosmetic reasons does not attract a Medicare rebate. Where there is a functional problem such as a deviated septum or airway obstruction, Medicare item numbers may apply to the functional part of the surgery, assessed individually against specific criteria and requiring a referral from your GP.

Cost depends on the complexity of the plan, particularly whether rib cartilage is being harvested and whether a previous implant is being removed, since both add time in theatre. Revision surgery generally costs more than a first operation. You will receive a written quote after your consultation covering surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees along with your follow up care.