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What is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is the surgical manipulation of the bone, cartilage, skin and soft tissue of the nose in an effort to make the physical appearance of the nose more pleasing. Nasal surgeries can be divided into two groups: functional rhinoplasty (correcting breathing problems), and cosmetic rhinoplasty (correcting aesthetic problems).

Functional problems such as nasoseptal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, and middle-vault collapse are all examples of mechanical obstructions to one’s breathing. This category is usually insurance reimbursable, and can also be handled at the same time that cosmetic changes are made.

Aesthetic problems are many; however, some of the most common are a hump or bump of the nose, a bulbous, globular ill-defined tip, a plunging tip that becomes pronounced upon smiling, a too-wide or too-flat bridge, nostrils that are too big, small, or wide, or a nose with too much or too little projection.

Aesthetic Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery of the nose) can be performed either in a closed manner, where there are no external incisions made to the nose, or in an open fashion, where small incisions at the nasal base are sometimes needed to correct the most difficult problems. A primary “virgin” Rhinoplasty can most often be performed using the closed approach. A secondary or tertiary Rhinoplasty, where sophisticated grafting and manipulation might be necessary because of complex prior problems, can often be corrected using the open approach.

Complex secondary and tertiary Rhinoplasties are some of Dr. Weintraub’s favorite procedures, as they are the most difficult. He performs all of his Rhinoplasty surgeries in NYC and derives great satisfaction in helping patients who thought they had to settle for subpar results. Many patients seek his help with revision rhinoplasty to correct the results of a prior surgery, due to them being dissatisfied with the outcome produced by other offices.

Considering Rhinoplasty

While there is no specific chronological age that determines when you should have some rejuvenative procedures, a Rhinoplasty should be done only after the growth spurt has finished, and you are over 13 years of age. If you fit these requirements and see something that truly bothers you when you look in the mirror, it is time to pick up the phone and schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Weintraub in New York. Likewise, there is only one person to have plastic surgery for: you and you alone. It should never be undertaken due to pressure from others.

Patient Results

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Goals of Rhinoplasty

Your nose is right in the center of your face. A one-millimeter change in any direction can make a dramatic difference between a subpar result and a magnificent Rhinoplasty result.

The ideal nose begins at the bridge and continues in a neat straight line to the tip without humps or bumps. The tip itself should have the integrity to stand on its own with a 90 -105 degree angle between the upper lip and the nasal base. Tip definition should be graceful and pretty in women, and slightly stronger in men, and should not be too skeletonized or bony, nor should it be globular or ill-defined. Very often, a common complaint is the patient who has too much nose and too little chin projection. In such cases, placement of an intraoral chin implant (leaving no visible scars) can be performed at the same time as the Rhinoplasty to bring about balance and harmony to the face, particularly in profile.

Different ethnicities come with different nasal issues. For example, as is sometimes seen in people of Asian or African-American descent, the nasal bridge can be almost flat with broad-based nostrils. Such issues are resolved in Rhinoplasty surgery by raising the bridge height and narrowing the nostril base, as well as providing detail to the often broad nasal tip.

Your Consultation

You’ve certainly looked in the mirror many times. However, when you look in the mirror and begin to see things that upset you, that’s when you should schedule a consultation for a Rhinoplasty. A consultation will help give you a better understanding of your own issues.

When choosing a plastic surgeon for your Rhinoplasty in New York City, you should:

  • Check for board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (there are many other boards, some legitimate, some not, but there is only one American Board of Plastic Surgery, established in 1931).
  • Ensure that the physician attends a major hospital in your community, and is in good standing with that hospital.
  • Confirm that he or she has a fine reputation amongst other medical professionals in your community.
  • Speak to the surgeon’s patients who have undergone similar procedures.

Remember, this is your surgery, and you are interviewing the doctor as much as he’s interviewing you. Do not hesitate to bring a list of questions with you on your Rhinoplasty consultation. And remember: a good plastic surgeon is someone who not only has the skill to perform the surgery, but is someone who understands what your specific needs and desires are. A good surgeon should listen, listen, and listen!

Have no fear during your consultation. This is a time to speak, to be heard, to learn, and to develop a trusting relationship. Questions can be answered, and fears allayed. And while Dr. Weintraub is at the cutting edge of his field in terms of technique and medical developments, you will find his office environment to be comforting, personable, and inviting. He and his New York staff truly care about each and every patient, and take great pride in making themselves available to help with every step of the process.

How Rhinoplasty is Performed

Safety comes first. Plastic surgery is surgery, and should therefore be taken seriously.

Dr. Weintraub prefers his Rhinoplasty patients to be in a comfortable state of twilight sleep, where the patient is unarousable and is awakened only after the procedure is over. Due to advancements in anesthesia and new medications possessing a shorter half-life, no longer do Rhinoplasty patients have to contend with nausea, vomiting or grogginess; rather, the emergence from anesthesia is crisp and clear.

Dr. Weintraub insists on the most sterile conditions in his New York City operating room, with board-certified anesthesiologists and state-of-the-art monitoring equipment commensurate with the highest hospital standards. The only person performing the surgery is Dr. Weintraub himself. Every intraoperative maneuver is executed with precision and care, and all wounds are sewn in multiple layers by his own hand.

Rhinoplasty surgery should never be rushed, and Dr. Weintraub always strives for the best, as he understands that his patients will live with the result for the rest of their lives. His aesthetic is sophisticated and reflective of understated elegance. In his own words, “Cosmetic plastic surgery is nothing less than artwork on the human form.”

Where is the Rhinoplasty Performed

Though once limited to a hospital setting, the more modern approach to cosmetic plastic surgery is to perform such procedures in a safe, secure and completely private operating room. Although Dr. Weintraub has privileges at Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital, and The Center for Specialty Care (outpatient limb of Weill-Cornell Hospital), he prefers the privacy of his hospital-grade, state-of-the-art surgical center attached to his office at 800A Fifth Avenue. This facility is attended by Dr. Weintraub’s team of board-certified anesthesiologists, certified registered nurses, and fully licensed operating-room staff. With its private entrance, its standards are of the highest quality, and offer Dr. Weintraub’s patients the utmost in medical and plastic-surgical care.

The Best Candidates for Rhinoplasty

The best candidates for Rhinoplasty surgery are well balanced, in good general health, and possess realistic expectations. You are an excellent candidate if you’ve done your homework, have had your consultation, and the following three things are present:

  • You are highly motivated to make the change.
  • You have the ability to pause your daily responsibilities (work, family, school etc.) in order to undergo the procedure.
  • You have the financial wherewithal to make an elective cosmetic surgery come to fruition.

For those patients living out of town or overseas who seek to have surgery in NYC, Dr. Weintraub advises a two-night post-operative stay. He has a relationship with many fine hotels where his patients are given a special reduced rate. A private nurse can also be provided.

Preparing for Rhinoplasty

Once you have decided to make this exciting new change and undergo Rhinoplasty surgery in New York City, you will need to provide medical clearance from your family physician. You will be given instructions as to how to prepare for surgery, and will be given prescriptions to be filled in advance.

The Cost

Each patient is individual in his/her own makeup and anatomical configuration. Therefore, in order to give an accurate quote for a Rhinoplasty, it is best to schedule a consultation that will allow Dr. Weintraub to appropriately judge what is involved. For those patients who live outside of New York City or the Hamptons, photographs can be emailed or sent to the office, and a Rhinoplasty phone consultation can then take place.

After Surgery

There will always be a short period of minimal swelling and sometimes bruising after a Rhinoplasty surgery. You must carefully follow all instructions provided by Dr. Weintraub in order to achieve the best results possible. Mild pain medication, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and medication to reduce swelling are all begun immediately following surgery.

At the time of your Rhinoplasty surgery, Dr. Weintraub will apply a carefully fashioned heat-sensitive splint to hold all delicate structures in place. Dr. Weintraub does not employ the use of uncomfortable and outdated nasal packing, but prefers to use more modern inflatable splints which support the interior of the nose. Two to three days of bed rest is best advised. Approximately five days after your Rhinoplasty surgery, Dr. Weintraub will remove the heat-sensitive splint and may remove or change the flesh-coloured tape on your nose. After this time, daily showering is recommended. He will advise you as to when you can return to your normal lifestyle and exercise routine.

What Sets Dr. Weintraub Apart

Dr. Weintraub has always been blessed with a strong aesthetic sense. He possesses a unique blend of medical science and artwork, as it truly is artwork that he performs on the human form. His attention to detail ensures that he gets the best results possible, and he is meticulous about everything he does, from pre-op to post-op care and beyond.*

He studied medicine at Cornell during a time when core values were emphasized, and it is on these values that he bases his practice. He believes that physicians should be humble and respectful, and should never lose sight that the person they are operating on is exactly that: a person possessing real-life issues and concerns. The chairmen of the department of general surgery at Cornell at the time, Dr. Tom Shires, along with another luminary, Dr. Leon Morgenstern of Cedars-Sinai, taught Dr. Weintraub that “The operating room is a sacred place. It’s a very serious place. Never be cavalier about surgery.”

During his surgical residency training, Dr. Weintraub regularly visited Mexico to donate his time operating on deformed children and adults who couldn’t afford proper healthcare. In less-than-optimal conditions, he learned how to perform surgery with the basics, and received great satisfaction in making profound differences in people’s lives by restoring their faces and bodies. Similarly, when he was Chief Resident at the New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center, and later when he was Chief Resident at the Reconstructive Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, he found that his compassion for patients, along with his skill and precision as a surgeon, could change lives and bring people joy they never thought possible.

Dr. Weintraub believes that surgery is never a race. The patient is always number one. He keeps in his wallet a piece of paper that is his motto in the operating room: “Always demand what is right, and never accept second best.” He likes to consider himself a “thinking surgeon,” and does not enter the operating room with a mechanical series of steps to execute robotically, but likes to remain alert and ready for whatever intraoperative challenges might spontaneously arise. Although many notable surgeons openly listen to music while performing surgery, Dr. Weintraub does not, preferring the mood of the operating room to remain serious and focused.

Over 60% of Dr. Weintraub’s practice is comprised of complex redos of surgeries performed by other offices. Such procedures always involve difficult issues, since there exist not only the limitations of a patient’s own anatomy, but also the limitations of another surgeon’s aesthetic, and the scar tissue that has developed as a result. Patients seek Dr. Weintraub from all over the world to correct their aesthetic problems. He takes great pride in getting the best results, and always enjoys the challenges of such procedures.

Last, Dr. Weintraub will not hesitate to turn patients away if he feels they are not good candidates for surgery. If a surgery is not in someone’s best interest, he will be the first to say so. However, when a patient is a good candidate, the results produced by Dr. Weintraub can be magical, and he feels that it is an honor to give patients a gift they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

How To Get Started

Dr. Weintraub and his staff will be happy to discuss Rhinoplasty surgery with you. Please call our office for a private consultation. We hope you look forward to our warm welcome and the opportunity for us to help you make an educated and confident decision.

Contact our office today to set up your consultation for a Nose Surgery.