Rhinoplasty: Compassion is the Common Thread
Most folks are surprised to learn that “nose jobs” have been performed since ancient Egypt. The Greeks and Romans refined rhinoplasty even as they cultivated the basis of Western philosophy and organizational theory.
It makes sense that surgery to reconstruct the nose was refined, and modern techniques were developed, as nations sought to care for their heroes and the victims of war. Dark chapters like that don’t come to mind much today because, for nearly a century, rhinoplasty has been mainly a means for people to achieve a look that is more to their liking, more reflective of whom they wish to be or how they feel inside.
The common thread is compassion. Liking the feature that is the central focus of one’s face – this is not a small matter, and it is far from a trivial desire. Making it possible is a worthy endeavor.
Forming the Basis for Harmony
The nose can play a powerful role in making the other features of the face “right.” The proportions, line, and substance of eyes, chin, and even ears can make sense – or not – depending on the direction set by the nose.
This is something to look for when you consult with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Do they pay attention to the other facial features in relation to the nose? If not, you may wish to keep looking, because it is not the nose alone, but how it harmonizes with the rest of the face that will give the most satisfying result.
Elements of Style
The variety of characteristics that can be addressed with rhinoplasty can be surprising at first, when people look into the possibilities. The tip of the nose can be gentled if it is drooping, hooked, or bulbous. If the nose is too wide at the bridge, it can be made more graceful. If the nose wanders or is crooked, either from birth or common injuries, an even line can be restored ore created. Sometimes a person’s nostrils can be too revealing – too wide or too upturned. Rhinoplasty can present a less distracting opening on the world.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Sometimes, breathing better is the main point of rhinoplasty, and sometimes it is a happy side-benefit. Breathing obstructions, such as a deviated septum, are commonly corrected by rhinoplasty. And whether the restricted airway was lifelong, or because of aging or injury, an open airway can be an important part of the fresh outlook people achieve with nose surgery.
With the possibilities so abundant, we welcome the opportunity to discuss them with you. You can be confident of finding the compassion we see behind the whole history of rhinoplasty, the moment we begin to get acquainted.
About Mike Majmundar, M.D.
Dr. Mike Majmundar has been named a Top Doctor by Atlanta Magazine, a National Top Doctor by U.S. News & World Report & Castle Connolly, a Top Beauty Expert by The Atlantan, Best Self, and Northside Woman, and Best Botox and Filler Injector by Jezebel. To read his patient reviews, visit RealSelf or Google+. Dr. Majmundar is also a member of the American Association of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the world’s largest association of facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons (with over 4,000 members) and the only organization dedicated to the advancement of plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head and neck, as well as the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery.
