What do you think is the most difficult procedure in plastic surgery? Many would believe that it is rhinoplasty - nasal reshaping. Why is that? Every nose is different and identical procedures in two different people will often give different results. There are so many variables in rhinoplasty and so many different techniques to choose from and differences in healing between patients. And consider this: the entire operation takes place in a one inch square area, sculpting pieces of cartilage often the size of match sticks, and holding them together with stitches that have diameters slightly larger than hairs... Rhinoplasties involve reshaping the bones and cartilages of the nose, and often the procedure requires moving cartilage from one part of the nose to another....Whew!

Having said all of that, I enjoy performing rhinoplasties. They are the most challenging and the most artistic of cosmetic surgical procedures. Even more interesting and difficult are “redo” rhinoplasties. Since the average plastic surgeon has about a 15% “redo” rate, there are many noses that need to be operated on more than once. Now we add an additional factor - the scar tissue from the first operation makes this second procedure twice or even three times as difficult as the first time around. Some plastic surgeons refuse to do second noses. On the other hand, the opportunity to take a tough situation and improve one’s appearance is very gratifying.

For more information, check out my website at www.perryplasticsurgery.com. And read the rhinoplasty chapter in my book, Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery, available on amazon.com.

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