Teen Rhinoplasty in Charlotte

The top aesthetic destination of the south, Carolina Facial Plastics, is led by double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh. With his team of cosmetic experts, a fully accredited surgery center, and a private recovery retreat all located in the heart of SouthPark, Carolina Facial Plastics is known for unparalleled and natural-looking results exclusively for the face.

When Dr. Kulbersh performs a rhinoplasty on patients younger than 20, it is considered a teen rhinoplasty. This procedure generally involves the same surgical techniques used on adult patients. However, results may be more perceptible in younger patients. Dr. Kulbersh is a board-certified head and neck surgeon who underwent fellowship training in rhinoplasty surgery with some of the best facial plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills. He knows that creating a symmetrical, natural-looking nose is the primary goal for teen rhinoplasty. During the initial consultation, he will discuss your concerns and desires. He will determine whether a closed, open, or non-surgical rhinoplasty would be the best approach to achieving your goals.

Before anyone undergoes a rhinoplasty in Charlotte, Dr. Kulbersh establishes the motivations behind the desire for surgery. This is particularly true when he is working with teen patients. Dr. Kulbersh encourages teen patients to include their family members in the rhinoplasty process, both before and after surgery.

The most common goal of a teenage rhinoplasty is to minimize an obvious characteristic of the nose that is creating facial imbalance. Some typical reasons a teen may seek rhinoplasty include the following:

• Dorsal hump
• Uneven nostrils
• Crooked nose
• Long or short nose
• Bulbous tip
• Nasal injury

Dr. Kulbersh works with his patients to help them identify the primary reasons for their surgery. His customized approach to rhinoplasty ensures that patients achieve a naturally proportionate result, regardless of their specific concerns.

Teen patients seeking a nose job are often concerned with improving their breathing function and the appearance of the nose. Nasal obstruction often causes fatigue, exercise intolerance, and trouble sleeping.

Dr. Kulbersh encourages teens with nasal obstruction to schedule a consultation. He will evaluate nasal function and pinpoint the cause of the problem. The most common medical conditions that cause nasal obstruction are:

• Allergies
• Chronic Sinusitis

Common structural issues that can lead to nasal obstruction are:

• Deviated septum
• Turbinate hypertrophy
• Narrowing of the nasal valves (both internal and external)

If a medical cause is the source of your breathing trouble, it is typically best treated with medication. Structural problems are more commonly treated with surgery. Some patients who have turbinate hypertrophy can use steroid nasal sprays to try to shrink them. However, turbinate reduction surgery can also be performed if the steroid sprays do not work.

Dr. Kulbersh will engage in a thorough discussion of your concerns and perform a comprehensive examination during your consultation at Carolina Facial Plastics. Once he has collected all the information, he will devise a recommended treatment plan to restore normal breathing function.

It is often difficult for a parent to allow their child to have a rhinoplasty. There are various thoughts, opinions, and concerns that come up on the subject, but there are no right or wrong answers. It is important to know that your teen wants to undergo rhinoplasty for the right reasons and be comfortable in your decision before moving forward.

Visit medlineplus.gov for information on rhinoplasty surgery for your teen.

When patients undergo a teen rhinoplasty in Charlotte, Dr. Kulbersh’s goal is to ensure they have a smooth and easy recovery. One of the best ways to ensure an easy rhinoplasty recovery is to educate patients on the recovery process and the steps Dr. Kulbersh will take to make it as quick and comfortable as possible.

Steps Taken Before Surgery to Improve Rhinoplasty Recovery

The rhinoplasty recovery process actually starts weeks before surgery. Patients must avoid a long list of items that may increase bruising after the surgery. Some of the common items Dr. Kulbersh recommends his patients avoid are:

• Aspirin-containing products – patients are commonly surprised how many items contain aspirin and are given a list of products to avoid.
• Alcohol – especially red wine
• Fish – fish oil can thin the blood increasing bruising
• Most multivitamins and herbal supplements such as fish oil, ginseng, etc.

There are also helpful herbal supplements such as Arnica Forte and Bromelain, which are known to reduce swelling and bruising after surgery. Patients will start taking these herbal supplements 3-5 days before surgery.

Part of a smooth recovery is preparedness. Patients will have instructions and a list of supplies to gather before surgery to prevent trips out during the recovery process. This includes all prescription medications, which will be given to patients before the surgery so they can be filled and ready.

Nicotine can prevent normal healing. All nicotine-containing substances must be stopped weeks to months before surgery.

Steps Taken During Surgery to Improve Recovery

At our surgery center in North Carolina, nurses often ask Dr. Kulbersh what he does during surgery because patients do so well immediately after surgery. Dr. Kulbersh goes to great lengths to accomplish three important goals during surgery to improve rhinoplasty recovery:

• Minimize pain
• Minimize bleeding and bruising
• Eliminate nausea

From the reaction of his patients, a nose job is not an overly painful procedure. The majority of patients may need to take extra-strength Tylenol a few days after surgery. During surgery, Dr. Kulbersh uses multiple nerve blocks to ensure the nose will be numb for a few hours immediately after surgery – the time when patients are most likely to experience pain. Patients have the option of taking narcotic pain medications if they feel that they may need it after surgery as well.

Bleeding during a nose job will cause bruising after surgery. Dr. Kulbersh controls bleeding with the following steps:

• Patients are instructed to ice the nose before starting surgery. The cold temperature causes the blood vessels on the nose to constrict and limit the blood flow to the nose.
• Dr. Kulbersh injects the nose with medications that limit blood flow to the nose before surgery.
• Dr. Kulbersh stops bleeding immediately when it occurs during surgery.

Nausea can occur after surgery due to anesthesia, medications, or blood dripping from the nose to the stomach during the surgery. The anesthesiologists that work with Dr. Kulbersh take special precautions to prevent this by giving multiple medications to prevent nausea. The pain medications after surgery might cause nausea if it is not taken with food. To prevent blood from getting into the stomach, gauze is placed in the throat during surgery to catch blood before it drips into the esophagus.

What to Expect the First Night of After a Rhinoplasty Surgery Procedure

You will be tired and want to rest. There will be a splint and tape on the outside of the nose and small gauze taped at the nostril area. The nostrils will drip a little blood for the first night and the bandage will need to be changed as necessary.

You will start eating some simple broth and crackers soon after surgery and gradually eat more as you feel better. By the next day, you will likely be eating normally. You will have medications for pain and nausea that you can take as needed during your early recovery.

It may be difficult to breathe through the nose during the first week after the surgery. Breathing through the mouth during this time may cause a dry and scratchy throat. A humidifier in the room while sleeping will help prevent throat irritation.

What to Expect During the First Week after a Rhinoplasty

The day after a teen rhinoplasty surgery, Dr. Kulbersh’s will see you in his Charlotte office to monitor healing and demonstrate how to care for the nose during recovery. The nose will be cleaned with half-strength hydrogen peroxide and covered with ointment twice a day. The inside of the nose will be kept moist with nasal saline spray.

You will be instructed to sleep with your head elevated during the first week and limit physical activity. You will not be able to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. Many patients are feeling fine during this week and many are working from home on their computers.

At the end of the first week, you will return to the office so that all stitches, tape, and nasal splints can be removed. At this time, the nose will be swollen and may be bruised. Most (80%) of swelling will go away over the first 3-4 months. The last 20% of the swelling can take one year to subside completely.

Bruising is usually gone by 90% after the first week, but it can take up to 14 days to go away.

When Can Patients Return to Work or School after a Rhinoplasty?

Most patients return to work or school one week after rhinoplasty. Some patients choose to take two weeks off.

When Can Patients Exercise after a Rhinoplasty in Charlotte?

Patients are encouraged to start walking and doing light exercise starting two weeks after surgery. Full exercise can start 4-6 weeks after surgery.

When Can Patients Wear Glasses after Rhinoplasty in North Carolina?

Patients can wear glasses 4-6 weeks after a rhinoplasty.

When Will the Final Result of the Rhinoplasty Occur?

Patients will get a good idea of the results 3-4 months after surgery, but the final result will occur one year after surgery. In patients undergoing a revision rhinoplasty surgery procedure, it may take longer than one year to see the final results.

There are always some risks associated with any surgical procedure. Choosing an experienced, well-trained rhinoplasty surgeon will greatly reduce the risks involved. It will also increase your chances of experiencing a smooth and easy recovery with an optimal outcome.

As a board-certified head and neck surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty procedures, Dr. Kulbersh knows that selecting a surgeon you can trust is crucial when deciding to allow your teen to undergo surgery. Dr. Kulbersh strives to make his patients as comfortable as possible through every step of the rhinoplasty process, from consultation to surgery and recovery.

Choosing a highly-regarded, experienced rhinoplasty expert is key to ensuring that the nose is treated with the best care and ideal results are achieved. Dr. Kulbersh is a board-certified head and neck surgeon with specialized training in rhinoplasty. He was trained by the top Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeons. This experience and training ensure his patients, adults and teens alike, achieve natural-looking results. Selecting an expert rhinoplasty surgeon in Charlotte will be one of the best ways to ensure a satisfactory outcome.

To learn more about teen rhinoplasty in Charlotte, contact Carolina Facial Plastics today by calling 704.842.3644 or completing our online contact form.