Do you hate your nose? Is your nose the one part of your face that you feel is letting you down when it comes to looking your best? You’re not alone. Rhinoplasty or nose surgery is the third most popular surgery worldwide according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr Vlad Milovic, Specialist Plastic Surgeon based in Melbourne and Canberra counts rhinoplasty as one of his specialties and is one of the first in Australia to embrace Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty, an innovative technique getting some excellent results. He chatted to us about why so many people want to change their nose and why nose surgery is so important to get right.
Different noses for different faces
A nose is not a one size fits all type of body part. Your nose has to fit your face. Dr Milovic says this is one of the most important parts of the assessment when identifying what type of nose is going to suit the patient. “I not only take the shape and proportions of your face into consideration but I also consider your ethnicity. Not everyone should have a Caucasian nose, or what is commonly referred to as the “ski jump” nose. I also do not use the same surgical approach on every patient. Your facial anatomy, ethnicity and aesthetic goals will be discussed during your pre- op consultations.”
As Dr Milovic suggests, a common motivation for nose surgery patients is an overly “ethnic” nose. One of the wonderful things about Australia is that it has people from all cultures and backgrounds. It’s colourful ethnic diversity is what makes this country so awesome, however some patients from particular ethnic backgrounds inherit an overly obvious physical trait from their heritage that they don’t feel fits in with the rest of their appearance (I was one of them!). The nose is the most regularly requested of these traits to change. However, Dr Milovic says it’s important to keep the balance between the physical traits of an individual and their ethnic background. “Such an obvious disproportion between the nasal and facial anatomy can appear awkward and “over operated”. The over operated look can be avoided with an experienced plastic surgeon and it’s important for both the patient and the surgeon to fully understand what outcome is desired. You may want a “dramatic” difference without close attention to keeping your “ethnic” nose, or you may the type of patient who wants a subtle refinement without loss of their ethnic traits.”
Rhinoplasty Techniques
There are two techniques that can be used in a rhinoplasty, the closed technique or the open technique, and Dr Milovic uses each of them depending on what will get the best outcome for the patient. He says, “Both will involve incisions in the nose but with open Rhinoplasty, a second incision will be necessary between the nostrils.”
Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty
As mentioned above Dr Milovic also uses a modern technique called Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty. This is where the surgeon uses what’s called an “ultrasonic bone aspirator” which as its name suggests, uses ultrasound energy to cut nasal bones in a more precise and exact way. Dr Milovic says it allows the surgeon to sculpt bone and cartilage without cutting any soft tissues, minimising any bleeding and bruising compared with more traditional techniques. “There are many benefits to Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty when used correctly by a fully trained and experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeon including a reduced recovery time in most cases. It also allows me to get more precise and predictable results.”
The best rhinoplasty results are always when the nose looks like a natural part of the patient’s face without appearing to have been worked on however Dr Milovic agrees that rhinoplasty is a very personal decision. He is extremely experienced in achieving improvements for his patients that meet their goals and expectations.
To find out more or to arrange a consultation with Dr Vlad Milovic contact his clinic on (03) 9819 3786.