Denis J. Winder M.D.
Durango SurgiCenter
316 Sawyer Dr
Durango Co 81303
Phone: (970)259-3818
Fax: (970)259-9553
e-mail: winder@durangoplasticsurg.com

RHINOPLASTY

If you're considering nose reshaping....

Rhinoplasty, or reshaping of the nose, is a very common and gratifying form of cosmetic surgery. There are surgical techniques to make your nose smaller, augment it to make it larger, change the angle of the tip of the nose to correct "tip droop", as well as to change the overall shape of the nose. Factors that can determine the outcome of your surgery are the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, the thickness of your skin, your age, and your overall health. If done strictly for cosmetic reasons, your health insurance will not cover rhinoplasty; however, when congenital or caused by injury, all or part of the surgery may be covered by your health insurance. Many times, the nose may be further "brought into balance" with the rest of the face by correcting a recessive chin with a chin implant...with or without the nose surgery.

The best candidates for rhinoplasty are patients who are healthy and have realistic expectations as to what can be accomplished with this surgery; rhinoplasty is rarely performed on adolescents younger than 14 or 15 to insure that the nose will not continue to grow following surgery. It is also important that the plastic surgeon determine that the younger patient has decided upon this surgery "on their own" and that it's not being done to please their parent(s).

You'll meet with Dr. Winder and his patient counselor to go over all the information and details you will need to know to make a fully informed and educated decision about this surgery (including looking at "before & after" pictures of other patients). Approximately one week prior to surgery you will have your pre-op appointment in the Durango office. One of our nurses and Dr. Winder will do a complete physical and history, and, if needed, we will send you in for pre-op laboratory tests.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia in our SurgiCenter in Durango with no overnight stay, complete confidentiality, and with considerable cost savings vs. hospitalization. In order to "visualize" the bony and cartilaginous framework of the nose, incisions are made just inside the nostrils and connected with a tiny incision across the "columella" (the vertical strip of tissue that separates the nostrils); these incisions heal extremely well. The surgery will take from one to four hours.

After the surgery... Immediately after the surgery the nose is "packed" and a cast is placed on it; the packing will be removed in 24 to 48 hours, and the cast must remain in place for approximately one week. You will probably be bruised, including under the eyes, but discomfort can be controlled with medication. The bruising should resolve in two to three weeks.

Read our most Frequently asked Questions about Rhinoplasty.

The Nose is One of the Main Focal Points of the Face; Reshaping it can Make a Dramatic Difference!