When a rhinoplasty is performed for cosmetic reasons, health insurance will not cover the procedure. However, a septoplasty or other functional nasal procedures may be done to correct structural issues in the nose, which may be covered by your health insurance.

Yes, many clients choose to combine their rhinoplasty with other procedures such as facelift, blepharoplasty, brow lift, and more. If you are interested in adding procedures in combination with your rhinoplasty, you can discuss this with Dr. Walker during your consultation.

The main difference between an open (external) and closed (endonasal) rhinoplasty is the tiny incision at the bottom of the nose between the two nostrils. This tiny incision, though, if properly designed and carefully closed, will become inconspicuous. The exposure afforded in an open rhinoplasty is far superior to the closed rhinoplasty approach and essentially every nasal problem can be corrected with the open approach. There are some patients, though, that are candidates for closed rhinoplasty where an open approach is not indicated. The avoidance of the tiny incision at the bottom of the nose is typically not offsetting the sacrifice of other nasal aesthetic changes, which are much more noticeable than the small incision between the nostrils. The decision whether an open or closed approach is most appropriate for you should not be based on the incision itself but rather the goal of your rhinoplasty. Either procedure can lead to a beautiful result albeit a closed approach is much more limited and limiting. Dr. Walker will discuss more details with you during your consultation if you desire.  nOpen Rhinoplasty (aka External Rhinoplasty):nOpen Rhinoplasty uses a small incision that is placed on your columella, between the two nostril openings. This incision is approximately 5-6 mm in length and designed in an upside-down V-shape to allow for contraction forces to be more even for an inconspicuous healing.  This access incision allows the skin and soft tissue of the nose to be lifted off of the underlying nasal framework, “opening” the nose. This approach is appropriate for the majority of rhinoplasty operations and those that require significant nasal tip work, as it offers a complete view of all of the structures that will be modified during the operation. It also allows for the surgeon to very precisely place and secure cartilage grafts for a predictable, safe, and long-lasting result. This is the preferred technique that Dr. Walker uses in most of his rhinoplasty surgeries, as it offers the best exposure for precise results and very low risk of errors that will require correction later on. While some patients may have a concern about the scar from an external incision, proper placement and closure of the incision typically results in a scar that is essentially unnoticeable once healed. You can review results in the after photo gallery to see for yourself how unnoticeable the scar is (plus who looks at the bottom of your nose?). nClosed Rhinoplasty (aka Endonasal Rhinoplasty):nClosed rhinoplasty (aka endonasal rhinoplasty) is a bit of a misnomer as no surgery can be done “closed”. This operation refers to a rhinoplasty where all incisions are hidden inside the nostrils without a tiny incision at the bottom of your nose. While this technique may be appropriate for minor rhinoplasty surgeries where only a small hump reduction is needed or very minor nasal tip work, the closed technique does limit visibility and cartilage grafts cannot be placed as precisely as in an open rhinoplasty operation.

There are entire books dedicated to the topic of Structural Rhinoplasty. In brief, Dr. Walker exclusively performs structural rhinoplasty, which is a surgical procedure based on repositioning and strengthening the nasal supporting framework and thereby altering the nasal shape in a safe, long-lasting, and predictable fashion. Cartilage is typically utilized in this surgery (usually from your own septum) to achieve the desired cosmetic changes and improving the nasal breathing. In non-structural rhinoplasty, cartilage and tissue is resected and the nose weakened with long-term results that are less predictable. Furthermore, non-structural rhinoplasty with reductive maneuvers leads to worse nasal breathing than prior to surgery, oftentimes pinching the nose, nasal valve collapse, a droopy nasal tip, or even an over-rotated (“piggy”) nasal tip. For the most part, this technique is no longer utilized by contemporary rhinoplasty surgeons as we have learned through long-term follow-up that non-structural rhinoplasty techniques lead to aesthetic and functional problems in the long-run.

Yes. A rhinoplasty can change many different aspects of the nose including the bridge, tip, nostrils, and more. With the help of an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, you can make your nose smaller through surgery.

No. Rhinoplasty is a surgery that changes the shape of the nose and simultaneously resore or maintina nasal breathing. Sinus surgery is required to address sinus problems that have met all criteria for surgery. Such sinus surgery can be done in conjunction with rhinoplasty in many but not all cases.

Your plastic surgeon will give you detailed instructions to follow ahead of your surgery date. This includes filling prescriptions, obtaining recovery materials, and fasting before surgery after 10pm. If you have any questions, make sure to reach out to our team.

Good candidates for rhinoplasty are patients who seek changes in their nasal shape, have realistic expectations, and are a candidate for general anesthesia. Expectations and goals are discussed with you during your consultation with Dr. Walker, who will also review your health history to determine if rhinoplasty is right for you.

Rhinoplasty is typically performed using general anesthesia on an outpatient basis, i.e. going home the same day.

A rhinoplasty produces permanent results. Although the satisfaction rate is extremely high, revision surgeries are done on rare occasions (less than 1% for Dr. Walker) for minor imperfections.

Downtime from work is 1 week with recommended activity restrictions including avoidance of strenuous activities to minimize swelling for 1 month. You will be ready for photo studio shoots or wedding photos after 3 months. You’ll be given a more detailed idea of what to expect from your rhinoplasty recovery during your consultation.

Rhinoplasty results are permanent. However, the nose can still change over time (especially if rhinoplasty is performed when you’re young) or be subject to injury, requiring another procedure.

Closed rhinoplasty, aka endonasal rhinoplasty, is a type of nose job that uses incisions entirely inside the nostrils. This approach does not entail a tiny incision at the bottom of the nose between the nostrils but has limited exposure and therefore is not the best approach in many cases as many aesthetic imperfections cannot be addressed through that approach. Since the incision on the columella heals extremely well that it is essentially imperceptible after 3 months, an endonasal approach is often inferior to the exterior approach for most patients when all things are considered.