Rhinoplasty nose septal septum Dr. G. Gregory Gallico

Rhinoplasty and Nose (Nasal Septal) Surgery

Dr. G. Gregory Gallico, III, has been performing rhinoplasty procedures for more than 25 years and is recognized as one of the foremost rhinoplastic surgeons in America.

Dr. Gallico performs all his surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and The Boston Center for Ambulatory Surgery, two of the finest and safest medical and surgical institutions in Massachusetts, New England, and America, fully JCAHO certified for their superior safety.

The following page will give you a comprehensive explanation of Dr. Gallico's rhinoplasty surgery purpose, techniques, operative experience, post-operative care, and recuperation. The information here will give you a complete picture of what to expect from your rhinoplasty, nose surgery, nasal surgery, or septoplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The nose is a central feature of the face and adds balance and harmony to all the features. If the nose is out of proportion with the rest of the face or features, it can affect self image and confidence.The nose can have developed as an 'out of place' feature by inheritance from your family, accident or injury, or previous rhinoplasty or septoplasty surgery.

(At any time on this page you can click to see before and after pictures of actual rhinoplasty patients of Dr. Gallico's.)

CLICK HERE TO SEE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF DR. GALLICO'S RHINOPLASTY PATIENTS

If you don't like some aspect of your nose, size or shape, cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of the nose or septum may help you feel more comfortable about your nose. In general, rhinoplasty nasal surgery improves the appearance and proportion of the and enhances facial harmony.

What is an attractive nose? An attractive nose is one that fits in with the other facial features and is a background feature compared to the rest of the face. A nose that is not noticed at all, but achieves a harmonious balance with all the facial features. If you feel your nose sticks out as a facial feature, then a rhinoplasty can improve the shape, size, and general appearance of your nose thus bringing all your facial features into better balance..

Your nose is the most prominent feature on your face, but you want it not to be noticed. Your eyes and other facial features should be what other people see. But who should have cosmetic plastic rhinoplasty surgery? Even though your nose may be large as an adolescent, it is best to wait until you facial features have reached a mature stage - 13 or 14 for girls; and 14 or 15 for boys. And rhinoplasty in a teenager should be a mutual decision between the child and the parent.

The appearance of your nose is central to the appearance of your face.  The nose should be in balance with the rest of your face. Ideally, the nose will not be the most prominent feature of the face, but should simply “fit in” in a natural way -  the way you want it to look. 

Some of the things which rhinoplasty (nose, nasal) and septoplasty surgery can improve include the following: your nose is too big for your face; you have a prominent bump on the nose in side view; the upper nose or tip of the is too wide; the tip of the nose 'hooks' down or droops with smiling; the tip is too large or thick; the nostrils flare to widely, especially with smiling; your nose is crooked or off-center; your nose is cooked or bent or pushed off to one side from previous injury; or you can't breathe well through one or both nostrils.

THE CONSULTATION WITH DR. GALLICO:

A Rhinoplasty (‘nose job’) is the surgery to rebalance the nose with the rest of the face.  Dr. Gallico’s desired endpoint of a rhinoplasty is to leave your nose with a ‘natural’ appearance. If you are concerned with the size or shape of your nose, Dr. Gallico will help you find a balanced, natural appearance by pre-operative analysis by drawing and by computer simulation of several possible final appearances to the nose. Dr. Gallico’s extensive experience with rhinoplasty surgery will help you find the nose which you feel fits your face best. The desired endpoint of nose surgery is a natural proportion to the nose which enhances facial harmony and achieves your goals of nasal appearance.

Dr. Gallico will be happy to see you in his office to discuss your goals for rhinoplasty surgery. Please call 617-267-5553 to make an appointment. At the initial consultation, Dr. Gallico will draw your nose front and side (see Art & Plastic Surgery) and show you several possible changes to your nose which you can select. That initial visit will lead to a Computer Simulation Session in which you and Dr. Gallico will change your nose on your face on the computer screen so you can clearly see and choose what final appearance you would like to have.

Dr. Gallico will give you a personal and comprehensive consultation about rhinoplasty, septoplasty, and nasal surgery in general. Dr. Gallico will listen to you carefully as you relate previous surgeries, past and present medical conditions, current medications you receive now, any allergies you may have or which affect your nose. He will listen first and foremost to what bothers you about your nose, what you would like to have changed, and what your expectations are about your nasal surgery.

Because of his previous Fine Art training in Art School, he will do a drawing front and side of your face so you can see at the first consultation what some of the possible changes to your nose can be. Dr. Gallico will also take digital pictures of your face which will be analyzed with you at a special computer digital simulation of possible surgical changes to your nose.

Dr. Gallico has pioneered a technique for digital computer simulation of before and possible after results of your nose so you can decide what final appearance you like best. Some of the aspects of your nose which might be shown and changed on the computer screen before you decide on surgery. Make sure that your plastic rhinoplasty surgeon does a computer simulation for you prior to your deciding on or having rhinoplasty surgery. You don't want to go into your nose surgery not having decided in advance how you want your nose to look by digital computer simulation. Dr. Gallico's digital computer simulation in preparation for rhinoplasty surgery is essential for you to know in advance what you want or for the surgery to bring you as close as possible to the result you want.

Dr. Gallico is one of the most experienced nasal and Rhinoplastic surgeons in the Northeastern U.S.A.,  New England, and Massachusetts. He is known for his Nasal Surgery expertise and has pioneered the use of art and computer simulation to plan rhinoplasty results before the surgery. (Link to page of computer images)

CLICK HERE TO SEE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF DR. GALLICO'S RHINOPLASTY PATIENTS

RHINOPLASTY SURGERY 'NUTS AND BOLT' - WHAT TO EXPECT: Dr. Gallico has performed rhinoplasty surgery for more than 25 years. He is known nationally and internationally for his nasal surgery because he emphasizes precision in surgery and safety in surgery. He has spent his entire career in Plastic Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard Medical School, and the Boston Center for Cosmetic Surgery - some of the best and safest medical institutions in the world.

Dr. Gallico performs all his rhinoplasty and septoplasty procedures in a fully equipped Operating Room (NOT an Office Surgery) with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist giving whatever level of anesthesia you, the patient, requests.The surgery can be performed with Local Anesthesia or General Anesthesia or Twilight Anesthesia depending on the patient's wishes. Doing rhinoplasty or septoplasty surgery under any less safe conditions is not a good idea.

Because of his extensive experience with rhinoplasty (nasal) surgery, Dr. Gallico is one of few Plastic and Facial surgeons who can do the rhinoplasty as a closed procedure. A Closed rhinoplasty is done al within the nose itself and leaves no scar on the outside of the nose. Less experienced rhinoplasty surgeons may need to make scars on the outside skin of the nose, an Open Rhinoplasty, but that will leave a scar on the outside skin of the nose which will be a 'give away' that you've had rhinoplasty.You want to go to a surgeon with enough experience in Rhinoplasty to be able to do a Closed Rhinoplasty so you don't have any scars on the outside of your nose.

Working through the inside of your nose with small lights and instruments, Dr. Gallico will alter the cartilage and bone internally to reshape the external appearance of the nose. The nasal bones may need to be reduced, or moved to enhance appearance or improve symmetry. Sometimes tissues may be taken from other areas of the body such as the ear or the scalp to added structural detail to the nose.If the nostrils are too wide, they can be brought in to the center and narrowed and made smaller - more in proportion to the face.

Your rhinoplasty surgery by Dr. Gallico will be tailored to your desires as planned by you and Dr. Gallico in drawings and digital computer simulation prior to surgery. The specific characteristics of your nose which contribute to its overall appearance and the relation of those characteristics to the other facial features will dictate the goals of Dr. Gallico's surgery on you. Your nose and your goals will dictate the surgical techniques Dr. Gallico will employ on your nose. The nasal 'bridge' will be altered in a way dictated by your choices at the digital computer simulation. The width and shape of the bridge or the tip can be changed. The tip can be made smaller, less prominent, more projecting or less projecting, and/or turned up or turned down. The angle between the nasal columella and the skin above the the upper lip (the 'philtrum') can be made greater or smaller. These will all be in accordance with the plans you make with Dr. Gallico in the drawings and digital computer simulation prior to surgery.

After the surgery you will go to the recovery room to wake up. You may stay there two to three hours. Most patients can go home for the night after surgery, but they need someone to bring them home. Or you can make arrangements to stay overnight at the hospital or surgicenter.

You will have a splint bandage on your nose and a small bandage inside the nostrils after the surgery. This dressing will remain on your nose for about one week after the surgery. Most patients will have some bruising around both eyes. The eyes and eyelids will also become quite swollen for two days after the surgery, and it will be best to just rest with your head elevated during that time. Don't lie down flat or the swelling and bruising will be worse.

 

RIsks of Rhinoplasty, Nose Nasal Surgery, and Septoplasty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G. Gregory Gallico III, M.D. - Plastic, Cosmetic, and Aesthetic Surgery

If you would like to speak to me or a member of my staff to obtain additional information or to schedule a consultation, please contact my office either by

phone, fax, or e-mail:

Tel: (617) 267-5553
Fax: (617) 267-5507
E-Mail: ggallico@gallicomd.com

or write directly:
G. Gregory Gallico, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Assoc. Professor Plastic Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School and
Boston Center for Ambulatory Surgery
170 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02116 USA