Skin thickness plays a key factor in rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job procedure. The nasal skin is a soft, flexible covering that protects the underlying structure of the nose and varies in thickness from person to person.
The experienced plastic surgeon will evaluate your skin type during the rhinoplasty consultation and plan each change to work together with the overlying skin to ensure the outcome meets the patient’s expectations.
Skin Thickness and Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty requires meticulously and carefully planned changes within the nasal skeletal architecture under the skin. The final result of rhinoplasty depends on the interaction between the nasal skin and the underlying bone structure.
The nasal skin covers the framework of bones and cartilage, and any changes to the underlying nasal structure are seen externally after nose surgery. When the skin is too thin, it reveals every underlying irregularity. When it is too thick, it causes the nose to look bulky and undefined.
Rhinoplasty may include:
- Rearrangement of nasal cartilage or bones.
- Adding an implant to extend the length.
- Nasal tip refinement
- Removing a nasal hump.
- Reducing cartilage.
Dr. Daniel Becker is an experienced plastic surgeon specializing in thin and thick skin rhinoplasty. He has decades of experience in rhinoplasty procedures, producing the best results, and explains the difference that thick and thin skin plays in rhinoplasty.
Thick Skin Rhinoplasty Details
Skin density varies due to genetics, gender, and ethnicity. African-American, Hispanic, and Asian patients typically have thicker nasal skin compared to the Caucasian nose. One of the positive aspects of having thicker nasal skin is that it helps to camouflage changes made within the nose. However, thicker-skinned patients typically have denser nostril rims and a broader tip, which makes refinement more challenging.
Rhinoplasty is an artistic surgery that involves reshaping cartilage and bone. The assessment of skin thickness indicates which approach the surgeon will take during surgery to ensure a positive outcome. The surgeon will use before-and-after pictures to help the patient identify desired results.
Each thicker skin rhinoplasty procedure is tailored to match the patient and may address functional issues, such as breathing and sleep apnea, along with cosmetic concerns, like improving the nasal tip and reducing the width. In most cases, the doctor will perform open rhinoplasty. The surgeon creates a small incision at the base of the nose between the nostrils.
Choosing the right surgeon is crucial because the changes made during thick skin rhinoplasty must enhance the patient’s features while preserving their natural features and ethnicity. The surgeon improves the nose by stretching the skin to thin it. Sometimes, the doctor removes fat from the nostrils to reduce the tip size or width of the nostrils. They may add additional cartilage to strengthen or elongate the nose, narrow the tip along the bridge, or define the nose.
The proper techniques help achieve beautiful results in rhinoplasty patients with thick skin. Thick-skinned patients typically have a thicker subcutaneous fatty layer between their nose skin and the bony structure. This area can impact swelling after the surgery.
Each cosmetic procedure is customized to match the patient’s needs, so the recovery process differs for everyone. There generally is more swelling following rhinoplasty on thick skin over an extended period. Sometimes, the doctor may use a steroid injection to help heal.
Many results are seen within a few weeks or months, but the final results after rhinoplasty on thicker skin may take more than a year. Most thicker-skinned nasal patients can return to work in approximately two weeks.
Thin Skin Rhinoplasty Details
Skin thickness varies from patient to patient, but thin-skinned patients tend to be Caucasian or of European descent. While each procedure must be performed precisely and meticulously, rhinoplasty for thinner skin requires intricate surgical techniques to prevent the appearance of irregularities or asymmetries.
Rhinoplasty patients with thin skin experience exceptional, beautiful results with the proper techniques. A knowledgeable and skilled surgeon must perform the thin skin rhinoplasty because the world can see what is done under the skin after this plastic surgery. Tiny surgical maneuvers can show significant visible changes when completed under delicate skin.
Each surgery component, including nasal reduction, cartilage rearrangement, bony framework changes, and augmentation, directly impacts the results for patients with thin skin. Thin-skinned patients lack a subcutaneous fat layer under their skin, and this may result in the appearance of scar tissue. The surgeon may perform postoperative injectable steroids to reduce scar tissue development.
The rhinoplasty specialist must have advanced surgical skills to prevent nasal deformity and asymmetries after surgery. The doctor typically avoids graphs during thin-skin rhinoplasty. Sometimes, the doctor may add a smooth layer of cartilage under the thin skin to ensure smooth post-op results.
Because there is less subcutaneous fat in thin-skinned patients, there is typically less swelling compared to thick-skinned patients. Most patients begin to see their results within two months and full results within one year. Sometimes, minor adjustments are made with dermal filler after a complete healing process.
Thick Skin Rhinoplasty Recovery Process
The recovery time for a thick-skin nose job is longer than for a thin-skin procedure. The healing process for patients with thin skin usually takes 6 months to a year. While those with thick skin may require 1-2 years to fully recover. Prolonged swelling may occur after thick-skinned rhinoplasty, and steroid injections may be used to aid in the healing process. Recovery times may vary among patients.
A thick-skin nose job has become less painful and can be handled through prescribed pain medication. The recovery process is similar to other rhinoplasty procedures, with patients usually able to resume work after two weeks and removal of any stent within the first week.
Thin Skin Rhinoplasty Details
Skin thickness varies from patient to patient, but thin-skinned patients tend to be Caucasian or of European descent. While each procedure must be performed precisely and meticulously, rhinoplasty for thinner skin requires intricate surgical techniques to prevent the appearance of irregularities or asymmetries.
Rhinoplasty patients with thin skin experience exceptional, beautiful results with the proper techniques. A knowledgeable and skilled surgeon must perform the thin skin rhinoplasty because the world can see what is done under the skin after this plastic surgery. Tiny surgical maneuvers can show significant visible changes when completed under delicate skin.
Each surgery component, including nasal reduction, cartilage rearrangement, bony framework changes, and augmentation, directly impacts the results for patients with thin skin. Thin-skinned patients lack a subcutaneous fat layer under their skin, and this may result in the appearance of scar tissue. The surgeon may perform postoperative injectable steroids to reduce scar tissue development.
The rhinoplasty specialist must have advanced surgical skills to prevent nasal deformity and asymmetries after surgery. The doctor typically avoids graphs during thin-skin rhinoplasty. Sometimes, the doctor may add a smooth layer of cartilage under the thin skin to ensure smooth post-op results.
Because there is less subcutaneous fat in thin-skinned patients, there is typically less swelling compared to thick-skinned patients. Most patients begin to see their results within two months and full results within one year. Sometimes, minor adjustments are made with dermal filler after a complete healing process.
When is Revision Rhinoplasty Needed?
Initial rhinoplasty surgery is a complex procedure that sometimes requires a minor secondary procedure to make small adjustments. Revision rhinoplasty may also be necessary to fix complications caused by an inexperienced rhinoplasty surgeon performing thick or thin skin rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty must be performed by a highly-qualified rhinoplasty revision surgeon specialist.
The plastic surgeon will recommend techniques to limit trauma and scarring to the nose. After this aesthetic surgery, they will carefully watch how the nose heals. A revision procedure may address scar tissue, add cartilage for a more sturdy structure, or add soft tissue to increase volume and definition. Substantial improvements are created in the overall appearance of the nose during revision surgery.
The need for follow-up surgery is relatively rare. Still, it is essential to choose a qualified cosmetic surgeon to ensure the best results and minimize the risk of needing a second surgery. Some concerns after nasal surgery performed by an underqualified surgeon may include difficulty breathing, disruptions in sleep, asymmetry, scar tissue, or lumps.
Patients who are dissatisfied with the results of their cosmetic nasal surgery may benefit from revision rhinoplasty. Thick-skinned rhinoplasty patients must wait at least 12 months after their primary surgery for any revisions. Residual swelling typically lasts longer after revision surgery, and the final results may take up to 18 months.
Choose a Highly-Qualified Rhinoplasty Surgeon
The skin is a drape that covers the nose’s foundation, and the skin’s thickness or thinness affects the final results. All rhinoplasty procedures and noses are unique, and a qualified facial plastic surgeon must perform the intricate details needed during rhinoplasty. For example, the Caucasian nose job requires different methods and techniques than those of Asian, African-American, Indian, and Middle Eastern descent.
Dr. Daniel G. Becker, MD, FACS, understands and protects each person’s beautiful natural heritage while customizing the surgical procedure based on the thickness of their skin. He creates a meticulously designed procedure plan to minimize cosmetic flaws, refine the nasal shape, establish symmetry, balance facial features, and preserve the patient’s natural heritage.
Contact Becker Rhinoplasty Center to meet with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Becker in a private consultation in New Jersey or Philadelphia. Dr. Becker specializes in primary and revision rhinoplasty and is internationally respected. Traveling patients are welcome.