OUR PHILOSOPHY ON RHINOPLASTY
Rhinoplasty is the medical term for cosmetic and/or functional nose surgery..
Rhinoplasties can be among the most popular but also the most challenging operations.
In general terms the nose can be reduced, augmented, widened, narrowed, straightened and reshaped by correcting the bones and the cartilage. Similarly, different parts of the nose, tip of the nose and nostrils can be altered with both formal surgical through to minimally invasive procedures.
At the same time we recognise that the nose not only has to look good it should work well. As such we are dedicated to addressing nasal functional issues of the patient at the same time as their cosmetic concerns. This is also why it is important to choose an ENT/rhinoplasty expert for your procedure.
BEFORE & AFTER
Post images are taken between 3 to 6 months
after procedure. Individual patient results may
vary, these pictures do not in any way guarantee
a specific outcome. DISCLAIMER
THE PROCEDURE
Rhinoplasty is performed under a general anaesthetic and takes around two hours. Dr Mooney favours the ‘open-structure’ rhinoplasty technique. This involves a small incision between the nostrils, which leaves an almost imperceptible scar. This technique affords the best access and results, especially for a twisted nose and for tip deformities. It is the best technique to achieve the perfect nose.
Following the incision, the nasal ‘skeleton’ of bone and cartilage is meticulously remodeled to achieve the new nasal contour. The skin is then re-draped over the new frame and all incisions are closed. During the procedure problems such as airway and sinus issues, snoring and rhinitis (allergy) may be surgically addressed.
Please contact our Patient Coordinator through our Online Inquiry Form or call 0484 900 384 to book a consultation today.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
FAQ’S
Expect to spend about an hour with Dr William Mooney for a thorough rhinoplasty consultation.
You will first be greeted by Dr Mooney’s receptionists, they will ask you to fill in a form with basic details.
One of Dr Mooney’s trained nurses will begin by taking high resolution images for subsequent digital images. The nurse will also provide a pre-consultation. They will help you with your ‘NOSE score’, a questionaire assessment of your nasal function.
This is followed by a formal consultation with Dr William Mooney.
He will assess your full medical history and a medical examination is performed.
In particular, Dr Mooney will discuss any sinonasal problems or complaints and other associated problems with nasal dysfunction such as snoring or poor sense of smell and sinusitis.
Thorough examination ensues, Dr Mooney will perform a fibreoptic nasendoscopy examination and test nasal peak inspiratory flow to thoroughly assess your nasal function.
We then move onto a cosmetic assessment, using our digital photography.
We use real time high resolution imagery in both 2D and 3D to plan a new nasal contour for you.
Dr William Mooney will then discuss all options, operative planning, risks and complications.
We always have at least two consultations before surgery. This cooling off period is essential as this is such an important life decision.
At our subsequent rhinoplasty consult, we discuss the finer details of the pre-operative treatment; what to wear, eat, think and do as your operation approaches.
You will also revisit the digitally modified images and don’t move forward until the patient and doctor are fully appraised and happy with the plan.
Following your first rhinoplasty consultation, the wait period for surgery is usually between two to six weeks.
Rhinoplasty has developed into a delicate, refined procedure.
Boney reshaping and remodelling is de rigeur, gone are the days of forcible fractures in rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty is surprisingly not a significantly painful procedure.
When you wake, your nose is already in a cast.
Swelling and bruising are common, as well as stuffiness but patient analgesic requirements are low.
After appropriate consent and planning, rhinoplasty is performed under a general anaesthetic.
The nose is prepared for surgery, the skin envelope is elevated.
Dr William Mooney begins by correcting the boney humps and deformities.
Next, we turn our attention to nasal obstruction and the airway, straightening the septum and reducing the inflammatory, turbinate tissue.
Dr Mooney concludes the procedure with refining and reshaping the tip.
Finally, sutures, splints and cast are placed on the nose.
Everyone is different and can range from one to four hours depending on the complexity of the procedure.
Revision rhinoplasty is far more complex and can take longer.
Bruising and swelling is variable but within two weeks’ patients are ready to re-enter the work place and society, in general.
Three weeks is ideal but two weeks seems adequate for most of our rhinoplasty patients.
Dr Mooney and the pre-operative nurse will go through all of your operative planning a couple of weeks before your rhinoplasty procedure.
Some food stuffs such as chilli, garlic and galangal do increase prolonged bruising.
It can be either but we usually suggest overnight stay for patient comfort and support.
The rhinoplasty procedure can be performed at any hospital that Dr Mooney has accreditation.
Dr Mooney performed his first rhinoplasty in 1997.
The splits are typically removed on day six. Straight away breathing is improved, final result for breathing can take a few weeks. Functonal outcomes for surgery are variable, but one of the reasons to choose an ENT surgeon is that they are trained to address breathing problems.
Prior to your surgery, you may be advised to stop and start certain supplements.
Dr Mooney and the pre-operative nurse will go through all of your operative planning a couple of weeks before rhinoplasty surgery.
Typically, Dr Mooney will ask our interstate patients to stay in Sydney for 10 days post your rhinoplasty procedure.
Rhinoplasty is a process not just a procedure and patients must be prepared for follow up appointments, months following the surgery. Ideally Dr Mooney would like to see you at least twice pre operatively. Ideal post op care requires 4 weekly post op visits and then review at 6 weeks and 3 months. This may be difficult for interstate patients, but is important for ideal outcome and should be considered if you are thinking of coming to Sydney for your procedure.
Typically, Dr Mooney will ask international patients to stay in Sydney for three weeks following the rhinoplasty procedure.
Rhinoplasty is a process not just a procedure and patients must be prepared for follow up appointments, moths following the surgery.
Following the rhinoplasty procedure, no exercise week one, walking week two, light cardio week three is permitted, light weights week four and back to normal week five to six.
Scarring is minimal at most but darker skin patients can have a longer resolution time.
Our clinic’s services are available to Dr William Mooney’s patients. If a patient thinks the scar is unsightly, they can attend further treatments at this clinic.
Yes, there will be across the columella (strip of skin between nostrils).
These stitches are removed day seven or 10 by your pre-operative nurse.
Dr Mooney performs both but given the superior results, especially in form and function of the tip and the near invisibility of any scarring, Dr Mooney favours the open rhinoplasty technique.
When the cast comes off your nose there is significant swelling, most patients can see the direction the nose is headed. However this, more than any cosmetic procedure requires patience! Final results can take a year, and in darker skin patients or revision patients 2 plus years. This can be very frustrating and patients before proceeding must be prepared to spend some time potentiallyNOT liking their nose, before final results are achieved.
In some cases a small portion of the rhinoplasty procedure can be claimed via Medicare. If it is purely or significantly cosmetic only, then often there is no rebate. Depending on the level of health cover you have, there may be claimable items such as hospital cover. This will be determined following a consultation with Dr William Mooney and his team.
Prior to your rhinoplasty, patients are required to lock in the post-operative appointments with Dr Mooney and the post-operative nurses. Dr Mooney and the pre-operative nurse will go through all of your operative planning a couple of weeks before surgery.
The results of a surgical rhinoplasty are permanent, but there may be change in time in terms of reduction of swelling. Final result can take some time and patients must only proceed if they understand this.
