A NONDESTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO NASAL SURGERY

Achieving a delicate balance that brings out the best in you-that is what plastic surgery is all about. No other feature illustrates the power of cosmetic surgery quite like the nose. The nose is one of the most prominent and noticeable of all facial features. Its appearance in relation to other facial features has an immense effect on your overall appearance. When in balance, its subtlety is its beauty; but when out of proportion with fellow facial features, it can draw unwanted attention.

The nose is unique in each individual and, structurally is an extremely complicated feature. Its aesthetic contribution to the overall appear; nee of the face is immense, both in desirable and undesirable characteristics. Due to the unique structure and appearance of your noise, rhinoplasty must recognize and respect the individuality of your nasal structures and their relationship to other facial features. John B. Tebbetts, M.D., a Dallas plastic surgeon credited with developing a nondestructive nasal surgery technique says, “In formulating an operative plan for patients, I will always try to preserve those positive’ characteristics which make your nose individual and unique and modify or improve only those characteristics which detract.” It is illogical to envision “the perfect nose” and to try and create that on your face ignoring the essential balance that must be preserved. Nasal surgery can be separated into two different categories: Septoplasty and Submucous Resection, and Rhinoplasty. If viewed with the head tilted back, structurally, the nose can be envisioned as a trip xl. The side walls of the nose form the outsides of the tripod, with the septum (which divides the nose in half internally) being the ceetral support of the tripod. When the nose is broken or damaged by trauma, very frequently there is a disruption of both the outer walls of the tripod (nasal bones) as well as the central internal strut (nasal septum). When the nasal septum is bent, broken, or otherwise deviated or damaged, it can produce obstruction of the nasal airways which pass between the limbs of the tripod. To achieve adequate straightening of the septum surgically, it is frequendy necessary to reposition external and internal structures. Operative procedures to modify or correct septal abnormalities are called Septoplasty and Submucous Resection. Their purpose is to improve or alleviate airway obstruction. Rhinoplasty is the term used for the second category of nasal surgical procedures directed toward improving the external appearance of the nose.

In the past, traditional surgical methods of reshaping the nose sought to tear down the existing structure of the cartilage tripod clearing the way for the use of grafts to achieve the desired shape. However, time las proven that the use of grafts introduces uncontrollable variables-shifting in position, resorbing or developing scar tissue-resulting once again in an imbalance and more impor-tantly in a second operation. Dr. Tebbetts’ technique of Nondestructive Rhinoplasty has created surgical procedures that approach reshaping die nose from an engineering perspective. The concept is to change the si ape of the cartilage tripod by using sutures to apply force on the structure rendering the desired result. By changing the shape of the nose with completely reversible techniques, without destroying its original structure, Dr. Tebbetts can predictably deliver the patient’s expected results. Since uncontrollable variables (grafts) were never introduced into the operation, complications and reoperations are virtually eliminated.

A completely reversible surgical technique? Sound too good to be true? Dr. Tebbetts cautions patients to remember that his techniques and nondestructive approach to Rhinoplasty can only effectively be applied to a primary nose (one that has not had previous nasal surgery). “Once the structural integrity of the nose has been disrupted in prior surgeries, the predictability of correcting the complications with suture is compromised.”

It is important to remember mat any cosmetic surgical procedure is not magic. It is a specific detailed procedure designed to improve a specific aspect of your appearance, Whether you are happy with the results of cosmetic surgery will depend largely on how well you communicate with your surgeon and how well your surgeon communicates to you the scope of the surgical procedure and what it will and will not accomplish.

The purpose of all types of cosmetic surgery is to achieve die essential balance and proportion that brings out the best in you. By addressing and improving those specific areas which distract from your appearance and leaving the positive aspects undisturbed, this type of surgery in effect improves the negatives, leaves the positives and results in an overall improvement in your appearance. For more information, call Dr. Tebbetts at 214-220-2712.