Rhinoplasty at North Austin Campus

Rhinoplasty (RIE-no-plas-tee) is a general term for a surgical procedure that reshapes or repairs the nose. The plastic surgery team in North Austin has experience in all techniques of nose reconstruction. Our team performs rhinoplasty procedures to change the appearance of a nose, such as to improve symmetry or balance, or to improve breathing through the nose. In many cases, especially in treating the nasal differences in cleft lip and palate, the goal of surgery is to improve both shape and function at the same time. 

Before (left) and after (right) rhinoplasty for unilateral cleft lip nose 

Common reasons when we offer rhinoplasty are to treat:

• Nasal changes that result from a cleft lip deformity. The cleft lip repair when your baby is an infant will also treat the asymmetry of the nose. Some children will benefit from a short day surgery procedure at age 4-5 years (“Kindergarten Rhinoplasty”) to help balance the cartilages of the nose for improved symmetry during growth. Teenagers that were born with a cleft lip and palate will often benefit from a final rhinoplasty at age 14-18 years to improve the breathing through their nostrils and to change the shape of the nose
• We can manage most traumatic nasal injuries shortly after they occur with a quick procedure. Some injured noses will require more treatment to improve breathing or shape after they have healed. In these cases, we offer rhinoplasty techniques that are specific to your child’s needs. 
•  For some birth defects or after severe trauma, all or parts of the nose can be missing. We offer reconstructive surgery options that can replace the missing skin, cartilage, or bone using tissue from another part of your child’s body, such as from the ear, forehead or rib.