Rhinoplasty – Beauty is harmony - how nasal surgery can help

The nose characterizes the face, and is unique and individual. Only the nose makes a face expressive. However, distinctive noses can be perceived as problematic. If the external shape of the nose does not fit the inner self-image of a person, modern nasal surgery (rhinoplasty) can allow for an aesthetic correction that is both harmonious and individual.

Rhinoplasty is recommended especially if there are functional limitations. Such a medically indicated nose operation is advisable if the patient is permanently unable to breathe through the nose and feels impaired by this nasal obstruction.

To achieve an optimally natural result, Dr. med. von Gregory combines a profound sense of aesthetics with excellent surgical expertise.

Dr. med. von Gregory’s mission

Dr. med. von Gregory is one of the top nasal and facial reconstruction specialists in Germany who treats patients from around the globe. He has always focused solely on the nose and face, so his experience and detailed know-how is vast and comprehensive. As a leading expert for facial and nasal surgeries, Dr. med. von Gregory offers competent advice. He approaches each need and desire on an individual basis and with the greatest possible empathy, so that he can recommend the most suitable form of treatment.

He helps those who require surgical procedures as a result of a past illness such as cancer, birth defects, as well as for trauma or injury, for example, from a car accident. These always include a combination of corrections to breathing, functional or other medical requirements to improve a patient’s quality of life. Furthermore, rhinoplasty could also help remedy any aesthetic issues that a patient is experiencing.

If a patient is suffering from issues regarding the functionality or aesthetic balance of the face or nose, Dr. med. von Gregory is a top specialist who focuses in solving these problems with the best possible harmonical results. The combination of improving functional issues as well as achieving improved aesthetics is an ideal combination that many patients come specifically to Dr. med. von Gregory for. No matter the medical circumstance, all patients will receive the most individual advice and the utmost care.

Rhinoplasty definition - What is rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, often referred to as “nasal surgery”, includes an operation on the nose to change or improve its shape or function. This involves either restructuring the bone, cartilage, and/or skin on the nose. Rhinoplasty can help both with improving facial aesthetics, as well as medical functionality such as for breathing issues, imbalances from an injury, issues from birth, or facial issues due to an illness such as cancer. According to the patient's needs and wishes, Dr. med. von Gregory will give a precise recommendation and will work out a detailed treatment plan to achieve the patient's desired outcome.

Open Rhinoplasty and Closed Rhinoplasty - What is the difference?

Open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty differ regarding the surgical technique used. Open rhinoplasty involves an external incision applied to the nose to gain access to its interior by making an incision on the columella, the tissue between the nostrils.

In contrast, closed rhinoplasty requires that incisions are exclusively done inside the nose, going up through the nasal cavity. Nevertheless, for both closed and open rhinoplasty, this procedure leaves no or only a minimal scar, but still results in an improvement to breathing as well as a beautiful and harmonious overall result for the face and appearance.

Dr. med. von Gregory being a top specialist in this field and having mastered both techniques, he will give you detailed advice on appropriate options, considering both functional and aesthetic requirements as well as the patient's personal needs and wishes.

Rhinoplasty – options for treatments

Nose surgery

Nose surgery

is a general term that describes any operation on the nose that improves the functional and aesthetic sections of the face. Even if the option chosen focuses more so on functionality, the aesthetic structure is always paid attention to as well and vice versa.

Revision rhinoplasty

A revision rhinoplasty can work as both a functional and aesthetic treatment. One example would be for those who have experienced a change in the shape of the nose due to an accident or illness after the original surgery. Another example would be in the case of improving a previous surgery, for example, if too much nasal support tissue was removed.

Sinus operation

A sinus operation is necessary when a patient is having trouble breathing due to causes such as chronic sinusitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes), polyps (growths in the paranasal sinus region), or pathological changes inside the nose leading to issues with the drainage and ventilation of the sinuses.

Please also note that Dr. med. von Gregory does not perform this surgery himself, but rather he will recommend an expert specialist that he works with.

Septoplasty & Deviated Septum Surgery

A septoplasty procedure, otherwise referred to as deviated septum surgery, is recommended in the case of a curvature of misalignment of the nasal septum that can occur from an injury as well as present birth defects.

Turbinate surgery

Turbinates are structures formed on the side wall within the nose. A patient may require turbinate surgery if these are abnormally enlarged or inflamed and are causing breathing issues that cannot be treated with medication. Enlargement or inflammation can occur as a result of a congenital malformation or excessive tissue growth, as well as a reaction to medication or other allergies.

Nasal reconstruction

If a patient’s nose is disfigured from tumors, accidents, congenital malformations or even unsuccessful cosmetic surgery, nasal reconstruction can be used to restore both the appearance and function of the nose.

Broken nose surgery

When a patient suffers a broken nose likely due to a heavy blow to the nose from a fall or accident, functional and aesthetic surgery will help to heal and restore the affected parts of the patient’s nose and the surrounding area.

Non surgical rhinoplasty

Sometimes functional and aesthetic aspects of the nose can be improved without surgery using injection therapy, a gentler method. Injection therapy can involve the following: hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite (tissue filling substances), botulinum, and autologous fat (liposuction).

During the initial consultation, Dr. med. von Gregory will get to know each patient’s individual circumstance so he can suggest the procedure to best achieve the desired result.

Rhinoplasty procedure

The patient will receive anesthesia as either a local or intravenous sedation. Dr. med. von Gregory can recommend the appropriate procedure for this depending on the treatment chosen.

Next, either an opened or closed procedure is used to raise the skin that covers the nasal bones and cartilage in order for the nose or other respective features to be reconstructed.

After this, the aesthetic and functional features which were previously agreed upon are implemented, sometimes requiring cartilage grafts or other types of additional facial reconstruction surgeries. Dr. med. von Gregory always uses the utmost precision to bring patients closer to a beautiful, harmonious nose. Once all restructuring is finished, nasal tissues are put back into place and incisions are closed off. Splints or gauze may be used to support the nose or other facial features throughout the healing process. An initial 24-hour bed rest is required for monitoring.

In a preliminary consultation on the treatment, Dr. Gregory will discuss all treatment steps and explain the necessary procedures. He always takes the necessary time to answer all questions in order to define the best course of treatment together with the patient.

Rhinoplasty recovery - How long does it take to recover from a nose surgery?

During the operation, the nasal area will swell after surgery, making it temporarily difficult to breathe through the nose, however this is an expected part of the procedure. In general, it typically takes 2-3 weeks for swelling to subside. On the other hand, if injection therapy is used, this can minimize the swelling to a few hours. In extreme cases, a splint or plaster case may be used for 1-2 weeks to stabilize the result.

24 hours of bed rest is required while keeping the head propped up. There are also some tactics to help speed up the recovery process such as refraining from: exercise, excessive talking and chewing, smoking, blood thinning agents, nose blowing, as well as making sure to sleep in an upright position. In order for the healing process to go well and for the patient to recover quickly, it is very important to follow the care guidelines provided by Dr. med. von Gregory. This also helps achieve the best possible operation results.Timeline for Recovery after the Operation

Length of operation 1-3 hours
Initial hospital stay (inpatient) 1-2 days
Aftercare when using the guidelines 1-2 weeks
Removal of the splint After 1-2 weeks
Work-ready After 2-3 weeks
Exercise After about 6 weeks

Rhinoplasty complications and risks

In general, Rhinoplasty is a low-risk medical procedure in which Dr. med. von Gregory always proceeds with delicate care. To keep the risks at an absolute minimum, it is important to follow the expert recommendations given by Dr. med. von Gregory. However, potential complications can include allergic reactions to medication or medical instruments, as well as bleeding, infections or wound healing disorders from the surgery. Local complications can involve: sensory and olfactory issues, tears, visual issues, nose dryness, nasal skeleton damage, or respiratory problems, as well as potential irregularities to the overall aesthetic balance.

Operative rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that rarely causes complications. To keep the risks as low as possible, Dr. med. von Gregory takes the utmost care throughout the entire process, including during the preliminary discussions, the preparation of the operative treatment plan, the preparation of the operation and the operation itself. For this purpose, previously known allergies and intolerances, illnesses, injuries and surgeries as well as regularly taken medicines are tested in advance of the operation.

Rhinoplasty cost - How much does a nose surgery cost?

In general, the costs of a rhinoplasty cannot be set at a fixed rate. Each treatment is individually based on the patient’s wishes and needs as well as medical requirements. Dr. med. von Gregory will go through an initial consultation with all patients, and after a detailed diagnosis and preparation of a treatment plan, compile a treatment plan.

Rhinoplasty before and after photos during the individual consultation

For legal reasons, before-and-after pictures are not allowed to be published on this website. Dr. med. von Gregory can show a wide range of before-and-after pictures during the initial consultation that can give an accurate impression of the results in order for the patient to comprehend Dr. med. von Gregory’s specialization, competence and extended experience in nasal surgery.

Furthermore, using a computer simulation program, the results of rhinoplasty or other facial reconstructions can be graphically illustrated, reconciling the medical issues of the patient with what is surgically feasible. This helps give the patient security and shows in advance a possible picture of the improved facial structuring after a rhinoplasty procedure. However, a computer simulation can only approximate the postoperative result. Nonetheless, Dr. med. von Gregory is one of the best nose surgeons in Germany and beyond, which makes each person’s case his utmost responsibility to achieve the best results.