adminkim, Author at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery

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When it comes to appearing youthful and rejuvenated, modern plastic surgeons have a variety of options to give you the results you’re looking for. Cosmetic procedures are becoming more and more mainstream in America, offering numerous anti-aging solutions to millions of people every year.

From dermal fillers and Botox to surgical facelifts, you have more options than ever to achieve a younger, natural-looking appearance. Many patients start with fillers, as they’re cost-effective and non-invasive. But how sustainable are fillers in the long term, and at what point should you consider transitioning to a facelift?

The Limitations of Dermal Fillers

For many patients, fillers are perfect for what they’re looking for. Botox can smooth out forehead furrows, and fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane can give your cheeks and lips a little more volume. For sagging jowls and excess loose skin, though, these treatments can’t do the trick.

A facelift can help you achieve a younger look without the need for touch-up appointments, as dermal fillers and cosmetic injectables require. Furthermore, a facelift can provide dramatic results with just one procedure, while the results obtained with fillers and injectables must be maintained with additional injections.

Long-Term Costs

Fillers can quickly and easily enhance appearance, but the effects aren’t permanent. While the timeline varies between brands and is affected by the patient’s facial anatomy, most treatments can be expected to last anywhere from nine to eighteen months.

It can be intimidating to consider a permanent surgical option, and fillers are more affordable and much less invasive. But over time, the cost of maintaining them adds up. At a certain point, it’s worth asking if it’s more financially viable to opt for a one-time surgery rather than to continuously pay for touch-up injections with cosmetic injectables.

A More Permanent Solution

The goal of a facelift is to tighten excess skin, smooth out sagging, and eliminate jowls to give you a more naturally youthful appearance. The procedure can also help address losses in facial volume, though it’s not uncommon to use fillers in conjunction with surgery to enhance the results.

The most attractive aspect of facelifts is its longevity. While the lifespan of fillers can be counted in months, the results of surgery can last up to 15 years.

When is the Right Time to Transition?

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The solution depends on several variables, including your unique aging characteristics and personal aesthetic goals. Technically, the only requirement for a facelift is that you are in good health, but it is ultimately a decision you should make with the guidance of a qualified plastic surgeon.

While fillers are popular with younger patients and are appropriate for all ages, the effects of aging become more difficult to treat as time goes on. This is especially true of the lower third of the face as time and gravity take their toll.

Is it time to consider surgical options to enhance your appearance? Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with our surgeon and find out what’s best for you.

Radiesse is an advanced dermal filler gel is an effective solution for the treatment of wrinkles and deep creases around the mouth and nose such as smile lines, marionette lines, and nasolabial folds.

The FDA approved Radiesse is a soft tissue dermal filler that immediately adds fullness to treated facial areas and provides natural-looking improvements that mitigate any visible signs of facial aging.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides Radiesse cosmetic filler injections to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.

Key Properties of Radiesse

A unique characteristic of Radiesse is to provide support to weakened facial structures. In addition, it enhances the production of new collagen in the deeper layers of the skin. This improves the sustainability of the rejuvenation effects for up to one year or more.

Radiesse contains calcium-based microspheres that add volume to the skin to address depleted facial areas. According to many clinical studies, the high effectiveness and sustainability of Radiesse filler cosmetic dermatology injections have been proven.

Prior to receiving Radiesse injections, the patient does not require any allergy testing as this filler treatment comprises calcium hydroxylapatite, which is naturally found in the human body.

In the first three months after Radiesse filler treatment, it voluminizes the skin and mitigates lines and creases in the treated site. After that, Radiesse microspheres encourage the generation of fresh collagen which leads to the production of new tissue offering extended results for up to two years.

Additionally, Radiesse is effective in the treatment of facial lipoatrophy, oral and maxillofacial defects, and scars and chin dimples.

Which Facial Areas can be treated with Radiesse?

Radiesse dermal fillers are a versatile treatment that offers an effective solution for various cosmetic and corrective facial needs. This dermal filler plumps the skin for a natural, more youthful appearance. Radiesse is effective in treating the following conditions:

Nasolabial Folds
Marionette Lines
Chin Reshaping
Cheek Enhancement
Bridge or Nasal Augmentation
Jaw Line Contouring
Lip Augmentation
Smile Lines
Frown Lines

Radiesse for Hands

Many people seek to reduce wrinkles on their hands. Radiesse can be an effective solution for hand rejuvenation. It is an innovative dermal filler that can immediately replace lost volume in the back of the hands and create hands that look smooth and youthful. This injectable filler enhances the appearance of the hands by:

Replacing volume fullness
Mitigating the appearance of tendons and veins
Offering smooth, natural-looking results

Injection Procedure

The treatment provider will inject Radiesse in a simple outpatient procedure, which is usually undertaken using local anesthesia. The time taken for the treatment is nearly 15 minutes and depends on the extent of the treatment. The provider will identify one or more injection locations for each treatment site.

After that, they will apply local anesthetic and antiseptic. The provider will then inject Radiesse beneath the skin, under the dermis and subcutis layer.

Patients will experience instantly noticeable results. But the complete results of the treatment will establish in almost a week. The treatment outcomes can sustain for up to two years.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for Radiesse facial filler treatment. For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim. Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

Many of our patients at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery come to our practice because they heard that painful comment that finally pushed them over the line and caused them to tackle insecurity. If you’ve ever heard that comment at some point in your life, you know exactly the one we’re talking about. It comes in the form of a question or statement that goes something like this: “How far along are you?” or “Wow! I didn’t know you were expecting.” The real blow to your confidence comes when you explain you’re not pregnant.

This post is about those who are sick of being asked, “Why do you look so tired?” and “Did you sleep at all last night?” If you’ve been looking in the mirror and feeling insecure about your tired and puffy eyes, we’re going to teach you about one of our cool, non-surgical cosmetic treatments for your face. Read on to learn more about how undereye dermal fillers can help awaken those tired eyes that make you feel way older than you should.

If you’re interested in learning more about non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments or have questions after reading our blog, please contact us through our website or call our practice at (310) 746-5475.

Dermal Fillers as an Undereye Treatment

The skin on your face takes a beating throughout your life. Factors like sun damage, genetics, and natural aging processes cause all sorts of negative impacts on different areas of your face. One of the worst places where those signs of aging become visible is under your eyes because the eyes are the focal point of nearly all the communication you’ll have with people throughout your life.

Even if you get plenty of sleep, deep and dark circles may form under your eyes as you age and cause you to look older and tired even if you are neither of those. The skin there can also get puffy and loose and form wrinkles. To help restore and rejuvenate those tired eyes, plastic surgeons and cosmetic professionals have several tools in their toolkit. One of the most popular, because of the cost and convenience, is using fillers to add volume to your undereye areas.

Dermal fillers used under the eyes are typically made of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a material that is naturally found in your body, mostly concentrated in the eyes, joints, and skin. It’s a safe, FDA-material used not only to add volume, but also to attract water to keep your skin hydrated.

What Is A Dermal Undereye Filler Treatment Like?

Convenience is one of the main reasons people use fillers to rejuvenate their face and add volume to trouble areas where collagen deficiencies, bone loss, or sagging skin are causing them to look aged. Appointments for facial fillers are usually pretty quick, sometimes only lasting 15-20 minutes, and the results are almost immediate. As your skin retains more moisture and the injection site heals, you should see improvements for about 7-10 days after your filler injections.

There may be some swelling and a little redness and tenderness for a few days up to a week, but there’s much less downtime than a plastic surgery procedure. Most patients will want to plan about a week for recovery before any big events where they have to put their new, best face forward.

Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Belotero® are commonly used under the eyes to add volume, smooth our wrinkles, and tighten saggy skin. Results are long-lasting but not permanent, and additional treatments may be needed down the road. Depending on your unique factors and the materials selected by the plastic surgeon or nurse injector doing your treatment, your results may last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years before more injections are needed.

Because they’re made from materials naturally found in your body, hyaluronic acid fillers are metabolized and removed from your body safely. One of the bonus perks of this process is that it can stimulate collagen production, which is an important structural protein in your skin.

Great Undereye Treatment Plans Begin with a Great Consultation

Dermal fillers require just as much artistic skill as they do medical precision. To make sure you get the best results, choose a skilled plastic surgeon or nurse injector to build you a custom treatment plan based on your overall aesthetic goals.

Contact Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery at (310) 746-5475 for a consultation or send us a message through our website if you have questions about cosmetic undereye injectables.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the fifth most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States is the tummy tuck. The tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a popular procedure because it can help with a wide range of fairly common insecurities people have with their abdomens: skin laxity from weight changes, excess fat, and weak or separated muscles from carrying children, to name a few. Many patients who come to Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery for their consultations are familiar with the cosmetic benefits of a tummy tuck, but many are surprised when we tell them there are also some significant health benefits of this procedure.

If you’d like to discuss your tummy tuck with our plastic surgeons and a team of cosmetic surgery experts, please use our website to send us a message or call our practice at (310) 746-5475 to schedule your consultation. In this post, we’re only sharing a handful of the health benefits of a tummy tuck, but we love helping our patients understand how a tummy tuck can help them look and feel great while also improving their quality of life.

How a Tummy Tuck Can Be Good for Moms after Giving Birth

At Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, we specialize in a treatment plan specifically for women who are done having children called the mommy makeover. A core part of this cosmetic surgery is a tummy tuck. In addition to helping moms look great and regain their confidence after the hard work of carrying children and the excruciating demands on their bodies during labor and childbirth, the tummy tuck part of the mommy makeover is also to help their bodies heal and regain function.

When a woman gives birth vaginally, it can cause a condition called stress urinary incontinence, often called SUI, which happens when muscles that surround your bladder are damaged and stretched out. During a tummy tuck, your plastic surgeon can help with this condition by altering soft tissue to obstruct the bladder. Most women who have this done during a tummy tuck don’t experience SUI afterward.

In addition to helping with SUI, an abdominoplasty can sometimes help moms who experience back pain after having children. For moms, a tummy tuck can not only help restore some of your body’s functions pre-childbirth, but it can also benefit your health by improving your body’s form. A study published in 2018 followed the tummy tuck procedures and results of 214 women in Australia. It found that only 10 percent of them reported having back pain six weeks after the surgery, which was a 40 percent reduction from those who reported back pain before their tummy tuck.

After carrying children, your abdominal muscles will initially be distended and weak. A damaged core and more body weight are a recipe for disaster. Through gravity, your excess belly fat beings to pull your back inward, which is a major cause of chronic lower back pain. A tummy tuck can work to correct your posture and help your body’s core better support your spine.

Use Your Tummy Tuck to Start or Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Many of our patients at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery choose to have a tummy tuck because they’re frustrated that they can’t seem to lose that last little pocket of belly fat. Many people exercise and diet almost to unhealthy extremes before realizing that sometimes genetics can be more powerful than their willpower and self-discipline. Although it should never be considered surgery for weight loss, a tummy tuck can help those who are close to their ideal weight finally achieve that perfectly contoured stomach they’ve worked their butts off for.

Many people also get tummy tucks to help with loose skin after losing a significant amount of weight, and science says a tummy tuck might help them keep the weight off. According to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, many tummy tuck patients who had lost a lot of weight through bariatric surgery were more likely to keep their weight off if they combined it with a tummy tuck procedure. A tummy tuck can be a mental commitment to start a new healthy lifestyle, or it can be something that helps you keep maintaining one.

Let’s Discuss the Health Benefits of Your Tummy Tuck!

If you’d like to learn more about how a tummy tuck could help boost your confidence, restore your body after a pregnancy or multiple pregnancies, or help you in your quest to look great and be healthy, please contact us.

Schedule a Consultation with a Beverly Hills California Plastic Surgeon

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim. Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

Every race has its own defining facial characteristics. Each person from a specific race may not share these features. But sometimes those who do may want to consider plastic surgery to change them.

Rhinoplasty is a popular plastic surgery procedure among those whose ethnic characteristics include a broad nose.

Patients belonging to Asian and African ethnicities choose this procedure to reduce the width of their nose. It is important that the surgeon modifies their approach to the unique anatomic structure of the patient’s nose. The surgeon should avoid changing the nose to a level where it dramatically alters the appearance of the patient.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides ethnic rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.

Enhancing the Nose Appearance in Ethnic Patients

Ethnic rhinoplasty refers to nose reshaping surgery where the nose is surgically altered to create a more balanced, appealing nose that is ideal for the patient’s face without completely changing their ethnic features.

Asian, African American, and Hispanic rhinoplasty procedures should take into account the unique internal and external ethnic features of each patient’s nose.

A skilled and experienced ethnic nose surgeon will determine if an ethnic nose may require significant changes in the internal structures to change the external appearance and achieve an appearance that is desirable to the patient.

Common Features

Due to the unique features of the ethnic nose, people of African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics heritage may have specific nasal features which require special attention. For example, Asian, African American, and Hispanic patients often have rounder, bulbous, or less protuberant nose tips.

On the other hand, they may seek to extend and refine their nose tip (creating a taller and narrower tip). The standard problem of nostrils being too wide or flared can also be corrected through ethnic nose surgery.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty Techniques

The surgeon will use specialized techniques in an ethnic rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery procedure. These techniques include changing the shape of the bone and cartilage within the nose, making the nostrils narrower, or even using cartilage from another area of the body for grafting to lengthen the nose tip.

Due to the ease of placement, some surgeons prefer synthetic implants. But in some cases, they can only use tissue from the patient’s own body for safer and more predictable results and to reduce the risk of complications, extrusion or migration associated with synthetic implants.

Patients of Middle Eastern descent often seek rhinoplasty to reduce the nasal hump, refine the nose tip, and achieve a nose that is more harmonious with other facial features.

Afro-American candidates may have an excessively wide nasal bridge, wide nostrils, and/or a weak nasal tip which can be treated through a rhinoplasty procedure. The surgeon may augment a weak nasal tip by using a cartilage graft taken from another area of the body.

For Hispanic patients, the surgeon may need to reduce an excessively prominent bridge. Conversely, they may strengthen the patient’s profile by grafting a flatter nose. The surgeon will undertake the procedure to refine a thick or bulbous nasal tip, which will help restore attention to the patient’s smile and eyes.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for ethnic nose reshaping surgery. For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim. Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

Nose alar adjustment refers to a plastic surgery procedure meant to reshape wide or flared nostrils. The alar are the outer edges of the nostrils.

Alar adjustment is typically undertaken along with nose width reduction. The surgeon can change the level of tension that is causing the undesirable flair in the nostrils by eliminating a portion of the tissue.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.

What is Alarplasty?

Alar Base Reduction or Nostril Width Surgery is a minor procedure.

It is sometimes included as part of facial plastic surgery to alter the size of the nostrils which may be disproportionate to the nasal tip and position of the eyes. This procedure offers an effective technique to change the appearance of the nose and refine the nasal structure for better facial harmony.

Alarplasty is a surgical procedure to treat the alar. This is the region of the nose where the nostrils are rounded, covering the nose tip area where the nose connects to the nasolabial folds and cheeks.

Distinct Techniques

There are various surgical techniques that can be used for alar adjustment in rhinoplasty surgery. The surgeon will individualize the procedure depending on the unique needs of the patient.

For instance, the Weir technique is a specific alar adjustment procedure involving a particular incision type. The surgeon will eliminate tissues to create a wedge-like cavity. After this, they will seal it with sutures to create beautiful contours.

Good Candidates for Alarplasty

Appropriate candidates for alarplasty are people who are displeased with the shape and contour of their nose. The ideal candidate should be in good overall health, and not have any medical conditions that could increase the medical risks associated with facial surgery.

It is important that patients have reasonable expectations from the outcomes of this procedure. Additionally, they should be cognizant of all the risks and benefits of alarplasty and rhinoplasty.

This helps achieve higher levels of patient satisfaction and mitigates any future disappointment from the procedure.

Alarplasty Procedure

This surgery is undertaken using local anesthesia. The surgeon carefully places the incisions, typically within the nostrils. They will remove excess tissue through the incisions as well as reshapes and alters the size of the alars. The surgeon will then use sutures to make the nostrils narrower.

Results of Alarplasty

Alarplasty can offer very effective results by making the shape and size of the nostrils less pronounced. As alarplasty does not typically have contact with the nasal bone or cartilage, the patient tends to recover quicker and more comfortably.

Is Alarplasty Appropriate for Me?

Individuals seeking to understand whether alarplasty is an ideal cosmetic procedure for them should schedule a detailed consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon.

They will assess the nose appearance and anatomy and offer recommendations on how the patient can accomplish their cosmetic goals, enabling them to make a judicious choice.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for nose reshaping surgery. For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim. Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

Upon viewing the nose from beneath, the nostrils and the nasal tip would appear as a triangle called the pyriform aperture. To reduce the width of the nose, the surgeon will adjust the pyriform aperture. They can effectively reduce the nose width by making the angles of this triangle steeper at the point where the nostrils connect to the face.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

What is Nasal Base Reduction?

A nasal base reduction is a rhinoplasty technique that helps narrow the nasal base in cases where it is too broad relative to other features of the face. Nasal base reduction, in some variation, is a standard technique used in rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty.

Nasal base reduction is even more common in the case of ethnic rhinoplasty. For example, Asian, African American, and Middle Eastern nose surgery often involve a reduction of the nasal base. These ethnicities tend to have a wider nasal base which requires a nose base reduction to refine the nose.

The main complaint of most patients seeking rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty is that their nose looks too wide or big at the base.

The nose base is typically measured from one nostril’s outer margin to the outer margin of the other nostril.

Ideally, the nasal width base should not be more than the distance between the two eyes. If there were an imaginary vertical line running down from the inner canthus (corner of the eye) on either side, the base should lie between these two lines.

However, it is vital to understand that this adjustment is the cosmetic ideal for a Caucasian nose. This may not be appropriate for ethnic noses. If the base of the nose is slightly wider than this measurement in the case of many ethnic nose surgery patients, it usually offers more natural looking results.

Anatomy Involved In Nasal Base Reduction

An in-depth understanding of the nasal base structure is essential to be able to decide on the surgical treatment of particular rhinoplasty patients. The columella refers to a column-like structure that is located in the middle of the nasal base.

It bifurcates the nostrils into left and right parts. The alar base insertion if the part of the nostril side wall that inserts into the upper lip-cheek junction. The nasal sill area is the region between the alar base insertion point and the columella.

A Wide Sill Area

Some rhinoplasty patients who have a wide nasal base also have a very broad sill area as well. This adds to the extra width of the nose. If the sill area is excessively wide, it could cause a more horizontal type nostril shape. This is commonly seen in patients who have a wide nasal sill.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

The nasolabial angle is made up of two lines. The first one extends from the nasal tip to the area above the upper lip. The second line goes from the upper lip to the base of the nose, where the nostrils bifurcate. Nose tip rotation and nose projection can affect the degree of this angle.

The surgeon will, in most cases, seek to develop a 90 to 95-degree nasolabial angle in men and a 100 to 105-degree angle in women candidates. The surgeon can refine this angle through a combination of projection and rotation adjustment techniques.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.

Correcting Nose to Lip Angle and Bulbous Tip

The surgeon may make use of a full delivery technique to correct a bulbous nasal tip. In this procedure, they may suture the dome to the lower lateral cartilages while possibly adding a cartilaginous strut graft, if needed for support.

Wide and flared nostrils can be corrected using alar-based excisions if necessary. Any type of acute angle to the lip can be addressed by raising the tip, reducing the cartilaginous septum and caudal membranous.

The other techniques to treat this condition include reducing the anterior septal angle to allow upward tip rotation and techniques that change the tip itself or tripod of the nose as well as lengthen the medial crus or columella so that it rotates and projects upward.

The surgeon may shorten the lateral or gull wing aspect of nose tip cartilages. These techniques may be used together to narrow the tip and improve the columellar labial angle at the same time.

Finally, the surgeon can perform the alar base reduction along with a rhinoplasty and narrow the base to reduce its width.

More than One Route

Various alternatives exist to correct the angle between the nasal columella and lip. Using caudal extension grafts and plumping grafts can effectively project the nasolabial angle.

The development of proper tip rotation is a standard aspect of rhinoplasty. It is often used in combination with creating better tip definition. But the definition is limited by thicker skin.

In addition, the surgeon may use shaving away a portion of the septum at the anterior angle. However, a specific recommendation on this technique would necessitate an actual nose examination.

Lifting a Drooping Nose Tip

The tip often droops in patients with thick skin and heavy noses. There are various approaches to elevate the nose tip. The surgeon can reduce the septal length.

But most heavy noses require extra tip support. The surgeon accomplishes this through the use of cartilage grafts to offer strength to the tip and elevate it.

For first-time rhinoplasty patients, the ideal source of the graft material is the nasal septum. The surgeon can also make the tip cartilages narrower. To address excessively thick and hard skin and add more strength, a graft using the patient’s cartilage, called an extended shield graft, is often used as well.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

Nose projection is the distance that the nose protrudes outward from the juncture where it connects the upper lip to its tip. If the tip is excessively protuberant, it can have a significant effect on the overall appearance of the nose.

Conversely, noses that are under-projected appear too shallow and this may make the nose appear too small in comparison to other facial characteristics.

Surgical Steps

A surgeon can trim away a portion of the cartilage at the nose tip to reduce the projection of the nose. To increase the nasal projection, the surgeon may separate and then realign the cartilage.

They will push it forward and subsequently suture it into a refined position. If there is inadequate cartilage in the nasal tip, the surgeon may use a cartilage graft to augment it.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.

Correcting an Over Projected Nose

Individuals with over projected noses, which protrude too far out from their face can undergo corrective surgery involving trimming away the nasal cartilage at the tip. This surgery moves the nasal tip back to offer it a more attractive appearance. It is also called nasal de-projection or retro-displacement.

Correcting an Under Projected Nose

Re-projecting an under-projected nose involves extending the nose cartilage. The surgeon can accomplish this goal using two approaches, depending on the structure of the nose. In one approach, the surgeon trims the nose cartilage and sutures it up again to achieve better nose projection.

The second approach involves the surgeon sourcing a cartilage graft from another body area, where there is adequate cartilage availability, and using it to enhance nose projection.

The cartilage graft is usually taken from the nasal septum in primary rhinoplasty. The cartilage can also be sourced from the ribs or ears, if necessary.

Types of Cartilage Grafts

Depending on the method and location of cartilage graft use, they may be known as columellar struts used to provide support to the columella which divides the nostrils.

There may be inadequate septum cartilage in case the patient is undergoing a secondary rhinoplasty. Such cases usually involve the surgeon taking bone from the rib cage for the cartilage graft.

Cartilage taken from the ear is considered to be beneficial in providing support to the nasal tip due to its elasticity. A common cartilage transplant from the ear will be thicker compared to septum cartilage. But it may offer a nose tip that feels more natural rather than one that is solid and rigid due to the elasticity.

In case cartilage is necessary for primary rhinoplasty, rib or costal cartilage is also considered a viable option. Generally, ear or septal cartilage is used to refine the nose tip. But, rib cartilage may also be used at times.

Considerations for Male Patients

Male patients seeking an improvement in their nose projection may have concerns on their nose appearing too feminine after the procedure. However, a judicious, reliable, and skilled cosmetic surgeon can make sure that the male aesthetic of the nose is preserved while improving its projection simultaneously.

A nose projection procedure can effectively improve the nose shape while preserving its masculinity for men who do not want to undergo a “complete” rhinoplasty. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim. Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

The nasal tip may lack proper rotation if it lacks definition or is too defined. Rotation refers to the upward or downward turn of the nasal tip.

The plastic surgeon will modify the nasal tip by reshaping the cartilage. They will pay particular attention to the nasal base during this procedure as it impacts the tension and rotation.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

What is Nose Tip Rhinoplasty?

Nasal tip rhinoplasty is any procedure undertaken on the lower third portion of the nose.

This is an intricate procedure and requires the surgeon to be skilled and experienced in nose reshaping and have a comprehensive understanding of the nasal structure and how the cartilage and other tissue affect the process of reshaping the nose.

Nasal tip refinement is not necessarily a cosmetic procedure, but maybe a medical necessity in some cases. For instance, the patient may experience breathing issues due to an abnormally shaped nasal tip either in their routine life or when they sleep.

A sinus infection may also result from an abnormal nose tip. Sometimes patients also experience speech problems due to their abnormally shaped nose tip.

Reasons to Undergo Tip Refinement

There are multiple reasons for which patients seek nasal tip refinement, either individually or as an alternative to rhinoplasty. However, it is usually undertaken to correct a fuller or “bulbous” nasal tip.

Some patients may consider their natural nose structure to be unappealing, such as patients with noses that’s sag at the tip, “hooked” noses, or upturned noses. In general, nasal tip refinement creates a slimming effect for the entire face.

Wide Tip Correction

A bulbous or wide nose typically develops due to a combination of large nasal domes that are spaced widely apart and thick nose skin. A thick fat or ligament may separate the nasal domes in many cases.

The surgeon will reshape the soft tissue and move the domes closer to address this condition. They may place a graft on the tip of the nose itself for patients with thick skin to give the tip better definition. The surgeon may also shave off or modify the cartilage structure beneath the skin to make the nasal tip narrower.

Less Invasive Procedure

The nasal tip refinement surgery is much less invasive compared to a complete rhinoplasty. The inner nose structure is substantially modified in a conventional nose reshaping surgery. It may also involve breaking bones leading to a longer recovery period.

But nasal tip refinement usually involves placing two to three incisions which enable the surgeon to access the cartilage in that area. The surgeon will seal the incisions after reshaping the nose. In addition, this surgery involves a relatively shorter recovery phase.

Patients who are good candidates for tip refinement surgery usually benefit from it as an effective alternative to “full” rhinoplasty surgery. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim. Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.