Category Archives: General

Injectable fillers and fat transfer are popular with patients seeking more volume in the face or the reversal of smile and frown lines. The difference between fat and synthetic fillers is sometimes unclear and it is advised that anyone considering facial fillers consult a physician for an accurate recommendation for their needs. Fat Transfer Fat […]

How many years does a typical facelift last before it starts to “sag”? Recent studies in the medical literature demonstrate that a well, performed facelift that addresses the deeper layer of the facial tissues (known as the SMAS) provide results that last an estimated 7-11 years.

I have non-allergic rhinitis. Is it possible for someone with this condition to have rhinoplasty? It is possible for you to have a rhinoplasty to address the appearance of the nose. Occasionally, we combine rhinoplasty with functional surgery, such as septoplasty to correct a deviated septum and turbinate surgery to address enlarged turbinates. One of […]

When removing a hump or bump on the nose, what are the instances when it would be filed down versus broken? A bump/hump along the bridge of the nose can bony and/or cartilaginous in nature. Traditional approaches to reducing a bony bump/hump along the bridge of the nose include rasping with a carbide tungsten rasp […]

I don’t understand how laser skin resurfacing can be used to treat deep wrinkles. Could you please explain the process to me? I’m from San Diego and interested in some facial rejuvenation. Laser resurfacing delivers heat to the deeper layers of skin where collagen exists.  The heat causes collagen to reform, thus resulting in tighter, […]

Can a chin implant add more prominence to the chin and also fix an underbite? A chin implant can improve upon the chin projection but it does not correct an underbite.  I recommend you consider a consultation with an oral maxillofacial surgeon to discuss other options that may be more beneficial for correcting an underbite.

Do most doctors use powered rasps nowadays for rhinoplasty? What’s the benefit over a manually powered rasp? No, most surgeons do not use powered rasps.  I have been using powered rasps for over 2 years.  This technology allows me to shave down the bony hump of a nose with great precision and minimal trauma to […]

How do you make a nose that’s too large smaller with rhinoplasty? There are a variety of methods we use to make a large nose smaller.  For example, if you have a big hump along the bridge of the nose, we can refine that hump using precise micro-rasps.  Unlike traditional methods of taking down a […]

I keep hearing that patients of ethnicity have thicker skin and that special techniques need to be used for rhinoplasty, but what are these special techniques? In ethnic rhinoplasty, some patients may have thicker skin.  Patients with thicker nasal skin pose a challenge to achieve refinement of the nasal tip.  There are some special techniques […]

Is alloderm a good choice when the nose needs to be built up? How is it used? While alloderm has been used with nice results, I tend to prefer using your own tissue to build the nose back up.  My preferred material is something called temporalis fascia.  This is a thin layer that covers a […]