Rhinoplasty in Palm Beach, FL Dr. Justin Bellamy
Many people struggle with the appearance or function of their nose. This is often due to a variety of factors, including deformity since birth or acquired changes from trauma. Some people often pursue rhinoplasty to modify a dorsal hump prominence, a droopy or bulbous tip, a nose that is too long, an overly large nose, or a septal deviation that causes breathing difficulties.
The good news is that with the right plastic surgeon, you can enjoy a nose that is more aesthetically balanced and allows you to breathe properly. Dr. Justin Bellamy is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty surgery. His extensive academic training, distinguished expertise, and patient-first attitude have made him a favorite of many patients coming from across the country.
Continue reading to learn more about rhinoplasty or contact us online to schedule your consultation with Dr. Bellamy today! We are located in Palm Beach and proudly serve cosmetic and plastic surgery patients in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, and South Florida.
What Is Rhinoplasty Surgery?
Rhinoplasty, also known as nose surgery or nose job, is a plastic surgery that remodels the nose’s appearance and reshapes its contours. The motivation for this surgery is usually aesthetic, but many patients are also interested in improving their breathing. A functional rhinoplasty can improve airflow through the entrance of the upper airway, dramatically improving the patient’s ability to breathe.
West Palm Beach Rhinoplasty Candidates
Ideal candidates for rhinoplasty are non-smokers who are otherwise healthy without severe health conditions that would otherwise preclude you from elective surgery. During your consultation with Dr. Bellamy, we will review your anticipated results to ensure that your expectations are realistic and anatomically accomplishable. Patients with systemic conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, bleeding disorders, lung disease, or high blood pressure may still be eligible for this procedure, but they need to consult their physician first.
Looking for the best plastic surgeon in Palm Beach?
Dr. Justin Bellamy uses his esteemed education, cutting-edge techniques, and state-of-the-art medical equipment to create customized treatment plans to meet his patients’ needs and expectations. He has published over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is a thought-leader in the field of plastic surgery. Trust Dr. Bellamy for a comprehensive and modern plastic surgery experience.
What Is a Typical Palm Beach Rhinoplasty Consultation in Like?
During your in-person consultation, Dr. Bellamy will discuss your concerns, expectations, and medical history. It is essential to be upfront and honest when answering these questions to ensure an optimal outcome from your treatment.
If requested, Dr. Bellamy will provide virtual planning photos at your consultation. These planning photos are not a guarantee of surgical outcome; however, they do provide an opportunity to review feasible changes to your nose and facilitate communication about surgical goals.
After developing your treatment plan with Dr. Bellamy, you will meet with a treatment coordinator to establish an operative date and surgical quote.
Types of Rhinoplasty Surgery
There are two different surgical approaches to rhinoplasty: open structural rhinoplasty and closed preservation rhinoplasty. Dr. Bellamy performs both open structural and closed preservation nose surgeries, and the choice will depend on the patient’s anatomy and goals:
Open approach: In an open rhinoplasty, Dr. Bellamy makes a small incision on the columella, the soft tissue that separates the nostrils. This technique allows for easy access to the underlying bone and cartilage structure. The main advantage of this approach (also referred to as external rhinoplasty) is improved accuracy in remodeling the nose, gaining more precision and control.
Closed approach: Closed rhinoplasty, also known as endonasal rhinoplasty, is performed by making all required incisions within the nostrils. The primary benefit of this less invasive surgical technique is a faster recovery time, no external scar, and a reduction in post-op swelling.
Preservation rhinoplasty: Dr. Bellamy offers preservation rhinoplasty for appropriate candidates. This approach preserves as much of the natural support structures of the nose as possible for enhanced recovery speed and improved long-term stability.
How Do I Prepare for Boca Raton Nose Surgery?
The week before surgery, we advise you to maintain a healthy, high-protein, low-salt diet. Most herbal supplements should be stopped, especially any that include garlic, fish oil, or zinc. During your pre-operative appointment, Dr. Bellamy will review all medications you take and provide instructions on how to proceed with them. Any medicines containing aspirin should be stopped, including combined formulations like Excedrin, as these can cause additional bleeding or bruising. However, most prescription medications, especially blood pressure medications, can or should be continued.
We also highlight that smoking, vaping, or using any type of nicotine product is strictly prohibited for at least 4 weeks before and after surgery. While not strictly necessary for most patients, if you like being on the safe side, you can consider using an over-the-counter Chlorhexidine-based body wash a few days before surgery to improve hygiene.
What to Expect from Rhinoplasty Surgical Procedure
The surgery is performed in our own facilities, as our practice counts with two state-of-the-art, fully certified AAAASF operating rooms. On the day of surgery, you will be greeted by the nursing staff and review your procedural plan with Dr. Bellamy. Dr. Bellamy will answer any last questions you may have and make surgical makings if necessary for the procedure. You must enter the OR with no doubts.
In most cases, nose surgery must be performed under general anesthesia. So, at this time, you will also meet with the anesthesia provider. The anesthesia provider will have already seen your charts, so they will explain again what to expect regarding your anesthesia.
Following your rhinoplasty procedure, you will be taken to a recovery room to be monitored by the nursing staff as you recover from anesthesia. Once you feel good enough to leave our facilities, we will review the post-operative instructions with you again and schedule your next visit, typically for the next day.
Surgical Mastery Meets Aesthetic Artistry
What Is the Post-Operative Recovery of a Nose Job Like?
While not particularly painful, the most challenging part of recovery after rhinoplasty is waiting for swelling to resolve. Much of what you do after surgery will be aimed at reducing the duration of your swelling. This includes sleeping on your back with your head elevated (above heart-level), avoiding extending periods of bending over, and ensuring you don’t blow your nose. Some patients may feel congested as a result of swelling or splints. You will begin using nasal sprays following your surgery to reduce the duration of swelling.
Nasal splints placed during your surgery are typically removed on day 7, as well as any sutures that might have been placed on the columella. Some stitches used for special techniques may need to stay for 10 days. You will also use breathing strips for 14 days.
During your pre-operative visit, you will be provided with detailed instructions regarding your recovery. These will include instructions on pain medication, peri-operative antibiotics, showering, nasal hygiene, and other common questions.
Why Choose Dr. Bellamy for My Palm Beach Nose Surgery?
Dr. Justin Bellamy is considered one of the premiere rhinoplasty surgeons in Palm Beach, offering both open precision rhinoplasty and closed preservation rhinoplasty. Few surgeons have the same experience and academic training as Dr. Bellamy, so many patients travel from across the country seeking his expertise.
Dr. Bellamy employs cutting-edge techniques and works with state-of-the-art medical equipment. He tailors customized treatment plans, considering the patients’ needs and expectations. Through patient-centered care, he offers a comprehensive and modern plastic surgery experience.
Palm Beach, FL
Rhinoplasty FAQs
Do you want to learn more about rhinoplasty with Dr. Justin Bellamy? Read our FAQs and complete our online form to meet Dr. Bellamy today.
Palm Beach, FL rhinoplasty cost is determined by your individual needs and the extent of your procedure. Following your consultation with Dr. Bellamy, you will receive a breakdown of the cost of rhinoplasty surgery in Palm Beach.
Initially, your rhinoplasty recovery takes one to two weeks, which includes wearing internal and external splints for up to 7 to 10 days. During your recovery, expect to rest more than usual, keep incisions clean, and irrigate the nose with saline.
Common rhinoplasty side effects include swelling and bruising. While initial swelling resolves typically at three to six months, it may take up to a full year for residual swelling to resolve.
Typically, patients require one to two weeks off work for rhinoplasty recovery. However, after this time, you may still have restrictions that limit certain activities, such as bending, lifting, or other activities that increase the blood pressure.
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The most important way to prepare for your rhinoplasty consultation is to have a clear idea of your top concerns regarding your nose. I will ask you to tell me the top 3 things that bother you about your nose. This information will allow us to formulate a personalized treatment plan with defined goals.
Consuming a high-protein / low-sodium diet before and after surgery is an important part of preparing for surgery in the immediate time before and after your procedure. If you have thicker and/or more oily skin with large pores, I discuss with you some topical ointments to improve your skin quality before surgery to optimize your rhinoplasty outcome.
The most important part of rhinoplasty recovery is reducing swelling so you can get to your final result faster. This includes sleeping on your back with your head elevated, avoiding salty foods, and avoiding nose blowing or bending over.
1 week with a splint (or “cast”), and an additional week with compression strips on your nose. Sutures will be removed at your 1 week visit. Not all patients bruise, but if you do, bruising generally resolves by 10-14 days. Swelling peaks by day 3 after surgery and begins to significantly subside by day 14. The majority of swelling is generally gone after 2 to 3-months, however your nose will continue to refine over the course of the full year in first-time rhinoplasty. For revision rhinoplasty, the recovery is the same, however swelling can last longer and your final result may not be apparent until up to 2-years after surgery.
Return to work depends on what you do for work. For non-labor intensive jobs, you can return to work as soon as you are no longer requiring pain medications (usually a few days). For more active jobs that require lifting or bending, you may require longer.
After 3 weeks you can begin cardio exercises, and heavy lifting can resume after 4 weeks.
Absolutely. Everyone’s nose is unique before surgery and remains unique afterward. Additionally, we work together to develop a plan to give you the curated nose you desire.
Rhinoplasty includes both cosmetic and functional improvements. Difficulty breathing related to a deviated septum, nasal collapse, internal valve collapse, or nasal obstruction can often be improved as a part of a comprehensive rhinoplasty procedure.
Septoplasty is performed in most rhinoplasty patients to optimize airflow. If you have a deviated septum, this will be corrected as part of the septoplasty. Sometimes septal deviation is obvious (deviated nose, difficulty breathing from the same side of the nose), while other times you may not realize you have a deviated septum. In both scenarios, the septum is corrected with septoplasty.
Open vs. Closed rhinoplasty describes whether or not an external incision on the bottom side of your nose (columella) is used to access the underlying cartilage and bone. In open rhinoplasty, this small incision is used to optimize visualization for the surgeon during surgery. In Closed rhinoplasty, this incision is avoided and internal incisions within the nostril are used only. Closed rhinoplasty can be appropriate for most patients and results in a shorter duration of swelling and no external scars. More complex rhinoplasties or those who have had prior surgery on their nose are more likely to require an open approach.
Rhinoplasty is appropriate for all ages, assuming you have reached skeletal maturity. Skeletal maturity for women occurs at menses (age 11-13), while in men skeletal maturity is reached at age 18. There is no maximal age for rhinoplasty, assuming you are medically fit for anesthesia.
I do not require nasal packing during routine rhinoplasty. Instead, an internal weaving stitch is used to avoid the need for nasal packing. This results in a much more pleasant recovery with improved breathing.
Revision rhinoplasty is significantly more challenging that primary (first-time) rhinoplasty for a variety of reasons. Unlike first-time rhinoplasty patients, revision rhinoplasty patients have much more scar tissue both in the skin and along the underlying cartilage that can make the procedure more challenging and swelling during recovery more lengthy. Additionally, much of the natural underlying architecture will have already been manipulated and distorted, making the healing process less predictable without special precautions. Further, prior surgery and scar tissue compromises the lymphatic system of the nose, resulting in longer duration of swelling. Finally, the overlying skin tends to be more scarred with tissue memory and therefore more reluctant to conform to new shape. For these reasons, revision rhinoplasty requires highly specialized techniques and should therefore only be performed by specially trained rhinoplasty surgeons.
The nose is the cornerstone of the face. Harmonizing your nose with the rest of your face is the single most impactful procedure for facial balance.
Virtual planning photos can be made to communicate a reasonable goal for your nose. These photos are helpful both to visualize what the planned nose will look like on your face, and also as a discussion tool to make sure you and Dr. Bellamy’s goals are aligned. However these cannot be a guarantee of outcome, as many other variables affect your final healed result. They are a discussion tool that demonstrates a reasonably expected result.
Aesthetic rhinoplasty is never covered by insurance. In some cases, if nasal obstruction with difficulty breathing from an anatomic abnormality can be demonstrated (e.g. a deviated septum), then that sub-portion of the procedure may be covered. This can be discussed in more depth with your surgeon at your consultation.
Dr. Bellamy performs all rhinoplasties in two fully AAAASF certified, state-of-the-art surgical suites located at the office. You go home the same day after surgery with your first follow-up generally scheduled within a couple days of your procedure.
Full rhinoplasty surgery generally is safest when performed under general anesthesia where your airway can be fully protected. Unlike most other procedures, any amount of bleeding from your nose can end up around your airway if it is not fully protected. For this reason, we perform general endotracheal anesthesia for full rhinoplasty for absolute safety. Exceptions to this rule are for minor revisions (bridge rasping, tip-only procedures, etc), which can be safely performed wide-awake under local anesthesia.
While everyone experiences pain differently, rhinoplasty tends to be less painful than other plastic surgery procedures. Soreness, swelling, and discomfort are common in the first few days after surgery and generally improve each day after surgery. You will be given pain medication to help with any pain or discomfort you experience.
