The Nose Clinic - diagnosis | nose clinic | consultation

The Nose Clinic offers 30 years of specialised expertise, technical knowledge and experience - all the elements required to ensure a thoroughly professional diagnosis.


		YOUR 6-POINT DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
	Be prepared to devote time and energy to finding the right surgeon. The results of nasal surgery last a lifetime Ensure that your surgeon understands your problem, your needs and your expectations. His or her work will show on your face. Ensure you are happy with the diagnosis and recommendations. Don't be afraid to ask questions! If you have any doubts, ask for a second opinion. You'd try on a pair of expensive shoes a couple of times before buying -- and your facial appearance cannot be hidden in the back of the cupboard. Check whether your nasal problem requires a two-fold solution. Diverse surgical skills may be required. Remember that functional surgery could affect the shape of your nose. Does your surgeon have the aesthetic and cosmetic ability and experience as well as the medical expertise required?

Your step by step guide to excellence

# Get the correct diagnosis
Successful surgery begins at the first consultation with an accurate, expert diagnosis. Does the surgeon understand your needs and expectations? Does he or she realize that resolving your problem may require more than one technique? Functional surgery to restore normal breathing could, for example, subtly alter the shape of your nose, and one form of surgery will invariably influence the other.

# Take it from an expert!
Wonder why we at the Nose Clinic are so insistent on achieving the most detailed and accurate diagnosis possible? Here's the answer -- directly from eminent American surgeon, Eugene Tardy (MD, FACS and Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology, University of Illinois Medical Centre):

'It is my view that excellence in Rhinoplasty is the result of exacting and detailed analysis and diagnosis of the existing nasal deformities and anatomic variants, with diagnosis being distinctly more important than technical dexterity. If an incomplete or inaccurate appreciation of nasal

abnormalities exists, a natural, non-operated appearance cannot be achieved, in even the best surgical hand.' (Tardy, Eugene Jr. 1997. Rhinoplasty: the art and the science, Volume 1 M. WB Saunders.)

# Ask about the procedure
You are entitled to all the relevant information, so ensure that you are given all the relevant details about the procedure, hospitalisation, anaesthetic and recovery time.

# Think twice!
Don't hesitate to get a second opinion and check your surgeon's credentials. Is he/she specialised in this aspect of nasal surgery, abreast of the latest medical and technological developments, someone you can trust ...?

# Make sure you're in expert hands
Reconstructive and functional surgery to fix a congenital flaw or restore a damaged nose often involves cosmetic work. Similarly, revision surgery to correct the disappointing results of earlier surgery done elsewhere frequently requires a combination of expert techniques. Your best route to success? An experienced, respected and specialised surgeon.

# See the positive side of 'No'
Cosmetic and functional nasal surgery are complex procedures. Your aim should be to find an expert you can trust completely -- not someone who agrees to anything, no matter how extreme.

At the Nose Clinic we actively encourage patients to seek psychological counselling rather than surgery if we believe they are driven by unrealistic perfectionism. Similarly, we do not treat nasal allergies, and suggest that such patients consult a suitably qualified ear, nose and throat specialist. Our reputation for excellence depends on delivery -- and sometimes that means saying 'No'.

What to expect at your first consultation
Diagnosis starts at the first consultation with a comprehensive internal examination of the nose through the nostrils. A good surgeon visualises and analyses the concealed planes of the nose, noting skin and tissue factors that may influence or complicate surgery.

Getting the best cosmetic result
Successful cosmetic rhinoplasty is the result of many factors, one of the most important being the proportional balance between your nose and the rest of your face, particularly your chin. Here, the surgeon uses computer imaging to preview the proposed enhancement.

Balancing form and function
Diagnosing a functional breathing problem involves an analysis of the symmetry of the nostrils, nasal structure and internal air channels. (At the Nose Clinic, we offer an unusual advantage -- specialised expertise combining functional surgery with cosmetic enhancement, should this be required.)

Base View: Here you can see that the tip and base of the nostrils are broader than the triangle. Sculpting will change this.

Front View: In this diagram the bony bridge and base of the nose are too broad. The surgeon will sculpt the nose to fit into the triangle.

Side View: Notice how the dorsum and the tip of this nose overlap the sides of the triangular shape. This requires re-shaping to achieve the desired aesthetic shape.