How Do I Prepare for My Rhinoplasty Surgery?

We will provide you with a detailed list of instructions to follow to ensure the safest procedure with the best possible results. These instructions can include: Stop taking certain medications at least two weeks before surgery until complete recovery, especially medicines that contain ibuprofen or aspirin, as these may increase the risk of bleeding. Once your surgery is completed, only take medications that you have discussed with Dr. Slocum as being OK or that he has prescribed you. Stop smoking at least four weeks before surgery, and abstain until you’ve fully healed (at least six weeks). Smoking will drastically impede the healing process and increase the odds of potential infections. Generally, Dr. Slocum does not perform Rhinoplasty on patients who are actively smoking and who do not have any interest in quitting. You must have someone to drive you home after your surgery. You will most likely still feel the effects of the anesthesia, so it is not safe to drive yourself. You must have a responsible adult (i.e. a friend or relative, or a nursing service) stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery. This is a requirement both of Seacoast Plastic Surgery, and most surgery centers or hospitals. Your recovery period is crucial, so having extra hands around to help with day-to-day tasks will help with the initial period once you return home.

Is Rhinoplasty Painful?

On average, most patients tolerate rhinoplasty recovery very well. As with any surgery, there is some amount of discomfort or pain involved. However, the staff at the surgery center takes great care to help you manage the pain. Dr. Slocum will give you medication during the surgery while you are under anesthesia, and he will also prescribe medications to help you manage the pain after surgery. We also give you a detailed list of instructions (that have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Slocum) for managing pain and swelling after surgery.

How Many Appointments Are Needed?

The number of appointments for Rhinoplasty will vary depending on each case. All patients will have a consultation with Dr. Slocum to discuss their goals and determine if they are a suitable candidate for the procedure. This will be followed by a pre-op visit where you will review your photographs and the surgical plan, and complete the informed consent process. The procedure itself will be scheduled at a surgery center or a hospital. After surgery, you will need to come in for follow-up appointments so that Dr. Slocum can monitor your progress. The first visit is typically within the first week after surgery, where your sutures and any internal splints are removed. A second post-op visit happens two weeks post-op, where the external splint is removed. Additional follow-ups typically happen between 4-6 weeks, then at around 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery.

How Long Until I See Results?

The bruising and swelling should subside about seven to ten days after surgery. Most patients see their new nasal shape after two weeks. As the final swelling subsides, you will continue to notice an improvement in your contour over the first three to six months. Patients will continue to see improvements in shape and airflow for about one year after surgery.

What Will the Scarring Look Like?

Rhinoplasty scars are usually minimal and barely visible since incisions are typically made along the nostrils’ natural curve or on the nose’s underside (across the columella). These precise incisions allow for the scars to hide within natural shadow lines, making them almost invisible. The scar that does remain visible for some time is located on the columella, the part of the nose that separates the nostrils. This is almost always temporary as it completely heals and fades within a couple of months.

Can I Combine Rhinoplasty With Other Procedures?

Absolutely. Many of our Portsmouth, NH, Boston, and Maine patients combine their procedure with jawline contouring with liposuction, chin surgery (genioplasty), buccal fat removal, or even injectables like BOTOX and dermal fillers to achieve a better-defined facial profile. If you have a specific area of concern or some part of your aesthetic goals that you would like to achieve, please discuss it with Dr. Slocum during your consultation. Once he examines you, he can better provide his expert suggestions to create a tailored surgical plan to meet your needs.

What Are the Risks Associated With Rhinoplasty?

Dr. Slocum is an experienced plastic surgeon who takes great pride in providing his patients with a safe environment during surgery in order to achieve the best results. There are no guarantees with surgery, however, and every procedure has its associated risks. While these are rare, below are some of the potential risks associated with a Rhinoplasty: Infection Bleeding Cartilage exposure Adverse reaction to anesthesia Scarring Asymmetry Dissatisfaction with results Difficulty breathing Septal perforation Need for additional procedures or surgery If you experience any concerning reactions or have any specific concerns after your surgery, please contact Seacoast Plastic Surgery immediately. Dr. Slocum wants his patients to be happy and is always happy to see patients and discuss their results.

How Do I Find the Best Rhinoplasty Surgeon near me in New England?

Finding the right plastic surgeon can be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to begin. The most important thing to consider when looking for a rhinoplasty surgeon in New England is to find one with the experience and history of performing successful rhinoplasty procedures. Dr. Alexander Slocum is Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a prestigious medical organization that ensures the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. Additionally, he was elected by his peers to be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, meaning he has the endorsement of other surgeons in the community. In addition to ensuring that your surgeon is qualified to perform your rhinoplasty, it’s important to be heard when you go in for your consultation, and your surgeon is not attempting to sell you on a procedure you don’t need. While we are confident you will have a wonderful experience with Dr. Slocum, we encourage you to research, talk with previous patients, and consult with some of your top-rated choices. Plastic surgery is a deeply personal choice, so don’t ever settle on a plastic surgeon out of convenience.

Portsmouth, NH

Rhinoplasty

Introduction to Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a procedure designed to enhance the appearance and function of your nose. Whether you want to tweak the shape of the tip, fix a bump, or breathe easier, every rhinoplasty is tailored to meet your needs. Dr. Slocum at Seacoast Plastic Surgery in Portsmouth, NH, has the vision, skill, and expertise to help patients from Boston, Maine, and the surrounding New England areas achieve a balanced and natural look while also addressing any functional issues. As he tells each of his patients, “With a well-done Rhinoplasty, only you will notice.”

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Achieve a Balanced, Refined Look

What is a
Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, sometimes more commonly referred to as a “nose job,” is usually a cosmetic procedure that alters the appearance and structure of the nose by manipulating the nasal cartilage, bones, and sometimes the overlying skin. While patients primarily seek out this widely popular procedure to improve their appearance, it can also be used to address deformities resulting from abnormal growth or trauma, with the goal being to enhance the functionality of the nasal airways and improve breathing.

Many rhinoplasty patients seek out this surgery if they have any of the following problems:

A droopy nasal tip
Asymmetric or curved nose
Dorsal deformity, whether a hump or a depressed depression
Over or undersized nose
Traumatically injured nose
Wide or flared nostrils
Problems related to a previous Rhinoplasty or septoplasty.

Tailored Rhinoplasty Solutions for Every Profile

Types of Rhinoplasty

Functional Rhinoplasty

Functional rhinoplasty aims to improve a patient’s ability to breathe correctly. This procedure can correct structural abnormalities such as a deviated septum, nasal valve collapse, or enlarged turbinates. By reshaping the internal nasal passages, Dr. Slocum has helped patients all over Boston, Maine, and the surrounding New England area breathe easier and more comfortably, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

Revision Rhinoplasty

While every plastic surgeon’s goal is to help their patients achieve a result they can be proud of, revision rhinoplasty is sometimes needed for several reasons. These can include a previous surgery not meeting a patient’s aesthetic goals, breathing problems, and, in some cases, patients being left with visible deformities or asymmetry leading to facial imbalance as a result of techniques utilized during the initial surgery.

Revision rhinoplasty is the most challenging case undertaken by Dr. Slocum because until the surgery has begun, it is impossible to know for certain the degree of deformity or the integrity of the structural framework. Dr. Slocum has extensive experience treating patients seeking revision rhinoplasty and can offer the latest techniques for those patients seeking to improve their existing results.

To learn more about Revision Rhinoplasty, please visit its dedicated page on our website

Male Rhinoplasty

The Male face is fundamentally different, and as such, Male Rhinoplasty will address various concerns, including the size, shape, and proportion of the nose, in subtly different ways. Men can also have structural abnormalities that lead to breathing problems.

There are natural differences between the male and female face and nose that must be taken into consideration when performing a Male rhinoplasty. The primary goal of Male rhinoplasty is to maintain a man’s facial harmony, and unless specifically requested, Dr. Slocum uses certain techniques to avoid giving the male patient a feminine nose. For instance, men tend to have thicker skin, stiffer cartilage, and stronger facial features.

Post-Traumatic Rhinoplasty

Dr. Slocum often sees patients who have suffered injuries, including dog bites, car accidents, and other types of trauma where patients suffered a range of injuries. This includes something as simple as broken nasal bones, up to and including significant loss of soft tissues covering the nose with exposure to cartilage. In these cases, Dr. Slocum will help reconstruct the nose.

Non-surgical Rhinoplasty (aka Liquid Rhinoplasty)

If the shape of your nose bothers you but you don’t want to undergo surgery, you can still achieve your desired nasal appearance! A liquid Rhinoplasty from a skilled plastic surgeon like Dr. Slocum is important because he already understands the nuances of your facial anatomy and utilizes specialized techniques and his artistic eye to help you achieve your goals. Unfortunately, the results from these filler injections can disappear or fade anywhere from 18 – 24 months after the initial treatment. Liquid Rhinoplasty is gaining more popularity because there is zero recovery time, and the results are visible immediately. In addition, if you like the results of your liquid Rhinoplasty, Dr. Slocum can help you turn those into permanent changes!

To learn more about Liquid Rhinoplasty, please visit its dedicated page on our website.

Incisions

Rhinoplasty incisions are visible only for the first couple of weeks after surgery. Dr. Slocum performs both Open and Closed Rhinoplasty and will hide your incisions so that they are only visible under very close inspection. Even if you need an incision on the lower part of your nose (the columella), after a few months, this is nearly invisible!

Dr. Slocum makes incisions across the columella (the piece of skin between your nostrils) as well as within each of the nostrils to reach areas inside the nose where he will carefully alter and reshape the cartilage and bones. In some cases, additional cartilage is needed, and this is recruited either from the septum, the ears, or the ribs. Dr. Slocum is a master at camouflaging scars and will discuss what is needed with you in detail before surgery so that you get to pick the area from where extra cartilage is taken.

After all the reshaping, contouring, and refinements have been performed, the nose is carefully inspected and the skin replaced, at which point Dr. Slocum makes sure that it appears the way you want it to look. Additional small refinements are made at the final step, and this is where his exquisite eye for detail and unyielding tenacity in the pursuit of the best possible result benefit his patients. At the end of the surgery, the incisions are all closed, splints are applied, and you leave the operating room with a “mustache dressing” over the nostrils. Splints are worn for at least one to two weeks, and you will see Dr Slocum two to three times in the clinic before removal of the external splint at about two weeks.

Who Are the Best Candidates For Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is sought by both men and women, and it is an appropriate surgery for almost anyone! We recommend patients in New Hampshire, Boston, Maine, and the greater New England area who are interested in rhinoplasty:

Be in overall good health
Have realistic expectations about what surgery can help them achieve
Want to address specific functional breathing problems in the nose
Desire a change in the size of the nose and/or an improved shape
Be able to identify a few specific changes they want to make to their nose
Budget taking at least two weeks off from work while the nose heals. Additional time off may be required for those working manual labor or in jobs that require heavy lifting.

What Are the Benefits of Rhinoplasty?

From our practice in Portsmouth, NH, we have seen patients from New Hampshire, Boston, Maine, and the greater New England area enjoy the following benefits from their Rhinoplasty:

Corrects a deviated septum and crooked tip
Fixes a nasal bridge that is overly wide or narrow, crooked, or curved
Improves facial balance by changing the size, length, and shape of the nose
Improved breathing
Fixes a drooping nasal tip
Lengthen an under-projecting nose by increasing tip support to achieve a more balanced facial profile
Relieves nasal airway obstruction by correcting a deviated septum and in some cases, reducing enlarged turbinates
Corrects a dorsal hump or fills in a depression in the bridge of the nose
Refines an asymmetrical, bulbous, boxy, or widened nasal tip
Straightens a crooked nose or narrows a wide nose

Let’s Get Started

What’s The
First Step?

The first step in getting rhinoplasty surgery in Boston, Maine, and the greater New Hampshire area is to contact Seacoast Plastic Surgery and schedule a consultation with Dr. Alexander Slocum. If you have suffered an injury to your nose, have any photographs

During this appointment, Dr. Slocum will discuss your goals with you in detail, take detailed photographs, and examine your face and nose. The physical exam includes an assessment of your nasal functionality, breathing, and facial features. In addition, he will review your medical and surgical history and discuss what treatment options are best for you, given your goals. There will be plenty of time during the consultation to answer any questions you have, address your concerns, and help you determine if a rhinoplasty is the right procedure for you.

If you choose to move forward with the surgery, Dr. Slocum will craft your surgical plan based on your goals and your photos and then review this with you in detail at a pre-op visit a couple of weeks before surgery. A member of our patient care coordination team will help you schedule a surgical date and provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for surgery, what to do during recovery, and the schedule for follow-up visits.

What to Expect on the Day of Rhinoplasty Surgery

On the day of your Rhinoplasty, you will meet Dr. Slocum at the surgery center to answer any last-minute questions. You will also meet with the anesthesiologist, who will administer your anesthesia to make your procedure more comfortable. Dr. Slocum generally performs Rhinoplasty surgery on patients who are under general anesthesia, however there are various other procedures on the nose that he performs under local anesthesia or with sedation!

Once you are adequately anesthetized, Dr. Slocum will begin the surgery utilizing specific surgical approaches to help you achieve your desired look.

Open Rhinoplasty – Open rhinoplasty is far and away the most common, widely utilized technique, and it involves a small external incision across the columella (the small bridge of skin separating the nostrils). This extends into either nostril to connect with hidden incisions. This technique allows Dr. Slocum to lift the nasal skin and soft tissues off of the underlying cartilage structure, which is required in order to effectively change the shape. Dr. Slocum will then manipulate and refine these structures to reshape the nasal framework as needed in order to achieve the desired improvement.
Closed Rhinoplasty – Closed Rhinoplasty is a less invasive but more challenging technique in which incisions are only made within the nostrils, and no external skin incision is used. Dr. Slocum separates the soft tissues of the nose from the underlying structures in the same way as in an Open Rhinoplasty. Dr. Slocum will decide whether to use the open or closed approach on a case-by-case basis, depending on each patient’s goals and what surgical maneuvers are needed.

At the end of the surgery, all of the incisions are closed with stitches. Absorbable sutures are used within the nostrils, and these are left in place until they dissolve (they can be removed if they become irritating). In order to ensure that the external scar heals nicely and stays well-camouflaged, Dr. Slocum closes the columella incision with non-dissolving sutures that are removed at your one-week post-op visit.

Rhinoplasty Recovery

As an outpatient procedure, you will be able to return home the same day as your surgery, but you will want to have a friend or family member available to take you home and help you around the house while you recover. Dr. Slocum may have you wear a splint to provide support and extra protection to your nose, especially if he has to re-shape (break) your nasal bones. You will also need to sleep with your head elevated to reduce swelling and minimize the chances that you accidentally bump or harm your healing nose while sleeping.

You may resume normal activities within two to four weeks of the nose job procedure. Dr. Slocum can provide more information regarding the length of your recovery period and the best practices for caring for your new nose. About 2-3 weeks after surgery, Dr. Slocum shows all Rhinoplasty patients how to begin taping their nose to help manage swelling.

All Rhinoplasty patients receive very detailed instructions covering the first few weeks of recovery, as well as the ensuing year after the surgery, including what to expect and when to call the office. All patients are given a copy of Dr. Slocum’s cell phone number, as he likes to make sure he is always available for his patients after surgery.

Depending on the extent of your surgery, the healing process can last up to three or four months, and a Rhinoplasty is not considered fully healed until 1 year after surgery. Once it has completely healed, the final shape of your nose will become more apparent.

Fair & Transparent Pricing

How Much Does Rhinoplasty Cost in Boston or New Hampshire?

While all of our prices are similar to those on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website, the cost of Rhinoplasty in Portsmouth, Boston, and the greater New England area will vary depending on the techniques used, the anesthesia, and surgical center fees, among other factors. The average pricing for a rhinoplasty is between $7,000 and $8,000, however the only way to determine the actual cost for your rhinoplasty is to book a consultation with Dr. Slocum so that you can be properly evaluated.

SPS Expertise

Why Choose Us
for Rhinoplasty?

Seacoast Plastic Surgery was founded by board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Alexander Slocum, MD, PhD, FACS, who has made Rhinoplasty a special focus of his practice. Dr. Slocum is a New England native, earning a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed by an MD from the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in West Virginia. He then completed a surgical internship at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was recruited to one of the most competitive training programs in the country: an Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dr. Slocum is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has also been elected to membership with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and the New England Society of Plastic Surgeons (NESPS). He is also a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society (NHMS).

You can be confident in choosing to have your consultation with Dr. Slocum, and his patient reviews back it up!

Rhinoplasty FAQ’s

We will provide you with a detailed list of instructions to follow to ensure the safest procedure with the best possible results. These instructions can include:
- Stop taking certain medications at least two weeks before surgery until complete recovery, especially medicines that contain ibuprofen or aspirin, as these may increase the risk of bleeding. Once your surgery is completed, only take medications that you have discussed with Dr. Slocum as being OK or that he has prescribed you.
- Stop smoking at least four weeks before surgery, and abstain until you’ve fully healed (at least six weeks). Smoking will drastically impede the healing process and increase the odds of potential infections. Generally, Dr. Slocum does not perform Rhinoplasty on patients who are actively smoking and who do not have any interest in quitting.
- You must have someone to drive you home after your surgery. You will most likely still feel the effects of the anesthesia, so it is not safe to drive yourself.
- You must have a responsible adult (i.e. a friend or relative, or a nursing service) stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery. This is a requirement both of Seacoast Plastic Surgery, and most surgery centers or hospitals.
- Your recovery period is crucial, so having extra hands around to help with day-to-day tasks will help with the initial period once you return home.
On average, most patients tolerate rhinoplasty recovery very well. As with any surgery, there is some amount of discomfort or pain involved. However, the staff at the surgery center takes great care to help you manage the pain. Dr. Slocum will give you medication during the surgery while you are under anesthesia, and he will also prescribe medications to help you manage the pain after surgery. We also give you a detailed list of instructions (that have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Slocum) for managing pain and swelling after surgery.
The number of appointments for Rhinoplasty will vary depending on each case. All patients will have a consultation with Dr. Slocum to discuss their goals and determine if they are a suitable candidate for the procedure. This will be followed by a pre-op visit where you will review your photographs and the surgical plan, and complete the informed consent process. The procedure itself will be scheduled at a surgery center or a hospital.

After surgery, you will need to come in for follow-up appointments so that Dr. Slocum can monitor your progress. The first visit is typically within the first week after surgery, where your sutures and any internal splints are removed. A second post-op visit happens two weeks post-op, where the external splint is removed. Additional follow-ups typically happen between 4-6 weeks, then at around 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery.
The bruising and swelling should subside about seven to ten days after surgery. Most patients see their new nasal shape after two weeks.

As the final swelling subsides, you will continue to notice an improvement in your contour over the first three to six months. Patients will continue to see improvements in shape and airflow for about one year after surgery.
Rhinoplasty scars are usually minimal and barely visible since incisions are typically made along the nostrils’ natural curve or on the nose’s underside (across the columella). These precise incisions allow for the scars to hide within natural shadow lines, making them almost invisible.

The scar that does remain visible for some time is located on the columella, the part of the nose that separates the nostrils. This is almost always temporary as it completely heals and fades within a couple of months.
Absolutely. Many of our Portsmouth, NH, Boston, and Maine patients combine their procedure with jawline contouring with liposuction, chin surgery (genioplasty), buccal fat removal, or even injectables like BOTOX and dermal fillers to achieve a better-defined facial profile.

If you have a specific area of concern or some part of your aesthetic goals that you would like to achieve, please discuss it with Dr. Slocum during your consultation. Once he examines you, he can better provide his expert suggestions to create a tailored surgical plan to meet your needs.
Dr. Slocum is an experienced plastic surgeon who takes great pride in providing his patients with a safe environment during surgery in order to achieve the best results. There are no guarantees with surgery, however, and every procedure has its associated risks. While these are rare, below are some of the potential risks associated with a Rhinoplasty:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Cartilage exposure
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Scarring
- Asymmetry
- Dissatisfaction with results
- Difficulty breathing
- Septal perforation
- Need for additional procedures or surgery
If you experience any concerning reactions or have any specific concerns after your surgery, please contact Seacoast Plastic Surgery immediately. Dr. Slocum wants his patients to be happy and is always happy to see patients and discuss their results.
Finding the right plastic surgeon can be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to begin. The most important thing to consider when looking for a rhinoplasty surgeon in New England is to find one with the experience and history of performing successful rhinoplasty procedures. Dr. Alexander Slocum is Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a prestigious medical organization that ensures the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. Additionally, he was elected by his peers to be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, meaning he has the endorsement of other surgeons in the community.

In addition to ensuring that your surgeon is qualified to perform your rhinoplasty, it’s important to be heard when you go in for your consultation, and your surgeon is not attempting to sell you on a procedure you don’t need. While we are confident you will have a wonderful experience with Dr. Slocum, we encourage you to research, talk with previous patients, and consult with some of your top-rated choices.

Plastic surgery is a deeply personal choice, so don’t ever settle on a plastic surgeon out of convenience.

Schedule a consultation

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