Nose Surgery in Fort Lauderdale

 

NOSE SURGERY

Dr. Zoran Potparic offers a variety of nose surgery procedures for Fort Lauderdale and Miami patients looking to correct obstructions, deformities, and other problems that impact the look and function of the nose.

BEFORE & AFTER CORRECTIVE NOSE SURGERY

View more real patients in our photo gallery.

Explore nose surgery in Fort Lauderdale and Miami with Dr. Zoran Potparic. For a free consultation, please call (954) 779-2777 or contact us online.

 

CORRECTIVE NOSE SURGERY: NASAL OBSTRUCTION

The nasal septum is the wall between nostrils that separates the two nasal passages. It supports the nose and directs airflow. A deviated septum occurs when cartilage and bones that make the septum are not straight. A severely deviated/crooked septum makes breathing through the nose difficult. The septum can be deviated as a part of normal growth during childhood and puberty. It can also be the result of a birth deformity or because of an injury, such as a broken nose, and should be corrected by nose surgery.

Beside septum deformity, nasal passages may become obstructed due to the growth of bones found along the sides of the nasal passage. This is called turbinates.

The septum and the nasal passage are lined with a layer of a soft tissue membrane called mucosa. Swelling of the mucous membrane due to allergies and/or chronic inflammation (sinusitis) can create additional nasal congestion and obstruction.

Once less invasive measures have been tried and proved unsuccessful, nose surgery by means of septoplasty and/or turbinectomy should be considered.

  • Type of anesthesia: general or twilight
  • Duration of surgery: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Surgical facility: AAAA-certified Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Discomfort: none to mild

CORRECTIVE NOSE SURGERY: DEVIATED SEPTUM

Nose surgery to strengthen a deviated septum is called septoplasty. This surgery may be done along with other procedures to improve breathing and correct the shape of the nose.

To repair the septum, your surgeon works through the nostrils. Nasal mucosa is separated from the underlying septal cartilage and bone, redundant cartilage and bone are trimmed, and the septum is strengthened. Nasal mucosa is then placed back over the repaired septal framework.

  • Type of anesthesia: general or twilight
  • Duration of surgery: 1 to 2 hours
  • Surgical facility: AAAA-certified Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Discomfort: mild to none

CORRECTIVE NOSE SURGERY: TURBINATES

A turbinectomy is a nose surgery that is sometimes used to alleviate chronic nasal obstruction. It may be performed in conjunction with other types of nasal surgery, such as septoplasty and rhinoplasty. There are several forms of turbinectomy; it usually involves partial removal of or fracturing the small bone on the side of the nose, as well as removal of a portion of the overlying mucous membrane. Redundant mucous membrane can be also cauterized using electrocautery or laser.

  • Type of anesthesia: twilight or local
  • Duration of surgery: 30 minutes to 1 hour
  • Surgical facility: AAAA-certified Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • Recovery time: 1 week
  • Discomfort: none to mild

OPEN (OPERATIVE) NASAL FRACTURE MANAGEMENT

Open, or operative, management of nose fractures is practiced with more severe fractures or those associated with large, open wounds.

For this nose surgery, your surgeon first decompresses or dislocates fractures using an instrument placed underneath the nasal bones. The nasal septum is put into a central position, and the nasal bones and cartilages are then manipulated into the desired position and shape. Gauze packing is placed in the nose, and a splint is put on the outside to control swelling and prevent bone displacement. In more severe fractures, the position of the bones can only be maintained using a wire, screws, or plates for rigid fixation.

  • Type of anesthesia: general or twilight
  • Duration of surgery: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
  • Surgical facility: AAAA-certified Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Discomfort: none to mild

CLOSED NASAL FRACTURE MANAGEMENT

Most nasal bone fractures are initially treated by closed technique, for which the surgeon puts an instrument inside of the nose to manipulate the broken bones into a desired position. For this nose surgery, the surgeon also simultaneously applies external pressure and controls the proper reduction of the bone fragments. Gauze packing is placed inside of the nose, and a splint is put on the outside to maintain pressure and prevent collapse and displacement.

It is helpful to perform a closed reduction before severe swelling prevents an accurate inspection to confirm a satisfactory reduction, or it can be done seven to 10 days later, when the swelling subsides. Even with the most accurate initial treatment, however, a significant number of nasal fractures may require secondary procedures, such as rhinoplasty and septoplasty, six months or longer after the initial nose surgery.

  • Type of anesthesia: local
  • Duration of surgery: 15 to 30 minutes
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks (1 week with a splint)
  • Discomfort: none to mild

Dr. Zoran Potparic

Dr. Zoran Potparic is a world renowned, board certified plastic  surgeon serving the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area. He is known for achieving natural looking results for his plastic and cosmetic surgery patients.
BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS

NOSE SURGERY: BIRTH DEFORMITIES

Nasal deformity present at birth is frequently associated with other craniofacial deformities-most frequent a cleft lip-nose deformity. Although early repair of cleft lip-nose deformity is widely practiced today, a residual nose deformity typically persists as a child grows.

Depending on the severity of the deformity, multiple minor nose surgery sessions may be needed before the child reaches his or her late teen years. At this age, children’s facial bones reach maturity. A complete rhinoplasty with septum surgery may be performed at this time without fear of significantly influencing further growth of the nose.

  • Type of anesthesia: depends on the type of procedure
  • Duration of surgery: varies
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Discomfort: mild

NOSE SURGERY: TRAUMATIC DEFORMITIES

A significant number of patients who undergo acute treatment for a broken nose will require subsequent nose surgery-rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty-due to poor results. Only a portion of noses are made straight, while 15 to 42 percent of patients will end up with a posttraumatic nasal deformity after a nasal bone fracture reduction in the emergency setting.

  • Type of anesthesia: general or twilight
  • Duration of surgery: varies
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Discomfort: mild

NOSE SURGERY: POST-CANCER DEFORMITIES

Removing cancer on a particular area of the nose often requires complex reconstruction of the affected area. This nose surgery may involve a skin flap from the surrounding area (such as the forehead or cheek) or a skin graft. Multiple surgical stages may sometimes be required to rebuild a functionally sound and aesthetically pleasing nose.

  • Type of anesthesia: general or twilight
  • Duration of surgery: 1 to 6 hours
  • Recovery time: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Discomfort: mild to moderate

LEARN MORE ABOUT NOSE SURGERY

Dr. Zoran Potparic is available to discuss nose surgery options with Fort Lauderdale area patients. Before and after pictures are available for visual reference. To set up a free consultation at his Fort Lauderdale office, or for more information about nose surgery, please call (954) 779-2777 or contact us online.