Facial plastic surgeon refines rhinoplasty with 3-D endoscopic high definition system

Dec 22 2009

Sam Rizk, M.D., F.A.C.S. (www.drsamrizk.com), takes facial plastic surgery into the future by incorporating the same technology used for years in industrial design to enhance rhinoplasty techniques by empowering him to achieve precise surgical outcomes.

In New York City, Dr. Rizk performs rhinoplasty using technology never before incorporated during live surgery, through the use of a 3-D endoscopic high definition system. The result is a natural looking nose, free of severe points or rigid pinched tips and with fully functional airways. The 3-D endoscopic high definition system allows for better visualization of intranasal anatomy during surgery.

Technique Refined

To further refine his surgical technique, New York City, Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Rizk developed a graded approach to rhinoplasty progressing from endonasal or closed surgical procedures to open approaches. Through the implementation of surgical tools such as the 3-D high definition endoscopic-assisted system for an endonasal (inside the nose) approach to the use of dermabrading units with powered rotating diamond burrs (that he developed and has a patent pending) to smooth and round out the edges of the grafts placed for a more natural look that gives the impression of being untouched by man.

Dr. Rizk discovered that he could use a micro-diamond burr machine to sculpt and smooth cartilage grafts. This fine sculpting of grafts is particularly beneficial for a cleaner operation with less bleeding and bruising which patients greatly appreciate, ultimately allowing for less downtime.

As the field of cosmetic surgery continues to advance, patients want more personally-tailored procedures. They are more cautious and devote more effort to doing their homework to avoid the pitfalls of highly touted procedures that neither look natural nor stand the test of time. Today's patients seek procedures that are safe, predictable and effective. In the past, computer assisted technology was used only to illustrate, pre-surgery, what the surgical outcome could look like. Now, Dr. Rizk incorporates advanced three dimensional technology during the procedure. With high definition 3-D telescopic visualization of the nasal structures, he is able to give patients the optimized results they are seeking -- rhinoplasty completed with smaller incisions and greater precision.

Complex Undertaking

Rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult operations in plastic surgery, because of the anatomical complexity of the nose and also because the procedure has both cosmetic and functional implications over the patient's lifetime. "Rhinoplasty requires a keen understanding of the long-term healing of the nose and consequences of altering the nasal anatomy, which is a key factor in surgical planning," says Dr. Rizk.

"Our concept of a beautiful nose has changed throughout the last few decades as have the surgical tools and techniques available," comments Dr. Rizk. "We now recognize that the older pinched, upturned 'stamp' of rhinoplasties of the 1980's do not stand the test of time and are no longer aesthetically or functionally appealing in our modern society." A naturally attractive nose reveals an ideal congruity between its different parts as well as a harmonious balance between the nose and the other facial features.

Dr. Rizk believes that a conservative approach with less resection of cartilage and more cartilage molding with either stitching or grafting techniques can result in a nose that ages better over time and appeals to today's demanding cosmetic patients' idea of how a beautiful nose should appear.

Correcting Problems

Achieving a natural looking, functionally sound and cosmetically attractive nose depends on the surgeon's aesthetic vision, technical ability, conservative approach, as well as the surgical tools he or she elects to utilize.