Stoker Plastic Surgery: David Stoker, MD
4640 Admiralty Way #1000
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone: (310) 300-1779
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Rhinoplasty, also called a nose job, is one of the most common cosmetic surgery operations – and for good reason. Sometimes, an event leads the patient to consider rhinoplasty in Los Angeles, such as an accidental nasal fracture. Other patients are bothered by functional aspects of the nose and wish they could breathe easier. Patients are sometimes concerned that their nose has grown slowly over the course of decades and that it no longer has a youthful appearance. Each of these issues may be addressed with careful examination, analysis and skill.
I’d be happy to visit with you in person to discuss rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty at my Los Angeles practice. You can request a consultation online or give us a call at (310) 300-1779 to make an appointment.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Many rhinoplasty patients have significant breathing impairments that may be considered medical problems and thus are covered by insurance. This may include surgery to correct a deviated septum. Insurance may also cover fracture deformities of the nose caused by accidents. Cosmetic surgery, on the other hand, is not covered by insurance. If there is a cosmetic component to a medically necessary procedure, the patient pays separately for the cosmetic portion of the operation. Insurance companies are careful to separate the cosmetic from the medically necessary portions of surgery.
Educated at some of the most elite institutions in the country, Dr. David Stoker uses his highly advanced knowledge to ensure that each patient achieves beautiful, harmonious results — whether it's through a simple non-surgical procedure or a more advanced surgical transformation. Learn more about his unique credentials and his approach to plastic surgery.
Why Choose Dr. StokerPatients of all ages consider nasal surgery. It’s best to wait until the patient’s nose is fully developed before doing rhinoplasty. That’s usually by age 16 for women and a year or two later for men. The age group most likely to seek rhinoplasty is the late teens to early twenties. In my experience, improved appearance of the nose in this age group often leads to significant improvements in self-confidence. These patients are especially happy when they breathe better as well.
The other common group of rhinoplasty patients I see is slightly older. Often, the appearance of their nose has long been a concern for them, but they’re seeking more subtle change at this stage in their lives. Other times, they may notice that their nose is larger and droopier than it used to be, and it’s starting to remind them more of their parents’ appearance rather than the way it looked in their high school yearbook. Helping these patients obtain natural-looking rhinoplasty results is particularly rewarding for me.
| For Your Rhinoplasty: |
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| Dr. Stoker performs hundreds of nose operations as a rhinoplasty specialist. |
| He completed his plastic surgery residency training at NYU Medical Center, one of the best programs in the world for rhinoplasty surgeons. |
| He has been interviewed on “Dr. Phil,” The Learning Channel, and “Modern Beauty” for rhinoplasty. |
Sculpting a beautiful nose has more to do with balancing facial features than replicating society’s idea of an attractive nose. Rhinoplasty techniques need to be highly individualized to the patient’s anatomy, ethnicity and desires. There is no single approach that will work for all patients.
Choosing the proper technique makes a huge difference in a patient’s outcome. As an expert rhinoplasty surgeon, I will help you understand how I use my breadth of experience and techniques to achieve your goals. Options include:
All incisions are placed inside the nose except for a tiny incision in the little column of skin that separates the nostrils. Open rhinoplasty allows me to lift up the skin and soft tissue to expose the underlying cartilage and bone for precise adjustments. Often, I describe this technique as “lifting the hood of a car to work on the engine.” As you can imagine, this technique offers more visibility and access than working only “underneath the car.” For patients who need significant tip alteration and for revision surgeries, open rhinoplasty is usually the best option.
Closed rhinoplasty is the traditional technique that surgeons have been performing for many decades. All incisions are placed inside the nose, limiting access and visibility. I use this technique for patients who want to narrow the nose, or to reduce or augment the bridge of the nose, which amounts to about 30% of my patients. Closed rhinoplasty is an excellent choice when significant changes to the nose tip are not required.
Refining the nasal tip is one of the most challenging aspects of rhinoplasty. Tip grafts, which typically come from the septum, ears, or ribs, may be used to improve projection and contour of the nasal tip. Grafts allow the surgeon to achieve more substantial changes than would be possible only adjusting existing cartilage. This technique benefits patients who have flat or asymmetrical noses and is usually critical for revision rhinoplasty.
You’ve probably heard the term “deviated septum” quite a bit. The septum is the internal cartilage that separates the nostrils. For patients who have deviated noses or obstructed nasal airways, a deviated septum is frequently the cause. Septoplasty is designed to open the nasal airways, straighten the septum, and possibly straighten the nose. The septum is also the best source of cartilage grafts when needed for more complex nose adjustments. Oftentimes, patients who opt for septoplasty have both cosmetic and functional goals for surgery.
While septoplasty focuses on correcting internal nasal structures to improve breathing, rhinoplasty addresses the external appearance of the nose. The two procedures are sometimes performed together to achieve both functional and cosmetic improvements.
A liquid nose job involves having one of our expert injectors use dermal fillers to address a specific concern about the nose’s appearance, such as a nasal hump or droopy tip. This minimally invasive procedure can be a good choice if you aren’t ready for surgery. Results are immediate but temporary.
I typically perform rhinoplasty as an outpatient procedure using light general anesthesia. If only slight modification is needed, I may use local anesthetic or intravenous sedation. The surgery takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of the case.
Once I’ve achieved the desired shape, I close the incisions with fine sutures and place a splint to support and protect the nose. I typically do not use nasal packing for my rhinoplasty patients unless the surgery involves extensive modification of the airways to improve breathing.
Patients typically recover quickly following rhinoplasty. Even though each patient’s recovery experience is unique, this timeline reflects what you can generally expect:
Bruising subsides, and you can comfortably return to school or work. We’ll remove splints 4 to 6 days following surgery. You’ll see the initial results when the splints come off, but the results continue to improve over the course of a year.
Most patients can gradually resume light exercise and non-strenuous activities. As the swelling and bruising diminish, the results become clearer.
Most patients can resume all normal activities, including workouts. Continue to be patient with the healing process. While swelling is much less visible, your nose hasn’t fully settled.
The healing process is almost complete. You are now able to resume contact sports.
The swelling has completely subsided, and the healing process is officially over.
In my experience, complications from nose reshaping are uncommon. The risks of rhinoplasty may include bleeding, infection, difficulty breathing, and asymmetry. Each of these complications may be treated effectively.
The impact of rhinoplasty surgery on allergies is minimal although it may help breathing when passages are opened. It’s best to get treated for allergies and make necessary lifestyle modifications before surgery.
Unlike traditional rhinoplasty, ethnic rhinoplasty focuses on preserving unique ethnic features while enhancing nasal appearance. It requires specialized techniques to address thicker skin, broader nasal structures, and different cartilage characteristics common in non-Caucasian noses.
The age of rhinoplasty patients typically ranges from the late teens to 35, but there is no upper age limit for undergoing a nose job. For younger patients, the nose must be fully developed before getting rhinoplasty. For girls, that is usually around age 15 or 16. Boys take about a year or two longer..
Some patients experience a mild headache, and some report temporary numbness. Most people find they do not need much prescription pain medication during recovery.
All rhinoplasty specialists need to perform revisions from time to time. My revision rate is particularly low at approximately 1% of rhinoplasty operations.
Yes, nose surgery is one of my areas of specialization, including revision rhinoplasty. Because I perform surgery on so many noses I also enjoy handling difficult cases and revising the work of other surgeons.
If you’re looking for a top facial plastic surgery specialist in Los Angeles to perform rhinoplasty, you can request a consultation with Dr. Stoker using the online form or by calling (310) 300-1779 to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Stoker is a top RealSelf.com contributor on Rhinoplasty Q&A.
Our expertise extends beyond plastic surgery. We offer an extensive range of non-surgical treatments administered by our talented, experienced team of aesthetic providers under the guidance of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker.
If you have a treatment in mind, review our complete offering of non-surgical services. If you need a little help deciding, narrow down your options with our interactive treatment planner.
