(501) 224-1044
NOSE SURGERY, AR
Rhinoplasty
A misshapen, crooked, or oversized nose sits at the center of your face, and it can weigh on your confidence out of all proportion to its size. Rhinoplasty changes the size, shape, or position of the nose to your liking, almost any part of it, from the nostrils to the tip to the bridge. Dr. Suzanne Yee has been performing nose surgery in Little Rock since the 1990s.
2–3 hrs
Outpatient procedure, home same day
~ 1–2 wks
Splint off and back to work or school
Up to 1yr
Final results take shape
What rhinoplasty can change
The goal is to change the size, shape, or position of your nose to your liking: by shaving away internal supporting bone or cartilage, by removing soft tissue, or by augmenting the nasal structures. Almost any part of the nose can be modified, from the nostrils to the tip to the bridge.
SIZE
A nose that reads as too large
If size is your issue, Dr. Yee removes excess bone or cartilage to bring the nose into proportion with the rest of your face.
SHAPE
The bridge, the tip, the nostrils
For reshaping, cartilage is transferred from the septum to other areas of the nose to build the form you want. Almost any part of the nose can be modified.
FUNCTION
Breathing, not just looks
Straightening the nose improves how it works as well as how it looks. Plenty of patients come in for functional reasons as much as cosmetic ones.
Approaches to nose surgery
Just as there are many types of noses, there are many approaches to nose surgery. Which one fits depends on your existing structure, your goals, and whether your nose has been operated on before.
Closed rhinoplasty
Where possible, Dr. Yee makes incisions concealed entirely within the nostrils. That eliminates the possibility of visible scarring altogether.
- Incision: inside the nostrils
- Scar: none visible
- Used: wherever possible
Open Rhinoplasty
Some cases have to be performed through external incisions. When that is necessary, the incision sites are always carefully located so any scarring stays concealed.
- Incision: external
- Scar: carefully concealed
- Downtime: when required
Are you a candidate?
Rhinoplasty is a good option for most healthy teenagers and adults who are bothered by the size, shape, or position of their nose.
The most satisfying results come to patients who start with a realistic idea of what nose surgery can and cannot do. Depending on your existing structure and any surgical history, some goals are achievable and some are not. Dr. Yee will walk through the benefits, the risks, and the limitations in detail rather than telling you what you want to hear.
What Dr. Yee evaluates
- Medical history
Past procedures, underlying health problems, and conditions all matter. A history of strokes or hemophilia, for instance, can make this procedure unwise. - Age
Girls should wait until about 14 or 15, once the nose has finished developing. Boys should wait a few years longer. - Healthy habits
Certain habits raise the chance of surgical and recovery complications. Smoking tobacco inhibits proper healing. - Realistic goals
Dr. Yee will want to understand why you want rhinoplasty and what you expect from it, and she will be honest about what is realistic.
What to expect on procedure day
Once you and Dr. Yee have jointly decided to proceed, she photographs you and talks through the options. Nose surgery is complex and lengthy, and it is performed under general anesthesia; a higher level of sedation than local, which keeps you comfortable and relaxed throughout.
Dr. Yee makes incisions to open the skin and allow reshaping, concealed within the nostrils if possible, external if the case requires it, and always sited to hide any scarring. She removes excess bone or cartilage if size is the concern, or transfers cartilage from the septum to build the form you want, and may straighten the nose to improve both look and breathing. She then covers the nasal skin and tissue for a natural-looking outcome and closes carefully to minimize scarring.
- Stop smoking at least six weeks beforehand. It reduces surgical risk and improves the aesthetic result.
- Stock up ahead of time: healthy, easy-to-prepare food, compression bandages, medications, and button-down clothing.
- Arrange a driver, and if possible someone who can stay with you for a few days to help around the house.
- Book at least a week off work so you can actually recover rather than push through it.
Recovery and results
Your recovery is tailored to you, like the procedure. The first month of healing should be swift; after that, what remains is gradual.
- FIRST FEW DAYS
Most pain subsides. Dr. Yee can prescribe pain medication just in case, but for most patients it is short-lived. Swelling and soreness are significant early on and are controlled with medicine. - WEEK 1
Take the week off work or school if you can, and relax while your body acclimates. Avoid excessive physical exertion. A splint sits inside your nose through this week to keep it straight. - DAY 7
Back to the Little Rock office. Dr. Yee removes the splint, evaluates your progress, and advises you on returning to normal activity. - WEEKS 2 TO 4
Swelling and soreness fade significantly. If your symptoms seem severe at any point, call the office rather than waiting it out. - MONTHS 1 TO 12
Some residual swelling commonly lasts several months. The final benefits of rhinoplasty may not be visible for up to a year.
Why choose a board-certified surgeon
Rhinoplasty is the least forgiving procedure in facial surgery. Millimeters change the result, the nose has to keep working as an airway, and swelling hides the outcome for months. Dr. Yee’s triple board certification and specialized training in facial anatomy are what let her plan a nose that fits your face rather than a template.
Rhinoplasty is well established, but it has a higher revision rate than most facial procedures, and results take a year or more to fully settle. Dr. Yee reviews your specific risks and what’s realistic for your anatomy at consultation, so you can decide with full, honest information.
WHAT SETS DR. YEE APART?
- Triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon
- Specialized training in delicate facial and nasal anatomy
- Conservative, safety-first approach to anesthesia
- Thousands of natural-looking results for Little Rock patients
Combining with other procedures
The nose and chin read against each other in profile, which is why Dr. Yee often pairs rhinoplasty with a chin implant; balancing the two together does more for your profile than changing either one alone. Some noses also need volume rather than reduction, in which case an implant can add definition during the same procedure.
- Chin Surgery
- Facial Implants
WHY CHOOSE DR. YEE
Dr. Suzanne Yee, MD, FACS
- Triple Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon
- ★★★★★
- 4.8 · 387 Google reviews
Compared to other facial plastic surgeries, rhinoplasty is complex. Having confidence in the outcome means having a surgeon you trust. Dr. Yee is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon who has performed nose surgery in Little Rock since the 1990s, and she is a fellow of several prestigious surgical organizations, her fellowship in the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery was earned through both extensive education and recognized professional accomplishment.
Some patients are apprehensive about a fake, “Hollywood” look, and with a nose, most people want it noticed less, not more. Dr. Yee prides herself on an organic result you can show off without wondering what people are thinking.
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
REAL PATIENTS
Before & After
CONTACT US
Request your rhinoplasty consultation
For rhinoplasty more than most procedures, choosing a qualified facial plastic surgeon is what determines the outcome. Dr. Yee’s years of experience, specialized training, and artistic sense of balance are the reason patients across Arkansas choose her for this one.
Frequently asked questions
Girls should wait until about age 14 or 15, once the nose has finished developing. Boys should wait a few years longer. Beyond that, rhinoplasty suits most healthy teenagers and adults.
A splint sits inside your nose for the first week to keep it straight. After seven days you return to the office, Dr. Yee removes it, and she evaluates your progress.
Where possible, Dr. Yee makes incisions concealed entirely within the nostrils, which eliminates visible scarring. Some cases require external incisions, and those sites are always carefully located to conceal any scarring.
Take a week off work or school if you can. Most pain subsides after a few days. Swelling and soreness fade significantly within a few weeks, though some residual swelling commonly lasts several months, and the final result may not be visible for up to a year.
It can. Dr. Yee may straighten your nose to improve both your look and your breathing, and plenty of patients come in with functional concerns alongside cosmetic ones.
Past procedures, underlying health problems, and medical conditions all factor in. A history of strokes or hemophilia, for example, can make rhinoplasty unwise. Smoking inhibits proper healing.
That is the opposite of the goal. Most patients want their nose noticed less, not more. Dr. Yee aims for an organic result that fits your face rather than a recognizable one.
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