Alarplasty Sydney
Focusing on the appearance of the nostrils, alarplasty can address concerns such as a nasal flare (flared nostrils) or a wide nose. The procedure is designed to surgically address the width of the nose and outer nostrils by altering the alae – the fleshy sections of the nose that connect the nostrils to the face. As well as altering the appearance of the nose, alarplasty may help with breathing issues caused by an obstructed nasal passage.
Alarplasty also referred to as alar reduction surgery or nostril reduction surgery, can remove a small piece of the alae, altering the width of the nose. Your alae may be larger, thinner, taller or shorter, depending on your natural features. The procedure can also address nostril symmetry.
An alarplasty can be performed alone or as part of a full rhinoplasty, depending on your personal needs. Regularly performing rhinoplasty procedures in Sydney, Plastic Surgeon Dr Jeremy Hunt is experienced in performing nose surgery, tailoring the procedure to the needs of each unique patient.
Your consultation at Aesthetic Edge in Sydney
Suitable candidates for alarplasty
Your suitability for alarplasty can depend on health and personal factors. Suitable candidates should be in good general health, and non-smokers, or able to quit before surgery. Candidates will want to address either the appearance of the nostrils or functional concerns, such as breathing issues caused by the nostrils. Dr Hunt will assess the shape of your nose, discuss present or past health concerns and discuss any previous surgeries to assess your suitability for the procedure.The steps of your procedure
Your procedure will be performed with steps that are tailored to your needs. To help determine the suitable procedure steps, you’ll discuss your concerns and procedure goals with Dr Hunt. After assessing your nose, he can then develop a procedure plan. Understanding the steps of your procedure ahead of time can help you know what to expect for your results, including where incisions and scarring will be located.Preparation
Preparation steps before alarplasty can include to quit smoking, stop taking certain medications or supplements, and undergo pre-operative tests to determine your suitability for the procedure. During a consultation, Dr Hunt will inform you of any preparation steps you will need to take. Following these steps can help to minimise risks and complications during and after the procedure.Recovery
A good recovery is an essential step of the procedure process. You will be provided with personalised recovery instructions during your consultation, outlining the steps you can take to support healing and minimise the chance of complications occurring. Recovery steps can include to keep incision sites clean, avoid strenuous exercise during the early days of recovery, and attend check-up appointments to monitor your healing progress.Costs of alarplasty
The costs of alarplasty will include surgeon’s fees, hospital fees, anaesthesia fees and fees required during recovery. Since the details of each alarplasty procedure will vary from patient to patient, a personalised quote will need to be estimated during a consultation. Your consultation will cost $400.
The Alarplasty Procedure
Alarplasty is performed under general anaesthesia. The procedure is usually performed as a day surgery, but patients may need to stay overnight, depending on their individual case.
Before starting the procedure, Dr Hunt will ensure that you understand the expected results. He may use a pen to draw a line around your nose, indicating where the incisions will be placed.
Typically, a small incision is placed on your nose, in a pattern that will depend on the shape of the nostrils. Dr Hunt will explain the incision pattern before your surgery. The incision is often hidden within the crease of the nose, meaning that post-surgery scarring should be concealed.
The unwanted skin of the alae can then be removed. The amount that will be removed will entirely depend on your personal needs and preferences. Designed to address your personal concerns, the steps of your surgery may be tailored to reduce the size of the nostrils, reduce a nostril flare, achieve symmetry, improve breathing ability, or create a defined nose tip.
Once the desired amount of skin is removed, the incision is sutured closed, and sutures are placed to strengthen the new form of the alar foundation. A bandage is placed over the area and will be needed for several days after the procedure to protect the area.
Your procedure may be performed as part of a full rhinoplasty, or as part of revision rhinoplasty. If this is the case, your further procedure steps will be explained in detail during the consultation process. A more extensive procedure to address other areas or aspects of the nose will influence procedure and recovery time, so it is important to understand what is involved with your procedure ahead of time.
Recovering from nostril reduction surgery
What to expect
After surgery, a bandage will be placed over the wound, which will need to protect the area for several days. You will be provided with advice on how to keep the incision sites clean and avoid infection.
In the earlier days of your recovery, it’s normal to experience some pain, swelling and bruising in the operated area. Usually, these symptoms reach their peak by day three of recovery and should then begin to subside independently. You may also experience minor bleeding from the incision sites, which should subside within two to three days. You may be prescribed pain medication to help manage discomfort throughout your recovery.
Patients can typically resume their normal daily routine within a few days after the procedure, but this can depend on the nature of each patient’s routine. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting may need to be avoided for a longer amount of time. If the sutures placed are non-dissolvable, they will typically need to be removed during the first week of recovery. You will schedule a post-operative appointment to have these sutures removed.
Since alarplasty is generally considered to be less invasive than other nose procedures, a full recovery can be quite short, the initial recovery period taking about two weeks. A full recovery typically takes about one to three months, allowing time for swelling to subside. Most patients will be able to return to work or normal daily activities one week after surgery. As for scarring, patients typically have a small crease where the cheek is attached to the nostril, but this should fade over time and become less noticeable. Sufficient post-surgery scar care can also encourage scarring to fade.
Recovery instructions
After your procedure, you will need to be picked up from the hospital to complete your recovery at home. You will have personalised recovery advice and steps to follow, put in place to support your healing and prevent complications. Your recovery instructions can include to:- Keep incision sites clean
- Re-apply bandages
- Take pain medication
- Avoid smoking
- Follow a healthy, balanced diet
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid strenuous exercise
- Avoid heavy lifting
- Maintain a good skincare routine
Costs of Alarplasty in Sydney
The costs of your surgery will depend on your personalised procedure steps. Alarplasty will be tailored to your personal concerns, removing a sufficient amount of skin on the nose and adjusting the nostrils as needed. You will discuss the steps of your procedure during your consultation, which will then determine your procedure costs. Procedure costs will include surgeon’s fees, anaesthesia fees, hospital fees and recovery fees.
Factors that can influence costs include the complexity and length of the procedure, the condition of your nose, the reason for undergoing the procedure, and more.
Medicare
If your procedure is performed for medically necessary reasons, such as to address an obstructed nasal passage that interferes with breathing ability, you may qualify for Medicare cover. If you do quality for Medicare cover, which involves meeting strict requirements, you may also quality for cover under health insurance. This will depend on your personal case and will need to be discussed in detail during your consultation.
Alarplasty performed for aesthetic reasons, such as to address the appearance of the nostrils, will not be eligible for cover under Medicare.
Combining procedures
Some patients may combine alarplasty with other procedures, such as a full rhinoplasty. If this is the case, this will influence the total costs of the procedure. You will discuss the details of your surgery during your consultation if you are combining procedures.
To receive a personalised quote, contact our team to book your consultation at Aesthetic Edge in Sydney. Your consultation will cost $300 and is a highly important part of the procedure process.
Potential risks and complications
The risks and complications of a breast augmentation can include:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Minor bleeding
- Pain or discomfort
- Scarring
- Infection
- Delayed wound healing
- Asymmetrical results
- Anaesthesia complications
- The requirement for revision surgery
Before & After Alarplasty
