There is no upper age limit for nasal reconstruction. Patients in their sixties and seventies choose to have this operation with good results. Many patients combine nasal reconstruction with other types of surgery for aging such as face lift or corrective eyelid surgery. The operation is easily carried out on an outpatient basis, usually under light general anesthesia. Most of the incisions are inside the nose and so visible scarring is limited.
Dissection is assisted with the laser for increased precision and avoidance of bleeding.
The laser has proven particularly valuable in the sculpting of the nasal cartilage. Each operation is different, but basically the procedure involves shifting or removal of bone and cartilage and is therefore primarily a modification of the framework of the nose. Following surgery the skin redrapes itself over the new nasal framework and it is almost never necessary to remove excess skin. Nearly all of the incisions are made within the nose. An exception is a small incision made at the base of the nose just above the lip.