Rhinoplasty in Newport Beach

Rhinoplasty FAQs

Your procedure questions answered.

• Is Rhinoplasty Painful?

  While nasal surgery is more commonly performed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia can sometimes be used. Most patients describe discomfort rather than pain following rhinoplasty. You may feel pressure, congestion, or tenderness for the first few days. Dr. Sundine will prescribe pain medication to keep you comfortable during the early stages of recovery. Most patients find that the discomfort significantly decreases within the first week.

• Are the Results Permanent?

  What’s great about this procedure is that the results are permanent. This isn’t to say that your nose won’t still evolve; that’s just part of aging, but the results you receive from the surgery will be long-lasting.

• How Long Until I Can See My Results?

  The results can be seen immediately. However, the best results will take a few weeks, as you’ll want the residual swelling to subside. You will start to look better and better every day!

• What Will the Scarring Look Like?

  Scarring from rhinoplasty is typically minimal in a patient's nose. In closed rhinoplasty, all incisions are made inside the nostrils, leaving no visible scars. In open rhinoplasty, a small incision is made across the columella—the tissue between the nostrils. This incision usually heals very well and becomes barely noticeable over time. Dr. Sundine takes excellent care to ensure any scarring is as discreet as possible.

• When Can I Exercise Again After My Rhinoplasty?

  You should avoid any activity that raises your heart rate or blood pressure for at least three weeks. Light walking is encouraged early on to support circulation, but strenuous exercise, bending over, and lifting heavy objects should be postponed until cleared by Dr. Sundine. Most patients can return to a full workout routine around four to six weeks post-op.

• Can I Combine a Rhinoplasty with Other Procedures?

  Many patients combine rhinoplasty with other facial procedures to achieve a more balanced and harmonious appearance. Common combinations include chin augmentation, facelifts, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), and brow lifts. These procedures can complement the changes made to the nose and enhance overall facial symmetry. During your rhinoplasty consultation, Dr. Sundine will evaluate your facial structure and aesthetic goals to help determine whether combining procedures is the right approach for you.

• What Are the Risks Associated with a Rhinoplasty?

  Like all surgical procedures, rhinoplasty carries some risks. While complications are rare when performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Sundine, potential risks include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Asymmetry
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Poor wound healing or scarring
  • Dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcome
  • Need for revision surgery

  Dr. Sundine will thoroughly discuss these risks with you during your consultation and take every precaution to minimize them.

• How Do I Find the Best Rhinoplasty Plastic Surgeon Near Me in Newport Beach?

  Finding the best rhinoplasty surgeon near you requires careful research and a focus on qualifications that truly matter. Many providers offer nose surgery in today’s cosmetic landscape, but not all are board-certified facial plastic surgeons. This distinction is crucial. Board certification ensures that the surgeon has undergone rigorous plastic and reconstructive surgery training and meets the highest safety, ethics, and skill standards.

  The nose is a central feature of your face and one of the most complex areas to refine surgically. Successful rhinoplasty demands high technical expertise, artistic vision, and a deep understanding of facial anatomy. When performed incorrectly, the results can look unnatural or lead to functional problems that may require revision surgery.

  Dr. Michael Sundine is widely regarded as one of the top rhinoplasty surgeons in Newport Beach. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience and has performed hundreds of successful nose surgeries. Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Sundine is a published author on facial aesthetics and an educator in the field of plastic surgery. His comprehensive background and attention to detail allow him to achieve consistently refined, balanced, and natural-looking results.

  When evaluating your options, look for a board-certified surgeon specializing in facial procedures who will take the time to understand your goals during a thorough consultation. Dr. Sundine’s experience, advanced techniques, and personalized approach make him a trusted choice for rhinoplasty in the Newport Beach area.

• What Are the Risks Associated with Rhinoplasty?

  As with all plastic surgery procedures, there are risks and complications. Dr. Sundine will do everything possible to minimize these. During your initial visit with the surgeon, it’s important to be very open and honest with Dr. Sundine's questions, as they’ll help lead to optimal results, faster healing, and reduced chances of complications and risks.

• Rhinoplasty (Nasal Surgery) Aftercare Instructions

  • When sleeping, we recommend you keep your head on two pillows for seven days after surgery. During the day, for the first 72 hours after surgery, apply ice packs to the nasal area to minimize swelling and bruising. Do not put pressure on the nasal splint. Use an ice pack on the nasal area every 2 hours for 20 minutes while awake. It is easiest to use frozen corn or peas that can be refrozen. You may have a bloody nasal discharge for 3-4 days, and you may change the mustache dressing under your nose as often as needed. Do not rub or blot your nose, as this will tend to irritate it. You may discard the drip pad and remove the tape on your cheeks when the drainage has stopped.
  • It is normal to continue to swell on the nose after the first 48 hours. Swelling reaches its peak at 48-72 hours.
  • If you have pain, take the pain medication as directed. It is best to take it with crackers, Jello, etc. If you have no pain, do not take the medication. Alcohol should not be used while taking the pain medication.
  • Following surgery, begin on that day with a light diet: liquids only. The next day, you can begin a soft, regular diet, but for two weeks, avoid foods that require excessive lip movement, such as apples and corn on the cob.
  • Do not sniff or blow your nose for the first two weeks after surgery to prevent bleeding. Try not to sneeze, but sneeze through your mouth. If you do
  • While the nasal splint is on, you may have your hair washed in a beauty salon fashion. Take care to prevent the nasal splint from getting wet.
  • Keep the inside edges of your nostrils and any stitches clean by using a Q-tip saturated with hydrogen peroxide, followed by a thin coating of Polysporin ointment. This will help prevent crusts from forming. You may advance the Q-tip into the nose as far as the cotton on the Q-tip, but no further. You will not hurt anything inside your nose as long as you are gentle in your actions.
  • Avoid strenuous activity (INCREASING YOUR HEART RATE ABOVE 100 BEATS PER MINUTE, i.e., aerobics, heavy lifting, and bending over for the first 3 weeks after surgery. After two weeks, you should slowly increase your activities so you will be back to normal by the end of the 3rd week. Avoid hitting your nose for 4 weeks after surgery. After the splint is removed, do not wear glasses or allow anything else to rest on your nose for 4 weeks. Glasses should be taped to the forehead. Contacts can be worn as soon as the swelling has decreased enough for them to be inserted.
  • After surgery, the skin of your nose is sensitive to sunlight. Protect your nose from excessive exposure for 6 months. Wear a wide-brim hat and/or good sunscreen (SPF-20 or greater) with UVA and UVB protection if you must be in the sun for prolonged periods.
  • The nasal splint will be removed in 6-7 days after surgery.
  • After the nasal splint is removed, the nose can be washed gently with bland soap, makeup applied, and moisturizing creams used if it is dry.
  • After rhinoplasty, the tip of the nose sometimes feels numb, and occasionally, the front teeth feel “funny.” These feelings gradually disappear.
  • Much of the swelling will be gone in 2-3 weeks after surgery. It often takes approximately 1 year for the last 10% of the swelling to disappear. Your nose may feel stiff when you smile and not as flexible as before surgery. This is not noticeable to others, and things will gradually return to normal.
  • For three weeks after surgery, avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds. If you must bend down to pick something up, bend at the knees, not the waist.
  • During the healing phase, all incisions will be extremely sensitive to sunlight. Direct sun contact is to be avoided. Always use sunscreen as directed (SPF 15 or greater).
  • Take your medications carefully and only as directed.
  • If you have nausea, vomiting, rash, shortness of breath, or diarrhea after taking your medications, or if you develop a fever (oral temperature greater than 101°F), develop redness, or have increased pain at the site of your surgical incisions, call the office immediately.
  • After your sutures and internal/external splints are removed, it is recommended that you use a saline solution (Ocean or Ayr Nasal Spray) to gently remove crust formation from inside your nose, especially if you had internal nasal surgery, such as septal reconstruction or inferior turbinate resection.
  • You can use a nasal spray (Afrin) intermittently ONLY for the first and second week post-op to improve nasal breathing or if you are taking an airplane flight to help prevent your ears/nose from popping.
  • If you experience increased nasal bleeding with bright red blood (and need to change the nasal pad every 30-40 minutes), call Dr. Sundine immediately. You should sit up and apply pressure to the end of your nose for 15 minutes, and you can use Afrin spray to stop the oozing in the interim. Bleeding usually stops with these maneuvers.
  • *Call our office if you have any questions or if any problems should arise.

• Aftercare Instructions

  • When sleeping, we recommend you keep your head elevated on two pillows for the first seven days after surgery. During the day for the first 72 hours after surgery, apply ice packs to the nasal area to minimize swelling and bruising. Do not put pressure on the nasal splint. Use ice packs to the nasal area every 2 hours for 20 minutes while awake. It is easiest to use frozen corn or peas that can be re-frozen. You will probably have a bloody nasal discharge for 3-4 days and may change the mustache dressing under your nose as often as needed. Do not rub or blot your nose, as this will tend to irritate it. You may discard the drip pad and remove the tape on your cheeks when the drainage has stopped.
  • It is normal to continue to swell on the nose after the first 48 hours. Swelling reaches its peak at 48-72 hours.
  • If you have pain, take the pain medication as directed. It is best to take it with crackers, Jello, etc. If you have no pain, do not take the medication. Alcohol should not be used while taking the pain medication.
  • Following surgery, begin on that day with a light diet: liquids only. The next day you can begin a soft, regular diet but for 2 weeks avoid foods that require excess lip movement such as apples, corn on the cob, etc.
  • To prevent bleeding, do not sniff or blow your nose for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Try not to sneeze, but if you do, sneeze through your mouth.
  • While the nasal splint is on, you may have your hair washed in beauty salon fashion. Take care to prevent the nasal splint from getting wet.
  • Keep the inside edges of your nostrils and any stitches clean by using a Q-tip saturated with hydrogen peroxide followed by a thin coating of Polysporin ointment. This will help prevent crusts from forming You may advance the Q-tip into the nose as far as the cotton on the Q-tip, but no further. You will not hurt anything inside your nose as long as you are gentle in your actions.
  • Avoid strenuous activity (INCREASING YOUR HEART RATE ABOVE 100 BEATS PER MINUTE) i.e., aerobics, heavy lifting, and bending over for the first 3 weeks after surgery. After 2 weeks you should slowly increase your activities so you will be back to normal by the end of the 3rd week. Avoid hitting your nose for 4 weeks after surgery. After the splint is removed, do not wear glasses or allow anything else to rest on your nose for 4 weeks. Glasses should be taped to the forehead. Contacts can be worn as soon as the swelling has decreased enough for them to be inserted.
  • The skin of your nose is sensitive to sunlight after surgery. Protect your nose from excessive exposure for 6 months. Wear a wide brim hat and/or a good sunscreen (SPF-20 or greater) with both UVA and UVB protection if you have to be in the sun for prolonged periods.
  • The nasal splint will be removed in 6-7 days after surgery.
  • After the nasal splint is removed, the nose can be washed gently with bland soap and make-up can be applied. Moisturizing creams can be used if the nose is dry.
  • The tip of the nose sometimes will feel numb after rhinoplasty and occasionally the front teeth will feel “funny.” These feelings will gradually disappear.
  • Much of the swelling will be gone in 2-3 weeks after surgery. It often takes approximately 1 year for the last 10% of the swelling to disappear. Your nose may feel stiff when you smile and not as flexible as before surgery. This is not noticeable to others and things will gradually return to normal.
  • Avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds for 3 weeks after surgery. If you must bend down to pick something up, bend at the knees and not at the waist.
  • All incisions will be extremely sensitive to sunlight during the healing phase. Direct sun contact is to be avoided. Always use sunscreen as directed (SPF 15 or greater).
  • Take your medications carefully and only as directed.
  • If you have nausea, vomiting, rash, shortness of breath, or diarrhea after taking your medications, or if you develop a fever (oral temperature greater than 101o), develop redness, or have increased pain at the site of your surgical incisions, call the office immediately.
  • After your sutures are removed and the internal/external splints are removed it is recommended that you use a saline solution (Ocean or Ayr Nasal Spray) to gently remove crust formation from inside your nose especially if you had internal nasal surgery such as septal reconstruction or inferior turbinate resection.
  • You can use a nasal spray (Afrin) intermittently ONLY for the first and second week post-op for improved nasal breathing or if you are taking an airplane flight to help prevent your ears/nose from popping.
  • If you experience increased nasal bleeding with bright red blood (with a need to change the nasal pad every 30-40 minutes) call Dr. Sundine immediately. You should sit up and apply pressure to the end of your nose for 15 minutes and you can use Afrin spray to stop the oozing in the interim. Bleeding usually stops with these maneuvers.
  • *Call our office if you have any questions if any problems should arise.