Are you suffering from rhinophyma and feeling self conscious about the unwanted attention that is drawn to your nose? There is a way to make a permanent change and there is a non-surgical treatment available. There is no need to continue living with rhinophyma because there are options available to treat this condition and its effects. Rhinophyma (pronounced ri’no-fi’ma) is a fairly uncommon condition but it can cause physical as well as emotional discomfort for those who have it.
Rhinophyma is a progressive disease that involves the overgrowth of the soft tissues of the nose in an advanced stage of rosacea. The increased size and blood flow to the nasal tissue may even cause nasal obstruction, making it difficult for the person to breathe normally. Often associated with end-stage acne rosacea, this disfiguring condition has typically been treated with surgical procedures that reduce and re-sculpt the soft tissues of the nose.
However, now there is a new, non-surgical procedure that offers hope for many of those who may be struggling with this disease. Renowned surgeon Dr. Philip Solomon, OTL Head and Neck surgeon specializing and practicing Facial Plastic surgery for nearly 20 years, uses state-of-the-art UltraPulse® Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing technology to treat this condition.
This cutting edge technology laser system allows Dr. Solomon, who specializes in nasal surgery, to remove the excess skin without incisions or stitches. For optimal results, more than one treatment may be necessary and follow-up with another type of laser may be needed to reduce the redness of the nose after it has been reshaped. Ultimately, the results are often striking and the patient’s self-esteem is significantly improved.
If you are struggling with rhinophyma and would like to learn more, call us today at 905-764-7799 to learn how the UltraPulse® Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment could help you.
If you are in the early stages of rhinophyma, the disease can be a little difficult to diagnose. Its most basic definition is as an uncommon form of rosacea that eventually results in knobby bumps on the nose and cheeks. To someone unaware of rhinophyma, the affected areas have the appearance of being swollen. If left undiagnosed, rhinophyma can become a permanent form of disfigurement. Throughout past decades, rhinophyma was typically treated with cosmetic surgery.
Do I Need To Undergo Cosmetic Surgery For Rhinophyma?Fortunately, you do not need to undergo cosmetic surgery to treat rhinophyma. Today, technology has allowed us to take care of rhinophyma through the use of a laser system. The laser itself is a gas mixture composed of carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen. This type of laser is known more widely in the industry as a CO2 laser and it operates in the infrared. Patented as the UltraPulse Laser Resurfacing treatment system, this laser removes thin layers of skin from the nose with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue. Therefore it can be considered as a form of skin resurfacing.
It is important to note with the UltraPulse Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment system, that this is among the most aggressive products addressing rhinophyma and also produces the most dramatic results. That said, it also requires a longer healing time. The UltraPulse Fractionated CO2 Laser resurfacing treatment works through the use of short, pulsing light energy which is delivered onto a designated part of the anatomy in a type of scanning pattern. This begins the removal of thin layers of skin but with minimal heat damage. Effects are accomplished through the targeting of water molecules in the skin, reducing other aspects of skin damage such as scars, wrinkles, and imperfections.
There are many benefits to using the UltraPulse Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment system but the first thing is to understand how it is meant to work. Though it is used for rhinophyma, testing has also shown that it can work wonders in improving the skin’s appearance, improving overall skin quality, improving sun damage, reducing skin pores, and eliminating skin texture irregularities.
Dr. Philip Solomon is specially trained in its use as it pertains to rhinophyma, ensuring that those suffering from this disease have a means of getting rid of it. Through the use of UltraPulse Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing Treatment, one can recreate the skin that they remember from a younger age. The UltraPulse laser is a deep penetrating form of treatment that will work to gently remove the entire outer layer of skin.
In treating rhinophyma with the UltraPulse Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing method, there may be some minor side effects. These include some immediate swelling, itching, crusting and tenderness which is to be expected in the immediate aftermath of a treatment session. Colour changes in the skin can sometimes appear. Skin irritation is also a common side-effect in some patients as they go through the recovery process. In rare cases, there can be bacterial infections of the skin, though this is highly uncommon.
It is recommended to take 4-5 days for the initial recovery time. Throughout this initial period, rarely have patients been in severe pain. Many patients do not experience enough pain to take any pain medication at all. What you can expect during your rhinophyma recovery process however is redness throughout this time and a need to apply a topical cream or ointment onto the face for the first 5 days. After a patient passes five days, the remainder of the recovery is quite easy and within a couple weeks, you will notice the dramatic results from the CO2 Laser treatment.
The full length of recovery time for the UltraPulse Laser treatment is anywhere up to two weeks but does vary as the healing process is different for each person. The redness should be expected to remain for up to one week and then the skin will likely remain pink in colour for a few weeks after that. It is recommended to wait to apply makeup until 10-12 days following treatment. If a patient feels comfortable enough to return to work after a week, the area of their face affected by treatment will appear pink similar to a sunburn.
It is recommended to wait at least a week prior to returning to work. If a patient has an occupation where a pink or sunburnt face is not an option, it then might be necessary to take two weeks off. Many patients schedule their CO2 Laser treatment for a Friday, giving them that weekend, the following week, and the following weekend to recover – making up a total of nine days and only requiring one full week off work.
By the third or fourth week, most of the redness and pink will have resolved. At that time, the effects of the treatment can truly be appreciated. That said, some patients continue to have pink skin for several months. This is temporary in nature and should be easily covered up through the use of makeup.
Through the use of the UltraPulse Laser treatment, your rhinophyma will be treated with the expertise of Dr. Philip Solomon to give you the best possible results. It is important to note that the skin will take a full eighteen months to complete the healing process. Results, and the healing process may vary for different patients.
The UltraPulse Laser system is among the most powerful CO2 lasers and is the most effective non-surgical treatment of rhinophyma available in Canada. If you are one of the unlucky individuals affected by rhinophyma, come to see Dr. Solomon at the Solomon Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgery Centre for a treatment method that will rejuvenate the shape and improve the function of the nose. Allowing rhinophyma to continue to be present on the nose allows for the possibility that it will continue to become more reddened and bulbous.
This cutting edge technology laser system allows Dr. Solomon, who specializes in nasal surgery, to remove the excess skin without incisions or stitches. For optimal results, more than one treatment may be necessary and follow-up with another type of laser may be needed to reduce the redness of the nose after it has been reshaped. Ultimately, the results are often striking and the patient’s self-esteem is significantly improved.
If you are struggling with rhinophyma and would like to learn more, call us today at 905-764-7799 to learn how the UltraPulse® Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment could help you.
Many patients come to us, wishing to talk about surgical ways to reduce the unwanted attention that they attract. They are relieved to find that the UltraPulse Laser treatment method is non-surgical, safe, and highly effective. Rhinophyma is not something that can be hidden or concealed on a daily basis. If it is affecting the quality of your life, the only way to deal with the problem is to treat this condition with the UltraPulse Laser treatment. There are also several rhinophyma patients who have come to us with issues affecting breathing through the nose due to the increased thickness of the nasal skin. Needless to say, rhinophyma can lead to so many troublesome issues so it’s most beneficial to your health to treat it as quickly and as effectively as possible.
Though the majority of our rhinophyma patients are male, we have treated women in the past as well. If topical medications are no longer working for you, the UltraPulse Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment method is the best option.. Though there are other treatment methods for rhinophyma, laser surgery is the most preferred by us as at Solomon Facial Plastic because it is the least invasive and very safe of all methods.
If you are struggling from the early, mild, or advanced stages of rhinophyma, Dr. Solomon’s UltraPulse Laser treatment method can go a long way toward improving your appearance, your emotional health and restoring your confidence.
Please feel encouraged to contact us today to sit down at a consultation to discuss the options available to you. We would be happy to hear about your goals, to set expectations about what can be accomplished with this laser technology and to answer any other inquiries you may have.
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Please also visit Dr. Solomon’s information on Primary Rhinoplasty, Revision Rhinoplasty, Persian Rhinoplasty, African American Rhinoplasty, Asian Rhinoplasty, Injection Rhinoplasty and Rhinophyma.
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In order to best assist you, we require all cosmetic patients to schedule a virtual or in-person consultation. There is a fee of $250 with imaging plus HST for all consultations. Your consultation fee will be credited towards your procedure and/or treatment. To schedule a consultation, please complete the attached form or call our office at 905-764-7799. We look forward to hearing from you.
