The Art of Subtle Transformation with Dr. Bassiri-Tehrani

50

A great nose job should be like great tailoring: subtle, precise, and completely transformative. In our exclusive Q&A, Dr. Bassiri-Tehrani shares why rhinoplasty is equal parts engineering and artistry, how the latest techniques are changing the game, and why the best results enhance your natural beauty without stealing the spotlight. Consider this your chic guide to one of the most talked-about procedures in aesthetics.

What first drew you to cosmetic surgery, and why did you choose to specialize in rhinoplasty?
I loved the tangible changes possible with surgery. I enjoy how immediate surgery is—taking action and seeing results right away. Rhinoplasty is literally front and center in terms of seeing results. It is well known to be one of the most challenging cosmetic surgeries. Unlike other procedures, it has limitless combinations of techniques. It is creative and taste-driven. It is both a puzzle and an art. It also makes meaningful changes in people’s lives while they are young and healthy and can enjoy it. Even small changes can impact a patient’s confidence and, long term, change their lives—and it is amazing to be a part of that positive change.

How has your training and background influenced your aesthetic philosophy?
My training in head and neck surgery instilled attention to fine details in anatomy and technique. Personally, my father is an engineer and my mother was always the artistic type. I blend both influences in my surgeries—rhinoplasty is a mini engineering project with an emphasis on the physics of stability and durability, but at the same time, it needs to meet aesthetic standards of beauty. Neither alone is enough.

Many people think of nose jobs as purely cosmetic, what are your thoughts on that? How do you balance the artistic with the medical?
The functional aspects of the nose and breathing cannot be separated from the aesthetic goals. For a long time, rhinoplasty focused on cosmetics, and in the long term, loss of support would cause collapse and breathing obstruction. We have learned lessons from the past and now respect anatomy, ensuring anything that has been taken apart is put back together and supported in ways that provide longevity.

What are the latest innovations in rhinoplasty techniques that excite you most?
Much of what happens with rhinoplasty is cyclical. Closed approaches were initially popular, then open approaches, and now we may be back to closed. The resurgence of an originally very old technique known as preservation rhinoplasty is one example of how techniques can become fashionable again. Fifty years ago, surgeons were using hand saws; then came chisels, and now we have ultrasonic saws. Each evolution in technology has made things slightly better. Now more than ever, technology has made it easier to see and share techniques from all over the world. Detailed videos and photos allow us to share new modifications instantly from anywhere. It is exciting and fun to explore and see what new ideas are out there.

Tell us about your most popular cosmetic surgery, the Tip Stitch Rhinoplasty. What do you think sets you apart from other practices that offer this procedure?
This technique is, again, a modification of an established idea. I have taken a maneuver I use in open surgery to lift the nasal tip and applied it as a stand-alone procedure under local anesthesia. While it is a subtle lift or change, it avoids almost all of the downtime of a traditional rhinoplasty. It works today because smaller changes are more fashionable. People don’t want to take time off from work or their social lives, and the alternatives of fillers and thread lifts have unwanted risks. People have a tendency to think rhinoplasty is an all-or-nothing event rather than a spectrum of change. If nothing else, offering this procedure signals to my patients that I am open to smaller changes and respect enhancements that don’t necessarily revamp the entire nose.

Social media filters and celebrity aesthetics often shape beauty standards. Do you see this affecting the requests patients bring in?
Something I have noticed lately is that many patients are unhappy with the appearance of their nasal tip drooping when smiling. I think this is a byproduct of more photos and especially now, videos being prevalent in society. Beyond the need to have every angle look good, we are now looking to have every angle look good in motion.

Do you ever feel pressure, knowing your work permanently shapes someone’s face and confidence?
This is healthy pressure that keeps us sharp. Rhinoplasty takes a lot of planning, focus, and awareness to change the plan if it’s not working. There is some added pressure when a patient is in the public eye, or their face is their livelihood. It is key to maintain subtle results in those cases. It’s not good policy to make someone recognizable unrecognizable.

If you could debunk one myth about plastic surgery for the public, what would it be?
Not all surgery reeks of surgery. Small tasteful changes are possible without compromising your privacy or identity. Most people will not look at you and think “SURGERY!”