Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty

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Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Results may vary. Images above reflect Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Before and Afters

Piezo Nose Job

Looking for the best ultrasonic rhinoplasty in San Diego? Dr. Christopher Kolstad is a nose job specialist with a strong focus on piezo rhinoplasty.  If you want more information on ultrasonic rhinoplasty, how much is a nose job, how much rhinoplasty costs, or rhinoplasty before and afters, you’ve come to the right place! 

What Is Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?

Ultrasonic rhinoplasty, also known as piezo rhinoplasty or piezo nose job, is an exciting new technology for reshaping nasal bones. The traditional instruments used in rhinoplasty are rasps, mallets and osteotomes, sophisticated medical terms for hammers and chisels. Using these instruments the bridge is contoured by hammering steel osteotomes through nasal bones causing significant trauma to the top of the nose. Black eyes after rhinoplasty are almost always caused by the traumatic breaking of nasal bones and surrounding soft tissue. 

Embracing new technology Dr. Kolstad uses ultrasonic energy to reduce large dorsal humps, narrow nasal bones and contour the nasal bridge. Why the change? Ultrasonic energy creates a customized, atraumatic bone cut with significantly more precision and significantly less bruising.  More control for the surgeon, less bruising for the patient?  What’s not to love!

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Piezo vs Traditional Bridge Reduction

Ultrasonic Hump Removal

Ultrasonic vibration used to reshape nasal bones

Atraumatic soft tissue injury with bone cuts

Very precise control of bone contour after osteotomies

Less bruising

Less swelling

Faster recovery at 1 week post op

Traditional Hump Removal

Steel hammers and chisels used reshape nasal bones

More soft tissue trauma with bone cuts and fractures

Difficult to contour nasal bones after osteotomies

More bruising 

More swelling

Slower recovery at 1 week post op

Is Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Better? 

Rhinoplasty experts in California use a variety of tools to achieve the best results. There is never one best tool for every surgeon or for every nose. Many rhinoplasty specialists continue to achieve excellent outcomes using traditional instruments. Dr. Kolstad uses the piezotome for specific portions of the rhinoplasty procedure, and he uses traditional instruments during other parts of the same procedure. The nasal tip cartilages and soft tissue are contoured using scalpels and sutures.  Piezo ultrasonic energy is specific for bone and hard cartilage. That means the middle and lower thirds of the nose are reshaped using traditional instruments.  The top third of the nose is where piezo technology shines.

Dr. Kolstad uses ultrasonic energy to create a smoother, more precise contour of the nasal bridge.  Ideal candidates for ultrasonic rhinoplasty have wide nasal bones, thick nasal bones, large dorsal humps, or crooked noses. Good candidates for piezo rhinoplasty also have generally good health, realistic expectations and are prepared for at least one week of downtime. There will still be some bruising and swelling, but in many cases it will be significantly less with ultrasonic rhinoplasty.

How Does Piezo Rhinoplasty Work?

A piezotome is an energy device that delivers high speed sound waves to create precise cuts in the bone without cutting the soft tissue surrounding them. The ultrasonic wavelength is specific for bone and preserves the surrounding skin, nerves, periosteum, and mucosa.  By minimizes soft tissue trauma there is less surgical bleeding and less bruising around the eyes.

The tip inserts have multiple sizes, shapes and applications.  In addition to precise, highly controllable bone cuts, the piezotome can shave, rasp, blend and contour the nasal bones before and after osteotomies.  Greater control for the surgeon will lead to better results for the patient.

Where Does Dr. Kolstad Perform Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty?

In 2024 Dr. Kolstad opened a state of the art surgery center at his office in La Jolla, California.  Our practice is located in the UTC part of La Jolla close to Westfield mall.  Our surgery center is on the fourth floor offering expansive views and natural lighting throughout. It was important to Dr. Kolstad to design an OR that felt warm and inviting instead of the traditional cold and enclosed spaces found in most operating rooms. 

On their way into surgery our patients are greeted with white marble floors, blue skies shining through large windows and the privacy of a single OR surgery center. We love showcasing our surgery center and would happily give you a tour during your consultation.

The OR features the most innovative and modern functionalities including the amazing privacy glass! With the flip of a switch the OR goes from transparent floor to ceiling windows to opaque and private.  If you want to see more of our office and stunning surgical center click here.  

Dr. Kolstad performs piezo rhinoplasty under general anesthesia using board certified anesthesiologists. 

Dr. Kolstad's OR in San Diego

Piezo Rhinoplasty Frequently Asked Questions

Your comfort is our primary concern during your ultrasonic rhinoplasty recovery in San Diego. For the first week after surgery most people describe pressure, like a bad sinus infection, rather than surgical pain.  Dr. Kolstad prescribes a short course of pain medicine to alleviate discomfort the day of surgery.  The day after surgery most people are off the strong pain meds and need only Tylenol or Ibuprofen.  In Dr. Kolstad’s experience ultrasonic rhinoplasty does not have significantly more or less pain during the recovery.

For current pricing, including over the phone estimates give us a call at 858.859.2563! The best way to get an accurate price for piezo rhinoplasty is to schedule an in-person consultation. The nose job cost is based many factors including current anesthesia and facility fees, the complexity of the procedure, history of trauma or prior nasal surgery, duration of surgery and additional grafting materials.

We do not charge more for ultrasonic rhinoplasty compared to rhinoplasty with traditional instruments. Dr. Kolstad’s wants to get the best possible results for his patients. He uses the best available techniques and technology to achieve the best rhinoplasty results.  Check out our Rhinoplasty Before and After Gallery for tons of Dr. Kolstad expert rhinoplasty results!

In Dr. Kolstad’s experience there is significantly less bruising with ultrasonic rhinoplasty compared to rhinoplasty using osteotomes and mallets. Less bruising and swelling at the one week cast removal visit means a significantly faster recovery.

That being said, Dr. Kolstad recommends all of his patients to expect some amount of bruising and swelling during the first week.  Even with meticulous technique and piezo technology some patients will have heavy bruising that can take longer than a week to resolve.

Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty Immediate Afters

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Profile View After Piezo Rhinoplasty

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Top View After Piezo Rhinoplasty

piezo nose job after

Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty After

piezo rhinoplasty after

Profile View After Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty

If you’re searching for the best ultrasonic rhinoplasty surgeon the first place to look is the rhinoplasty before and after gallery. Just like there isn’t one best chef for every palate, there isn’t one best rhinoplasty surgeon for everyone’s goals. Rhinoplasty is a very artistic type of surgery with every surgeon having their own stylistic vision and goals.  The more time prospective patients spend critically evaluating the rhinoplasty results the more they can understand what the surgeon likes to create.

Tips for evaluating the best rhinoplasty before and after’s galleries:

High Definition, High Resolution Images: We provide all photos in large, high-quality, expandable formats. We avoid small, static images that might obscure asymmetries, imperfections, or scars.

Descriptive: Each image is accompanied by detailed descriptions to help you identify specific features.

Comprehensive Views: We offer multiple perspectives of each result, ensuring you see more than just the “best” angles.

Consistent Before & After Photographs: We use the same camera, background, lighting, and positioning for before and after shots, and we encourage patients to wear makeup in both sets of images. This ensures a fair and accurate comparison without any trick photography.

Detailed Close-Ups of Incisions and Scars: We provide magnified views of incisions and scars, avoiding any concealment. This allows you to see exactly how and where incisions are made.

What Is The Best Rhinoplasty For Me?

Every face is unique. Dr. Kolstad’s expertise in rhinoplasty allows him to design a procedure that fits your features, ethnicity and background.

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Contact Us

To schedule an appointment call us at (858) 859-2563 or get in touch with the form below.