Preservation Rhinoplasty

Preservation rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty performed by Dr. Kayva Crawford at Torrey Pines Plastic Surgery Del Mar — a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon and national speaker on preservation rhinoplasty techniques. Open and closed approaches available. Also addresses functional breathing concerns including septal deviation. Revision rhinoplasty for patients with unsatisfactory prior surgery is a specialist focus. Final results develop over 12–24 months.

Rhinoplasty at Torrey Pines Plastic Surgery in Del Mar is a specialist offering from Dr. Kayva Crawford, who has distinguished herself as a national speaker on preservation rhinoplasty and has contributed nearly 30 peer-reviewed publications to the facial plastic surgery literature — a level of academic engagement that reflects expertise well above typical cosmetic surgery practice. Preservation rhinoplasty is a conceptual evolution in the field that has gained significant traction over the past decade. Rather than the traditional structural rhinoplasty approach — which involves resecting and rebuilding nasal cartilage and bone, often weakening the nasal support structure in the process and requiring cartilage grafts to re-establish projection and tip definition — preservation rhinoplasty aims to preserve the native nasal structures wherever possible, removing only what is necessary and working within the natural tissue planes. The preservation approach offers several advantages: it maintains the natural ligamentous and cartilaginous relationships of the nose, preserving more of the native swelling pattern and reducing the frequency of the stiffness and unnatural feel that can result from aggressive cartilage resection and grafting. Bony hump reduction using let-down or push-down techniques — rather than osteotomies and resection — preserves the nasal bones in continuity, reducing risk of irregularities. Dr. Crawford performs both the open rhinoplasty (external columellar incision allowing full visualisation of tip structures) and the closed rhinoplasty (all incisions inside the nostrils, no visible external scar) approaches, selecting the technique based on the degree of structural change required and individual anatomy. Functional rhinoplasty addressing septal deviation and nasal airway obstruction is also offered and can be combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty — correction of unsatisfactory results from prior rhinoplasty — is a particular area of expertise given the complexity of managing previously altered cartilage architecture, scarring, and compromised blood supply. Recovery from primary rhinoplasty involves a nasal splint for the first week, significant bruising and periorbital swelling in the first one to two weeks, and a return to most activities within two to three weeks. Final tip definition develops progressively over 12 to 24 months as swelling fully resolves. Consultation required for individual assessment.