Rhinoplasty for Bixby Patients: The Drive, Consult & Aftercare

A short drive from Bixby to the consult room

Bixby sits about six miles from Tulsa Surgical Arts, straight-line distance. The proximity matters most in the days after surgery, when you will return for splint removal and early follow-up. A shorter drive home means less time upright in a car seat when rest is the priority.

Your first visit is a private, no-obligation consultation. We examine the nose from every angle, discuss your goals, and explain what is surgically realistic for your anatomy. A personal written quote is prepared at that visit. Nothing is scheduled until you have that plan in hand and feel ready to move forward.

Who performs rhinoplasty here

Rhinoplasty at this practice is performed by Dr. Angelo Cuzalina and Dr. Chase Nelson. Dr. Cuzalina is a rhinoplasty author and past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He co-wrote a peer-reviewed chapter on revision rhinoplasty and has published multiple papers on cleft nasal deformity repair [0][1][2][3]. Dr. Nelson is a cosmetic otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) who completed his fellowship training at this practice.

Both surgeons operate in our AAAHC-accredited surgery center, which includes a private overnight guest suite. General anesthesia is administered by a board-certified anesthesia provider. Most patients return home the same day with an adult companion to help.

What happens during rhinoplasty surgery

Once you are fully asleep, a small incision is made in the columella — the strip of skin between the nostrils — and just inside each nostril. The nasal skin is lifted off the underlying cartilage and bone. The surgeon then refines the framework: judicious removal, repositioning with sutures, and often the placement of grafts for support and contour.

Functional issues such as a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates can be addressed at the same time. After reshaping, the skin is laid back into place and closed with fine suture. Internal splints, external tape and a protective splint are applied. Surgery typically takes one and a half to three hours.

This walkthrough reflects the operation as our surgeons actually perform it. Every step is discussed with you at consultation, and your written surgical plan is finalized before a date is ever placed on the calendar.

Recovery and aftercare for Bixby patients

Most patients return to work within seven to ten days. The external splint is usually removed during that first week. Swelling is most noticeable in the first few days and gradually subsides over the following weeks and months. The nose continues to refine for up to a year or longer.

Because Bixby is close, post-operative visits are straightforward. We see you for splint removal, then at intervals to monitor healing. If a concern arises between appointments, a phone call or text to our team gets a prompt response. Proximity to the practice is a genuine convenience during recovery.

The published record behind our approach

Rhinoplasty technique evolves through study and publication. Dr. Cuzalina has contributed to the peer-reviewed literature on nasal surgery across multiple editions, including chapters on revision rhinoplasty [3], cleft nasal deformity [0][1][2], and a preface to a dedicated rhinoplasty issue of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America [4]. That academic involvement shapes how we plan and execute each case.

We encourage prospective patients to review our before-and-after gallery, which includes profile, front and three-quarter views with interactive sliders. Real patients, written consent on file. Results vary from person to person, and the gallery is meant to show the range of what rhinoplasty can accomplish — not a guarantee of any specific outcome.

Individual results vary. This article is general education, not medical advice.