Functional and cosmetic nose surgery, evaluated at the Sutton Place office.
Dr. Kim holds rhinoplasty consultations at the Manhattan office. His dual board certification in otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery -- an uncommon combination in New York City -- is directly relevant to nose surgery, whether the goal is cosmetic, functional, or both.
Rhinoplasty is the procedure that most directly reflects Dr. Kim's training background, and it is the primary focus of the Manhattan satellite office. New York City patients considering rhinoplasty are typically well-researched, comparing surgeons across several practices, and the question of training specificity comes up early. It is worth being direct about what that means here.
Dr. Kim is board certified in two separate specialties: otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. These are distinct boards with distinct examination requirements. In New York City, most rhinoplasty surgeons are board certified in plastic surgery alone. The otolaryngology credential reflects a training pathway that begins with the deep anatomy of the nose, the airway, the septum, the turbinates, and the sinuses -- structures that matter in every rhinoplasty, whether or not the patient presents with an airway complaint.
The Manhattan office is at 347 E 53rd St, Suite Lobby A -- in Sutton Place, Midtown East, one block from the 6 train at 51st Street. Consultations are in-person. Dr. Kim examines the nose directly, photographs are taken at the same appointment, and the operative plan is worked through in full at that visit. This is not a screening call or a portal-based assessment.
Manhattan patients researching rhinoplasty often encounter a wide range of claims about techniques -- preservation rhinoplasty, ultrasonic rhinoplasty, scarless rhinoplasty, natural results. Some of these distinctions are real; some are marketing. The consultation here is the place to sort them out, with the anatomy as the organizing principle: what structure is doing what, what change is anatomically achievable, and what trade-offs come with it.
The practice serves patients from across the five boroughs, from Midtown to the Upper East Side, Turtle Bay, Beekman, and patients arriving from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. For patients from New Jersey or Connecticut who have difficulty finding a surgeon in New York City with both airway and cosmetic rhinoplasty experience, the Manhattan office is accessible by train or car.
Surgery is performed at the accredited office-based suite in Syracuse. The Manhattan office handles consultations and follow-up. After surgery, most patients spend the first week in the Syracuse area, then return to New York City, with all subsequent follow-up at the Sutton Place office through approximately one year. To schedule: call or text 929-291-0922.
The nose is a structural problem as much as an aesthetic one. Its skeleton consists of bone in the upper third, paired upper lateral cartilages in the middle third, and paired lower lateral cartilages (the alar cartilages) in the tip. Each layer has a different mechanical behavior, a different relationship to the overlying skin, and a different consequence when modified. A change to one layer changes the behavior of adjacent layers.
Functional rhinoplasty addresses structural causes of nasal obstruction: a deviated nasal septum, collapse of the internal nasal valve (the angle between the upper lateral cartilage and the septum), collapse of the external nasal valve, or hypertrophied inferior turbinates. These are not cosmetic concerns -- they are mechanical failures in the airway -- but they exist in the same anatomy that produces the external shape of the nose. Correcting a deviated septum, for example, often shifts the nasal tip and alters the visible profile in ways that are cosmetically relevant.
Cosmetic rhinoplasty changes the external shape. Common goals include reducing a dorsal hump, refining the nasal tip, narrowing the base, adjusting the angle between the nose and the upper lip, or improving symmetry. The achievable range depends on the skin thickness, the existing cartilage framework, and whether the goal involves removal, reshaping, or structural reinforcement.
The two goals are not in conflict, and a surgeon trained in both airway anatomy and cosmetic surgery is in a better position to address them simultaneously. Performing a cosmetic rhinoplasty without evaluating the airway risks creating a narrower nose that breathes worse than before. Performing functional surgery without understanding the cosmetic consequences can change the appearance in ways the patient did not anticipate. The consultation evaluates both, regardless of which concern brought the patient in. For a deeper explanation of the technique spectrum, including preservation techniques and revision considerations, see our full rhinoplasty overview.
Rhinoplasty candidates in Manhattan tend to fall into three groups: patients with a cosmetic concern who have been thinking about surgery for years; patients with a functional complaint (difficulty breathing, chronic congestion, poor sleep) who did not realize surgery was an option; and patients with both, who have often been told the two problems are unrelated and treated separately. All three groups are candidates for evaluation here.
What makes a good surgical candidate is anatomy that warrants surgery, realistic expectations about what surgery can and cannot change, and health that supports a procedure under local anesthesia with sedation. The consultation clarifies all three. The anatomic examination includes the external appearance, the internal airway, the septal position, the valve, and the skin quality. For tip work, skin thickness is a critical variable: thick skin conceals refinements that would be visible through thin skin, and the two require different approaches.
Who is not well served by rhinoplasty: someone whose concern exists primarily in the context of broader body image distress; someone with very thick skin expecting a level of definition the soft tissue envelope cannot produce; someone who wants a nose that belongs to someone else rather than a version of their own nose, improved. These are not judgments -- they are anatomic and psychological realities that the consultation is the right place to discuss. The result of rhinoplasty is permanent, and what is decided in the planning stage cannot easily be undone. Planning should take as long as it takes.
The following reflects common protocols across major-market practices. Individual recovery plans are provided in writing before surgery.
A cast or external splint is placed at surgery and remains for approximately one week. Bruising beneath the eyes is common and expected; swelling is most prominent in the first several days. Head elevation, rest, and nasal saline irrigation are standard. The first post-operative visit takes place in Syracuse, at which the cast is removed and the nose is examined.
After the cast is off and the early visits are complete, most patients return to New York City. Bruising resolves over two to three weeks. The nose is presentable in most public settings by three to four weeks, though it does not look like the final result at that stage -- swelling, particularly in the tip, continues for months. Desk work typically resumes in the second week.
Tip swelling is the slowest component to resolve, often taking nine to twelve months to reach the final contour. This is normal rhinoplasty biology, not a complication. Follow-up at the Sutton Place office at one month, three months, six months, and one year documents the healing sequence. Glasses, contact sports, and direct nasal trauma require specific timing guidance, given at the pre-operative visit.
At 347 E 53rd St, Suite Lobby A, New York, NY 10022, in the Sutton Place neighborhood of Midtown East. The 6 train stops at 51st Street, one block from the office; the E and M trains serve Lexington Avenue/53rd Street. Dr. Kim holds in-person consultations here.
Rhinoplasty -- both functional and cosmetic -- is the procedure most frequently requested by Manhattan patients, and it is one where Dr. Kim's dual board certification in otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery is most directly relevant. Most rhinoplasty surgeons in New York City hold a single board in plastic surgery; training in otolaryngology adds a distinct foundation in nasal airway anatomy and function, which matters whether the goal is cosmetic, functional, or both.
Functional rhinoplasty addresses structural causes of nasal obstruction -- septal deviation, nasal valve collapse, turbinate hypertrophy -- that reduce airflow. Cosmetic rhinoplasty changes the external shape. The two share the same anatomy and are commonly performed together; correcting a deviated septum often improves both airflow and the visible profile in the same operation.
A tip plasty is work limited to the nasal tip -- refining projection, rotation, definition, or width of the tip structures without altering the bridge or middle vault. When the bridge and overall profile are acceptable, tip work alone is a reasonable and narrower operation with a shorter recovery than a full rhinoplasty. Whether tip work alone addresses the concern depends on the anatomy, which is assessed at consultation.
Dr. Kim holds board certification in both otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery -- and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, two separate boards with separate examinations and training requirements. This combination is uncommon in New York City, where most rhinoplasty surgeons are board certified in plastic surgery alone. The otolaryngology training provides a distinct foundation in nasal airway anatomy, sinus disease, and functional nasal surgery.
Preservation rhinoplasty is an approach that retains the native structural elements of the nose -- cartilage, bone, and soft tissue -- where possible, rather than removing and rebuilding them. The aim is to reduce the risk of the over-operated appearance and unpredictable healing that can follow aggressive resection. It is one approach among several, and not every nose is a candidate for it; the anatomy determines the plan.
Surgery takes place at the practice's accredited office-based surgical suite in Syracuse. The Manhattan office provides consultations and follow-up. For patients traveling from New York City for surgery, the practice coordinates accommodation in the Syracuse area, and long-term follow-up continues in Manhattan after the initial recovery week.
A cast or splint is in place for approximately one week. Bruising is common and typically resolves over two to three weeks. Most patients return to indoor work in ten to fourteen days; the nose is presentable in public in most cases by three to four weeks. A portion of swelling -- most visible in the tip -- continues to resolve over months to a year, and the final result is not fully visible until then.
Yes. Revision rhinoplasty is part of the practice. The Manhattan consultation for revision involves a full evaluation of the prior result, the anatomy as it exists now, what structural changes were made, and what can realistically be achieved. Revision surgery is more demanding than primary rhinoplasty -- cartilage grafting is commonly required -- and the trade-offs are discussed honestly, including what will and will not change.
Yes. Functional rhinoplasty -- septoplasty, nasal valve repair, turbinate reduction, or a combination -- can improve airflow without changing the external appearance. The presence of a cosmetic concern is not a requirement. The consultation includes a full nasal airway examination to identify the structural causes of obstruction.
Risks include bleeding, infection, swelling that takes longer than expected to resolve, visible asymmetry, nasal obstruction persisting or developing after surgery, skin healing problems at the incisions, and the need for revision. The skin has no memory of its prior position; healing variation means the final result continues developing over one to two years, and a minor revision is more common in rhinoplasty than in most other facial procedures.
No. The consultation and the procedure are separate visits. Surgery takes place in Syracuse after a full evaluation, preoperative photographs, and operative planning. We do not offer same-day rhinoplasty, and no surgical procedure is performed at the Manhattan office.
The Manhattan office in Sutton Place sees patients for consultations and long-term follow-up. Surgery takes place at the accredited Syracuse surgical suite. See our full rhinoplasty overview for the complete technique and evidence discussion.
347 E 53rd St, Suite Lobby A
New York, NY 10022
929-291-0922
Consultations and follow-up
4939 Brittonfield Pkwy, Bldg B, Ste 208
East Syracuse, NY 13057
AAAHC-accredited office suite
All surgical procedures
70 East Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14610
Consultations and follow-up
"Dr. Kim is extremely knowledgeable and skilled. My rhinoplasty results are better than I could have hoped for. He took the time to listen to what I wanted and explained everything clearly."
"I came to Dr. Kim after seeing multiple surgeons in the city. He was the first one who actually examined my airway and explained why I was having trouble breathing. The surgery addressed both problems."
"Dr. Kim is the only plastic surgeon that I'm completely comfortable with and trust. He performed surgery that was so natural that people couldn't believe I had it done."