To contact Dr. Hamilton about an appointment, please send an email to the RST FPS Rhinoplasty Team.
My philosophy
I believe that if the nose is out of balance with the other facial features, has been damaged by an injury or isn't open enough for breathing, it can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. I have dedicated my career to helping people with nasal problems through extensive training, research, teaching and clinical practice.
Rhinoplasty is a challenging operation for many reasons. The nose is the central structure of the face. Even small irregularities and asymmetries are often noticeable. The margin of success for a rhinoplasty is often only a millimeter or two.
In my practice, I see many patients who have never had surgery before and others who have had one or more previous surgeries. A patient with a history of multiple surgeries requires a surgeon with specialized expertise and experience. The majority of what I do each day is help people with nasal problems.
I have a structural approach to rhinoplasty. Historically, bone and cartilage were only removed from the nose during a rhinoplasty. This left the nose weaker and susceptible to changes in the shape and function over time. The structural approach is designed to reinforce areas of potential weakness in the nose to provide for a result that will last a lifetime.
Each patient is unique and therefore requires an individualized surgical plan. If you have concerns about the shape of your nose, during our consultation I will manipulate your standardized photographs to show you what I think is a reasonable expectation for a surgical result. This technology helps me have a very detailed discussion about the goals and limitations of surgery with my patients.
Understanding nasal anatomy is different from understanding the anatomy of other structures in the body. Typically surgeons are concerned with where structures are in the body relative to one another. To truly understand the nose, it is critical to know how the bone and cartilage in the nose should be shaped. This requires a detailed, three-dimensional mental model of the characteristics of an attractive, natural-looking, functional nose. Although perfection is impossible, after surgery the vast majority of patients have noses that look like they could have been born with them. Modern rhinoplasty techniques can avoid a result that appears to have been "operated on."
When it is necessary to reinforce certain areas of the nose, I prefer to use only bone, cartilage and other natural tissues. This minimizes the risks associated with implanted materials in the nose.
Rhinoplasty is a very rewarding operation for patients as it can have significant quality-of-life benefits. As a good-looking nose is typically a good-working nose, breathing should never be sacrificed for an aesthetic result. The form and function of the nose are inseparable. I will work with you to create a nose that is in harmony with your other features and that lets you breathe as optimally as possible.
My patients
See before-and-after photos of my patients and read their stories.
My qualifications
I have had an interest in drawing, sculpting and creating things with my hands for my entire life. During college I studied industrial design and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. I have been a professional illustrator and continue to do medical illustration today. I draw on these experiences every day in my practice.
After working as an industrial designer for several years, I decided to go to medical school. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and completed five years of residency training at the University of Iowa. After residency, I completed an extra year of subspecialized training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. I maintain specialty board certification in both otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Education
- Fellow, facial plastic & reconstructive surgery, University of Illinois Medical Center
- Resident, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Internship in general surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center
- Medical degree, University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Post-baccalaureate program premedical courses, William Rainey Harper College
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, industrial design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Certifications
- American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Academic rank
- Associate professor of otolaryngology
Publications