Rhinoplasty Specialist · Vancouver, BC · Canada
Dr. Thomas Buonassisi
MD FRCSC ABFPRS · Facial Plastic Surgeon
One of Canada's most experienced rhinoplasty specialists — with over 2,500 procedures and 20 years of exclusive facial plastic surgery practice.
Board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada, Dr. Buonassisi has built his practice around a single specialty: the face. Rhinoplasty represents the majority of his surgical work — and preservation rhinoplasty and piezo ultrasonic techniques are the cornerstones of his approach.
Surgical Philosophy
How Dr. Buonassisi approaches rhinoplasty
After 20 years and over 2,500 rhinoplasty procedures, Dr. Buonassisi's surgical philosophy has been refined by direct experience with every variation of nasal anatomy and every category of patient goal. These are the principles that guide his work.
Natural results, not a 'new nose'
The goal of rhinoplasty is not to give a patient a different nose — it is to give them the best version of their own nose. Dr. Buonassisi's results are consistently described as natural-looking precisely because he works with each patient's existing anatomy rather than imposing a template.
Structure before aesthetics
Every aesthetic decision in rhinoplasty must be grounded in structural reality. A nose that looks beautiful immediately after surgery but collapses over time is a failure. Dr. Buonassisi's training in head and neck surgery gives him a deep understanding of nasal anatomy that informs every surgical decision.
Conservative by default
In rhinoplasty, less is almost always more. Over-resection — removing too much cartilage or bone — is the leading cause of revision surgery. Dr. Buonassisi's default is to make the minimum change that achieves the patient's goal, preserving options for the future.
Education before surgery
Dr. Buonassisi believes that an informed patient makes a better surgical candidate. He has invested over a decade in patient education through YouTube, social media, and the 8 West Knowledge Hub — so that patients arrive at their consultation with realistic expectations and a clear understanding of what rhinoplasty can and cannot achieve.
Honest consultation
Not every patient who wants rhinoplasty is a good candidate, and not every goal is achievable. Dr. Buonassisi's consultations are known for their directness — he will tell patients what is realistic, what is not, and why. Patients who have consulted with other surgeons frequently describe his assessment as the most thorough and honest they have received.
Techniques & Specialisations
The rhinoplasty procedures Dr. Buonassisi performs
Preservation Rhinoplasty
Dr. B's Signature TechniqueDr. Buonassisi is one of a small number of Canadian surgeons who has trained extensively in preservation rhinoplasty — an approach that retains the native cartilage and bone structure wherever possible, rather than removing and rebuilding. The result is a nose that heals more predictably, swells less, and looks unmistakably natural. This technique requires a higher level of anatomical understanding and surgical precision than conventional rhinoplasty.
Best candidate for
Patients with a dorsal hump, wide bridge, or those who want a refined result that does not look 'done'.
Education & Credentials
Career Milestones
Patient Experiences
In their own words
"I flew from Calgary specifically because I wanted the best — not just the nearest. Dr. Buonassisi's consultation was unlike anything I had experienced. He told me exactly what was achievable and why, and the result exceeded what I had hoped for."
"I had a previous rhinoplasty elsewhere that I was unhappy with. Dr. Buonassisi took on my revision case when other surgeons wouldn't. His honesty about what was possible — and what wasn't — gave me confidence. The result is everything I had wanted the first time."
"As a South Asian woman, I was nervous about finding a surgeon who understood what I wanted — enhancement, not erasure. Dr. Buonassisi got it immediately. He never tried to give me a 'Western' nose. The result is perfectly me."
What is Preservation Rhinoplasty?
Technique Education · 12:34 · 48,200 views
Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty: Which is Right for You?
Technique Education · 9:18 · 31,500 views
Rhinoplasty Recovery: Week by Week
Recovery · 15:22 · 62,100 views
Am I a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty?
Candidacy · 8:47 · 44,800 views
Free · 5 Minutes · No Obligation
Ready to speak with Dr. Buonassisi's team?
Start with our online pre-assessment. Dr. Buonassisi's team reviews every submission personally and responds within 1–2 business days. Virtual consultations are available for patients outside Vancouver.
Strictly confidential · Reviewed by Dr. Buonassisi's team only