Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure designed to change the function and the appearance of your nose. Reports by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimate nearly 220,000 rhinoplasty surgeries are performed every year in the United States.
The human nose is a complex structure that packs an abundance of blood vessels, nerves, cartilage, and tissue into a small area. Owing to the size and the complexity of the nose, it takes a knowledgeable and experienced rhinoplastic surgeon to achieve great results with rhinoplasty. Revisional surgery is a risk of any plastic surgery procedure. If you are considering a revisional rhinoplasty, then here is what to know.
What is revision rhinoplasty?
Sometimes, a flaw in the healing process after rhinoplasty or even a poorly chosen surgeon can leave you with results that you find unsatisfactory. Depending on what you want to achieve with rhinoplasty, you can benefit from revision rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty is not just about undoing the work of another surgeon. In many cases, the procedure is more complicated than the primary rhinoplasty because it may involve correcting extensive scar tissue and other flaws identified during the healing process.
When do I need a revision rhinoplasty?
Each patient’s reasons for pursuing revisional rhinoplasty will be different. However, some potential reasons for considering revision rhinoplasty can include:
- Correcting asymmetries created during the primary rhinoplasty.
- Correcting scarring that forms with improper healing.
- To correct obstruction that causes breathing difficulties.
- To remove extra cartilage.
- To correct where too much bone or cartilage was removed.
What does revision rhinoplasty look like versus normal rhinoplasty?
Depending on the results of your previous nose job, revision rhinoplasty can be extremely complicated. Most often, revision rhinoplasty requires cartilage for supporting the tip or the bridge of the nose. If there’s not enough septal cartilage, your plastic surgeon may need to graft cartilage from other body parts such as the ear or rib. If you have scarring on your nose, the surgeon may need to use skin grafts to correct the distorted nasal airway.
Considering revision rhinoplasty, it is important to know that no ethical rhinoplastic surgeon can guarantee an excellent outcome. If you are considering having this surgery, make sure to schedule an appointment with a board-certified and experienced facial plastic or plastic surgeon who specializes in revisional rhinoplasty surgery.
Recovery process
The recovery process of revision rhinoplasty is almost like that of primary rhinoplasty surgery. You may experience some degree of swelling that takes longer to resolve than for primary rhinoplasty. After surgery, you may also experience temporary numbness at the tip of the nose and bruising that resolves within a couple of weeks. Revision rhinoplasty results will improve over several months, and you can expect results after 12-24 months.
Schedule a Consultation
Revision rhinoplasty is a highly complex procedure that requires the expertise of a board-certified and experienced surgeon. At Aesthetic Center at Woodholme, you’ll want to meet with either Dr. Theda Kontis, or Dr. Ira Papel to start your revisional rhinoplasty journey. To meet with our board-certified surgeons and learn more about your rhinoplasty options, we invite you to contact our Pikesville office by calling or filling out our online form.
Dr. Ira D. Papel is certified in Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Papel earned his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and his M.D. from Boston University of Medicine. He completed a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Papel is considered an international expert in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, and facial aesthetic surgery.
