You went into your nose surgery with high hopes about what you would look like after your procedure. Unfortunately, the results you saw after healing took place were not at all what you expected. When rhinoplasty goes bad, revision rhinoplasty may be the best way to reclaim your initial aesthetic goals. However, before you move forward with revision surgery, there are a few basic facts you need to know.
REASONS FOR REVISION RHINOPLASTY
There are a number of reasons why you might be considering revision rhinoplasty:
- Original surgery resulted in asymmetries or depressions
- The final look of the nostrils was not satisfactory
- Original concerns were not adequately addressed
- The nasal tip is too narrow or droops downward
- The nose did not heal properly after the first procedure
Patients may also find they cannot breathe as easier after their nose surgery, either due to unexpected scarring or poor healing. All of these issues can usually be addressed during revision rhinoplasty, as long as you choose a plastic surgeon that is highly skilled and experienced in this procedure.
It is typically recommended to wait a minimum of 12 months after the initial procedure before pursuing revision rhinoplasty. This is because it can take that long for swelling to completely subside and the nose to heal. You will not likely see your full results until the first year has passed and at that point, you can determine whether a revision procedure may be necessary.
POTENTIAL CONCERNS AND COMPLICATIONS
Revision rhinoplasty can be more complex than the original surgery, since there are factors involved that may not have been present prior to the initial procedure. For example, scar tissue may have formed after the first surgery that must be addressed during revision rhinoplasty. It is also possible that there is not sufficient cartilage and tissue left to make the necessary corrections. This can be remedied by using grafts from another area of the body, but should only be attempted by an experienced plastic surgeon to ensure the best possible outcome.
SELECTING A SURGEON
Because revision rhinoplasty can be a more complex procedure, it is important to select the plastic surgeon for your surgery very carefully. In addition to choosing a surgeon that is board certified, find out how many revision procedures the surgeon performs each month. Look at plenty of before and after photos of previous patients that had a variety of concerns after their first rhinoplasty. Choose a physician that is willing to sit down and talk with you about your concerns and fully understand your aesthetic goals for your revision procedure.
MAKING THE CHOICE
Making the choice to move ahead with revision rhinoplasty is often one of the best decisions you can make. If you are unhappy with the results of your first procedure, it can impact your self-confidence in nearly every area of your life. If your original rhinoplasty left you with breathing difficulties, the decision to have a revision procedure can be as good for your health as it is for your appearance.
