Rhinoplasty Revision: Challenging for Surgeon and Patient

By Cathy Enns May 13, 2010 - 7:56pm Rate This

According to many surgeons, revision rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult plastic surgery procedures for both doctor and patient. Why is this? If you’ve had one or more nose jobs and are still unhappy with your look, what should you do?

Part of the answer to these questions is simple: any revision surgery is more challenging than the original procedure. During a second surgery, your doctor faces scar tissue, altered circulation patterns and so on. One Beverly Hills plastic surgeon also points to the loss of “normal anatomical landmarks” that happens with the primary surgery.

With revision rhinoplasty, the effects of the first operation can pose extra problems for a plastic surgeon. Doctors explain that rhinoplasty tends to weaken the support structure of the nose, made up of both bone and cartilage. Revision rhinoplasty surgeons must take care not to negatively impact even more of the foundation that supports soft tissues and thin skin. (Remember Michael Jackson’s nose?) In fact, many operations will necessitate rebuilding some of the nose’s original support system to allow it to hold up under the healing process and passage of time.

For many patients, a second nose job involves improving breathing difficulties as well as appearance. These dual goals can be difficult to achieve.

For the patient, there’s no denying that a poor outcome from a primary rhinoplasty can be a crushing blow. After making the tough decision to have surgery, experiencing the procedure and recovery and waiting months for your nose to settle into a more pleasing new shape, it can be very difficult to come to grips with the fact that it just didn’t work out as you had hoped. Some people feel they look worse after their nose job than they did before surgery.

Finally, fixing a failed rhinoplasty normally takes longer than the procedure time of the initial surgery and poses a longer recovery period as well. Major revisions can cost more too.

So, what should you do if a year or more has passed since your nose surgery and you’re wondering whether you should try again?

First, return to your original plastic surgeon to discuss your dissatisfaction.

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