Rhinoplasty is considered one of the most difficult plastic surgery procedures, due to the complex anatomy of the nose and sinuses as well as certain unpredictabilities of healing. Revision rhinoplasty is done when the original procedure doesn’t create the aesthetic results that you expected from your original procedure.
Some rhinoplasties are done not for cosmetic reasons, but rather to correct issues with your nose, perhaps a breathing issue or an injury repair. In such a case, restoring function of the nose is the priority.
Revision surgery later addresses any remaining cosmetic considerations. About 15% of primary rhinoplasty patients require revision surgery.
Because of the complexity surrounding the construction of the nose area, full healing of a rhinoplasty may take as long as a year before you approach your final results. Both swelling and scar tissue must subside before you’ll have a strong idea of how your nose will look after surgery.
Deciding about revision surgery before the previous procedure completely heals means you’re risking unknown results. Dr. Guida will advise you to be patient and wait for complete healing before considering any other procedures.
A secondary rhinoplasty can be either simple or complex, just the same as the primary surgery, depending on the goals of your procedure. When a further revision is simple, you may have a better chance of meeting your pre-surgery goal, since minor changes are more predictable.
Revision rhinoplasty can include removal of additional cartilage. However, in most cases, additional cartilage, harvested from an ear or rib, may be used to build up the structure of your nose in revision procedures. These surgeries tend to be more complex than primary procedures and could take as long as four hours.
The cosmetic goal of rhinoplasty is to bring your nose into balance with the proportions of your face. In some cases, other procedures, such as a chin augmentation, can achieve that balance with the results from your primary rhinoplasty.
This can avoid further surgery on your nose. The right surgery for the best nose appearance may not be rhinoplasty at all. Dr. Guida can advise you on the alternatives that are available for your particular situation.
Choosing a double board-certified rhinoplasty specialist like Dr. Guida is the best choice you can make to discuss and proceed with revision surgery. Discussing what you’re hoping for from rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty is the best way to develop realistic expectations about the results you can achieve that keep both function and aesthetics in focus.
Contact the office that’s most convenient for you to schedule an appointment, by phone or online. Dr. Guida is happy to answer all your questions about your revision rhinoplasty procedure.
