Revision rates with inexperienced physicians have been reported to be as high as 20%. Rhinoplasty surgery is complicated and without question requires an experienced surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery of the face. While a dissatisfying outcome in nasal cosmetic surgery is possible in the most skilled hands, more commonly it comes from the hands of the occasional nasal surgeon.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of your nose job, you may be a candidate for what’s called a revision rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty tends to be far more challenging then a primary surgery for a variety of reasons. Revision rhinoplasty requires an ability to understand both the original structure of your nose and the alterations made during your initial surgery. Patients who have undergone nasal surgery in the past will have scar tissue which will increase the complexity of the procedure. In addition to scar tissue the cartilage that was removed to reshape a nose during the first surgery will no longer be available.
In most revision procedures cartilage will need to be borrowed from the patient’s ear or rib in order to improve nasal form and function. Occasionally implants made of Gortex or Porex can be placed to restore height to the nasal bridge. If a patient wishes to avoid additional surgical scars or procedures, cadaveric rib can be sculpted and used to recreate the nasal framework. In short, revision rhinoplasty is an advanced procedure that requires highly sophisticated training, expert techniques and the hands of a specialist.
In order to be a candidate for revision rhinoplasty it is recommended to wait at least 12 months from a prior nasal surgery. Many times patients are unsatisfied after their primary nose surgery because of swelling to the nasal tip or nostrils. Swelling in the nose can take up to a year to fully resorb. Before considering a revision procedure a patient should be unhappy with the true results of surgery, not just the swelling.
Have more questions about rhinoplasty surgery, nose jobs, nonsurgical rhinoplasty or how to enhance your nasal appearance? Please visit our informational page here. Don’t forget to view Dr. Kolstad’s gallery of Before & After images.
If you would like to know more about facelift surgery simply schedule a consult with Dr. Kolstad at his facial plastic surgery office in La Jolla. Give us a call at 858.859.2563 to schedule your appointment today. We are conveniently located in in La Jolla between I5 and I 805. We serve men and women in La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Solano Beach, Encinitas and Southern California.
