Revision Rhinoplasty

While the surgery itself is generally not painful due to anesthesia, you can expect some discomfort during your recovery. The level of discomfort varies by individual and generally depends on how severe their case is, but most patients report lower pain than after their original surgery. Of course, pain medications are encouraged during this time if you are feeling discomfort, which should only last for about a week.

A minimum of 4 key appointments are needed for this procedure. First, you will have a consultation to discuss your initial concerns and thoughts, while Dr. Kolstad develops a surgical plan. Second, you will have a pre-operative appointment to go over last-minute details of the surgery, take preoperative photos, and ensure you’re medically cleared to proceed. Third, you will have the surgery itself. And lastly, you will have at least one (and possibly more) follow-up visits with our team so we can monitor your healing and answer any questions you may have.

As in your original procedure, the final results will appear around the 6-month mark. The good news, however, is that the majority of the swelling actually subsides within about three weeks of the surgery, allowing you to attend social events or go out and about without bandages. Swelling and bruising continue to subside over time.

Absolutely, and this is fairly common among our patients. Those interested in a revision rhinoplasty often pair it with blepharoplasty, a brow lift, or simple facial fillers to address other concerns in a single session. Depending on your case, procedures can be done at the same time or spaced apart for the best results.

The risks associated with a revision rhinoplasty are the same as those of your original procedure or any other surgical procedure. While rare, these include infection, bleeding, nasal blockage, scarring, asymmetry, and more. These risks will be discussed in detail with you during your consultation, along with the steps Dr. Kolstad and our team take to minimize them.

Case #1.

This patient did not like the shape or proportion of her nose. She had a rhinoplasty in the past and was unhappy with the results of her nose surgery. She felt like the bridge was too scooped in profile view. She was concerned that the tip of her nose was asymmetric and looked unnatural. She had difficulty breathing through her nose.

Case #2.

This patient sought revision rhinoplasty in San Diego. He was unhappy with the results of his previous surgery and was looking for a revision rhinoplasty expert in San Diego. He was concerned about a bump on his bridge after rhinoplasty. He did not like the unnatural shadowing from the bridge-tip contour. Dr. Kolstad used rib cartilage to rebuild and support his nose. Men’s revision rhinoplasty should create a strong, masculine nose without overlifting or pinching the tip.

Case #3.

This woman sought revision rhinoplasty in San Diego. She had rhinoplasty years ago by a different surgeon. She did not like how wide her tip was. She felt like the bridge of her nose was too large. She thought her nose was out of proportion to the rest of her face. Dr. Kolstad used rib cartilage to reshape her nose. Revision rhinoplasty is much more complicated than primary surgery. Dr. Kolstad will frequently need rib cartilage to rebuild the nose and reverse many of the previous changes.

Case #4.

This patient did not like the results of a previous nose surgery. She was concerned that the tip of her nose was too rotated, creating an unnatural nostril flare. She felt like the bridge was too scooped in profile view. She was concerned that the tip of her nose was asymmetric and looked unnatural. She had difficulty breathing through her nose.

Case #8.

This patient underwent rhinoplasty several years ago. She was concerned about the results of her first nose surgery. She felt like she had a bump on the bridge of her nose. She was concerned that the bridge of her nose was deviated in the front view. She was concerned that the tip of her nose was asymmetric and looked unnatural. She had difficulty breathing through her nose.

Case #10.

This patient had two rhinoplasty surgeries and was concerned with the outcome. She had difficulty breathing through her nose and did not feel like her previous rhinoplasties created a refined appearance. She was concerned about a bump on the bridge of her nose. She did not like the tip of her nose, thinking that it was asymmetric and looked unnatural.

It is common to have some bruising under your eyes. With frequent use of ice packs, bruising is typically minimal and does not bother most people. Dr. Kolstad recommends that his patients obtain cover-up make-up prior to surgery to help camouflage any postoperative bruising.

A frequent concern of our patients is looking plastic after rhinoplasty. There are limitless examples of unnatural, operated results. When surgeons remove too much structure, the nasal tip can look overly narrow.

It is very important to choose a plastic surgeon who specializes in operating on the face. Dr. Kolstad is an expert in nasal cosmetic surgery and is known as the face specialist, because, put simply, that is all he does.