Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is one of the most popular plastic surgeries in the world. From repairing deformities to improving the aesthetics of a person’s face, there are many reasons why someone may decide to inquire about rhinoplasty surgery. Rhinoplasty is a delicate process that involves science, art, and a unique skillset. Rhinoplasties require a lot of customization, making it one of the most difficult surgeries to master.
To master the rhinoplasty, your surgeon must understand nose and facial balance, work with different types of skin and tissue, and ensure nose structures stay intact. Most rhinoplasty stories have a happy ending, but there are scenarios where the patient isn’t satisfied with the results and wants to inquire about revision rhinoplasty surgery. In this article, we will discuss what to expect during the procedure, the benefits of the revision surgery, and six reasons why you should get revision rhinoplasty surgery.
What Is Revision Rhinoplasty?
Revision rhinoplasty or revision nose surgery is a facial plastic surgery that helps correct unwanted results from the original rhinoplasty. Revision nose surgery can help fix cosmetic errors or right functional issues, like if the patient has difficulty breathing after surgery. This procedure allows the patient to reshape their nose and correct any issues left by the previous surgery.
In some cases, revision nose surgery is more difficult, like if the prior surgeon removed too much cartilage and the second surgeon must use specialized skin grafts. The revision procedure typically happens six months to a year after the initial surgery because it gives your nose time to recover and become more established.
What To Expect
When you book a consultation with Allergy & ENT Associates, we will explain every step and detail involved in the procedure. We want to ensure that the patient understands the entire process, outcome, and post-treatment care.
Revision rhinoplasty is an outpatient surgery that usually takes between one to four hours, depending on the complexity of the revision. After your surgery, you can go home, but you must have a caretaker with you for the first 24 hours following surgery.
The recovery period lasts one to two weeks. Patients experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort during the first couple days after the procedure. Breathing through the nose may be more difficult, but the patient can live without any discomfiture after two weeks. Revision rhinoplasty patients are encouraged to keep their heads elevated during recovery to minimize bruising and swelling.
Patients can return to work or school about one week after revision surgery but are urged to keep activities light and avoid activities that will cause the nose to bleed, like blowing the nose or heavy lifting for about three weeks.
The Benefits of Revision Rhinoplasty
As stated before, revision rhinoplasty is necessary when the patient’s original rhinoplasty requires repair. There are many benefits that revision rhinoplasty can offer, including:
- An increase in confidence
- Improved airflow
- Improved facial symmetry
- Corrected nasal function
- Refreshed appearance
6 Reasons To Get Revision Rhinoplasty Surgery
A rhinoplasty can help transform your nose and rejuvenate your appearance while providing you with better airflow and nasal functionality. There are instances where the original surgeon underperformed and left a rhinoplasty patient with unwanted outcomes. Keep reading to know when you might need revision rhinoplasty surgery if you run into these problems after your rhinoplasty procedure.
1. Trouble Breathing
Although rhinoplasty is popularized for cosmetic reasons, it was designed to correct breathing issues. Breathing problems can be due to a blockage in the nasal airways that can cause snoring, congestion, and other related matters. If you undergo rhinoplasty surgery and still have breathing difficulties, a revision nose surgery may be required.
2. Disappointing Cosmetic Results
Many patients who seek revision rhinoplasty feel that their results are not satisfactory. This could be due to miscommunication between the patient and surgeon, or the patient wanted a more drastic alteration rather than a subtle one. With revision nose surgery, we can give you your desired outcome, but it’s important to explain your desired outcome clearly.
3. Surgical Errors
Some individuals have issues with their original rhinoplasty surgery because of simple surgical errors. Some patients are met with a botched outcome due to different techniques or a bad surgeon. While some patients would rather go to the same surgeon to treat the issue, it’s always best to seek another surgeon for a second opinion. It would be best if you worked with a trustworthy, board-certified surgeon with a good reputation and proven credentials.
4. Unexpected Accidents
Accidents happen, and your nose isn’t damage-proof. Just because you had rhinoplasty surgery doesn’t mean you’re inhuman and no longer prone to damage— injuries and facial trauma can compromise even the most perfect results. Revision rhinoplasty can help reverse damages from car accidents, sports, or other unexpected events. People who play contact sports are are encouraged to wear protective gear when participating to prevent reoccurring accidents.
5. Post-Surgical Complications
The functionality and appearance of the nose are important when performing revision rhinoplasty, and even the smallest error can cause complications. Although it’s rare, post-surgical issues are possible. These post-surgical complications can range from poor nasal functionality to excess scar tissue.
6. An Asymmetrical Nose
After you have rhinoplasty surgery, you will experience swelling, bruising, and nose bleeds—it’s all a part of the rhinoplasty healing process. However, you may notice that swelling doesn’t affect both sides of the nose equally. This may cause your nose to look asymmetrical after the procedure. After about two weeks, your nose should return to its normal size and shape, but if not, you might need revision rhinoplasty surgery.
Whether you have breathing issues or an undesired outcome after your rhinoplasty procedure, choosing the right plastic surgeon to perform your revision procedure is important. Allergy & ENT Associates has provided plastic surgery in Houston for over 50 years with some of the most trusted names in plastic surgery. If you’ve experienced an undesirable rhinoplasty surgery, we can fix it and guarantee the perfect results. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our board-certified surgeons.
