Revision Rhinoplasty
Prof. Dr. Orhan Görgülü2 minute read
Revision rhinoplasty is a second operation on a nose that has already been operated on. The surgeon corrects what the first operation left behind, or treats a problem that appeared while the nose healed.
For a short checklist of what to do before and after the operation, see the rhinoplasty guide.
People ask for it for two reasons. The appearance of the nose did not turn out as planned, or the nose stopped working well and breathing became harder. Often both reasons are present together.
Why the second operation is harder
The first operation changes the anatomy of the nose. Scar tissue forms between the skin, the cartilage and the bone. That tissue makes the layers harder to separate and harder to read. Cartilage that was removed in the first operation is no longer there, so the surgeon has to replace it.
The surgeon takes the replacement cartilage from the septum inside the nose, from an ear, or from a rib. Which one depends on how much is needed and on how much remains inside the nose.
For these reasons a revision takes longer than a first rhinoplasty, and it asks more of the surgeon.
When to have it
Wait at least one year after the first operation. The nose swells after surgery, and the swelling goes down slowly. During that time the shape keeps changing. An operation done too early works on a shape that was still settling.
The waiting has one exception. If breathing is seriously blocked, the surgeon treats that without waiting a year.
What the operation can correct
- A hump or a dip left on the bridge
- A tip that droops or is too high
- A nose that is crooked or uneven
- A nose that was made too small and now looks pinched
- A blocked nasal passage, and difficulty breathing through the nose
- A collapse of the nostril wall when you breathe in
The examination
The doctor examines the inside and the outside of the nose. You say what bothers you. The doctor tells you which of those things can be changed and which cannot. This conversation matters. A revision has limits that a first operation does not have, and knowing them beforehand helps prevent disappointment.
Bring the records of your first operation if you have them. What the earlier surgeon did, and which cartilage was used, tells the new surgeon what is left to work with.
After the operation
The care is the same as after a first rhinoplasty. Protect the nose from any knock. Do not wear glasses, do not sleep on your side, and do not do heavy sport, for as long as the doctor says. Swelling goes down more slowly than after a first operation, and the final shape appears later.
