Revision Rhinoplasty Surgery

Nationally, approximately 5-12% of patients that have rhinoplasty need a revision of some kind, whether it is major or minor. Even in the hands of the best rhinoplasty surgeons across the country, the need for revision will sometime occur. Without a doubt, revision rhinoplasty surgery is the one of the most challenging procedures performed.

Revision rhinoplasty can also correct noses that are thick or thin, and remove scar tissue. Because revision rhinoplasty requires a certain set of skills and is often more delicate than the first procedure, a revision rhinoplasty is a specialty in its own right, with some plastic surgeons’ reputations being built on revision rhinoplasty alone.

Sometimes the problems are minor and easily corrected, but if they are major a revision rhinoplasty is always more difficult and requires more expertise than the first surgery. This is due to the fact that the normal nose is no longer intact and the tissue before the first surgery is now filled with scar tissue. This makes it difficult to separate and reposition the remaining bones and cartilage. Usually a revision rhinoplasty will give significant improvement and sometimes dramatic results can be achieved for revision rhinoplasty patients.

Since most secondary rhinoplasty patients have an operated and unnatural looking nose that does not function properly, the surgical goal is to produce a nose that appears natural, functions properly, and is in balance with other facial features. The patient's wishes in regard to the type of nose desired are always considered, but there are limiting factors. To accomplish the goal it is necessary to reconstruct and reshape the supporting framework of cartilage and bone. This will allow the overlying skin to red rape over the reconstructed framework giving the nose its new shape. Skin texture and thickness, the amount of scar tissue from the previous surgery and the facial proportions and contour play an important role in what can be achieved.