The road to recovery after rhinoplasty is a long one, as it can take up to a year for all the swelling to disappear. Many patients judge their results too early and panic rather than waiting to evaluate their nose after all the residual side effects have faded.
Sometimes, however, a surgeon does not go far enough in making the necessary changes, and a revision procedure is required. There are cases too where too much bone and cartilage have been removed, and breathing is compromised. Here, revision rhinoplasty can help restore the nose cosmetically and functionally.
If you are wondering when to consider a revision rhinoplasty, read on. There are several different angles to consider before embarking on the path to another surgery.
A surgical revision may not be necessary
Many of the flaws that patients are concerned about after their primary rhinoplasty are minor bumps and depressions that have an unknown cause. Small defects such as these are well-addressed with dermal fillers, which can help prevent the need for a costly and time-consuming revision surgery. In fact, many surgeons combine rhinoplasty with injectables from the outset to ensure a final result that is seamless. If you are unhappy with some aspect of your nose after surgery, the fix may be easier and quicker than you realize.
Revision procedures are more complex than their primary counterparts
When considering a revision rhinoplasty, it’s good to keep in mind that once scar tissue has formed, it makes it more difficult for the surgeon to operate. The revision doctor must work around the changes that were made, navigating the patient’s anatomy for the first time. For these reasons, revision surgeries often take longer and require more downtime. This only highlights the importance of choosing an experienced, seasoned rhinoplasty surgeon the first time who will achieve your goals without error.
There are pros and cons to choosing the same doctor for your revision
It can be extremely disappointing to discover that your rhinoplasty results are not what you hoped they would be. It can feel like a betrayal, especially if you spent a lot of time researching and vetting your plastic surgeon.
Many patients feel they’ve lost trust in their primary surgeon and want to go with someone else, which is understandable. However, there are some obvious benefits to having your primary surgeon perform the revision. The doctor will be familiar with your anatomy, your medical history, and your goals. They may be able to retrace their steps with a much higher degree of accuracy than a new physician. It may be worth discussing things with your original surgeon, even though it is uncomfortable to express dissatisfaction. If there really isn’t any way to see eye to eye, then pursuing revision surgery with a new provider is advised.
You won’t see your final results right away
As mentioned earlier, it can take up to one year for your rhinoplasty results to fully settle and for the swelling to completely disappear. Many patients judge their outcome after a few months and immediately believe they need a revision. During recovery, it can be important to plug into a community such as RealSelf, where you can compare notes with other patients and voice your fears and concerns. It’s also important to stay in communication with your surgeon and ask questions if anything seems amiss.
What is the takeaway?
It’s easy to feel trapped and angry when your rhinoplasty results don’t conform to your expectations. You may even feel depressed and anxious. All these feelings are normal. After all, you spent a great deal of time and money to improve your appearance and now you’re left with a result you don’t like.
In these cases, it’s important to know and understand that you have options. You can wait and see where things stand after one year, you can undergo treatment with dermal fillers to address minor imperfections, or you can undergo a revision procedure to correct more significant concerns. You can choose a new surgeon for your revision, or you can stick with your primary surgeon who knows your nose and medical background. With many different choices at your disposal, you can feel more empowered to pursue the path that is right for you.