When you decide to have facial plastic surgery, your hope is that the first surgery will be your last surgery. Procedures such as rhinoplasty aren’t exactly inexpensive and you most likely had to make big schedules to your habits and schedules, at least temporarily.
But there are times when a second surgery, known as a revision procedure, might be needed. In some cases, people need a second plastic surgery because the surgeon they worked with at first didn’t do a good job or wasn’t able to produce the results a person wanted. In other instances, an issue that springs up later might necessitate a second surgery.
If you had rhinoplasty and aren’t 100 percent happy with your results, a revision rhinoplasty might be a good option for you. If you’re considering the surgery, the following signs can help guide you as you make your decision.
You’re Not Happy With Your Nose’s Appearance
A level of dissatisfaction with your previous results is a big reason to consider a revision procedure. Perhaps the first surgeon promised to make your nose look one way, but was unable to deliver those results. If you wanted a smaller nose or had hoped to have a bump removed, but that didn’t happen, a second surgeon, one who has experience with revision procedures and might be more skilled when it comes to performing rhinoplasty, might be better able to make that happen.
It’s important to note here that having realistic expectations about the results of your surgery — both the primary rhinoplasty and any potential revision surgery — is essential. Your plastic surgeon will let you know if what you’re hoping to change about your nose is possible. If not, he might show you alternatives or be able to work with you to help you better understand what surgery can and can’t do for your nose.
You’re Having Difficulty Breathing
Unfortunately, there are cases when a primary rhinoplasty can make functional problems with the nose worse or can create problems that different exist before. That can be a frustrating experience, but can also be a sign that revision rhinoplasty can help you. If you’ve been having difficulty breathing through your nose or have had other functional problems in the time since your first surgery, a revision might correct those issues.
You Had an Accident After Your First Surgery
What bad luck to have an accident that injures your nose after you’ve spent the time and money having rhinoplasty. But accidents do happen and they can change the look of your nose, making it crooked or giving it a bump that wasn’t there previously. An accident that involves your nose can also affect its functionality, making it more of a challenge for you to breathe. A revision surgery can help reset your nose to how it was after your first surgery, but before your accident.
It’s Been At Least a Year Since Your First Surgery
Timing is important when it comes to revision rhinoplasty. During the first few days and weeks after rhinoplasty, it can be easy to look in the mirror and worry that your nose will never look right.
But noses need time to heal from surgery, including time for the swelling to go down and bruising to fade. Although many people are happy with the way their nose looks a few months after rhinoplasty, it can take as long as a year for the full, final results to appear. Most surgeons will recommend waiting at least a year between primary and revision rhinoplasty procedures.
You’re a Good Candidate for Surgery
Revision rhinoplasty isn’t the right pick for everyone, including everyone who might be dissatisfied with the results of their first surgery. If you’ve developed certain medical conditions between your first surgery and now, you might not be a good candidate for a second procedure. in some cases, changes to or injury to the nose might rule out a second procedure, as well. Your surgeon will review your medical history, current health and the state of your nose and let you know if you’re a candidate for a revision procedure or not.
About Dr. Ran Rubinstein
Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein is a board-certified plastic surgeon. He offers patients a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatment options, including primary and revision rhinoplasty, at his practice in Manhattan. Dr. Rubinstein offers patients a variety of procedures, from fillers to rhinoplasty, at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC in Newburgh, New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, call 845-863-1772 today.
