Patients will find that there are several reasons they may require a revision rhinoplasty, but the risk of revision diminishes immensely when they work with an expert plastic surgeon. People have come to trust board-certified plastic surgeons, not only because they provide patients with natural-looking results but also because the chance of needing a revision procedure is extremely low.
With about hundreds of thousands of rhinoplasty procedures performed every year, the nose job is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery options of all time. That said, experienced plastic surgeons feel it is vital that patients who are considering this surgery understand the risk of and reason for the revision rhinoplasty procedure. Unfortunately, some patients end up in the operating room of an inexperienced surgeon when having their rhinoplasty procedure performed. In the end, they may be disappointed in the results, or there could be issues with the functionality of the nose. Fortunately, for patients who have found themselves in this situation, there is still hope.
Reasons for Revision Rhinoplasty
A revision rhinoplasty is a facial plastic surgery procedure that aims to correct aesthetic and functional issues associated with a primary rhinoplasty procedure. Fortunately for those seeking this procedure, there are highly-skilled board-certified revision rhinoplasty surgeons. Other surgeons might turn away patients who require a revision because these procedures can be risky and complicated. However, an expert in this field will have the necessary skill and experience to offer revision rhinoplasty procedures to patients.
The main reason a revision might be necessary is because a new aesthetic issue with the noise appeared after the initial rhinoplasty operation. According to a report published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal, about 41 percent of revision rhinoplasty patients cited this as their reason for having had the revision procedure done. Some patients who work with inexperienced surgeons will find that they develop a bump on their nose afterward, or they may feel that their nose now looks crooked whereas it previously looked straight.
What Can Revision Rhinoplasty Achieve?
Each primary nose job is different, and that means that every revision that is required is different, as well. Some cases require a simple fix, while others require very complicated and lengthy procedures, possibly including cartilage grafting. If you feel a revision might be needed on your nose, the first step is to set up a consultation appointment with an expert facial plastic surgeon. At this consultation, the surgeon will assess the situation and help you understand what will be required during your revision procedure. Some plastic surgeon prides themselves on the fact that they are willing to take on just about any challenge, but what is really important for patients to know is the surgeon’s actual revision rate.
Some patients feel that the operation did not address the original issues in the first place and, therefore, want to have the surgery performed again in order to get the results they originally wanted. This was the reasoning provided by about 31 percent of revision rhinoplasty patients who were polled by the medical journal. This is often the result of working with a surgeon who doesn’t take the time to get to know each patient on an individual basis.
A limited number of patients will need a revision procedure because they have developed difficulty breathing or have trouble sleeping after recovering from the operation. The Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal note that only 1 percent of patients found that they developed additional breathing problems after their operation. Patients who work with board-certified plastic surgeons will typically avoid structural issues after their operation as these surgeons have the skills, education, and expertise necessary to complete a successful rhinoplasty procedure.
The Plastic Surgery and Recovery
Most patients can expect to be put under general anesthesia for this procedure. Some specialized cases that are less complicated can be done using local anesthesia combined with IV or oral sedation. An expert facial plastic surgeon takes the time to ensure that the surgery is discrete, with most stitches located in an unseen location on the nose. Patients can expect there to be minimal scarring, so once the bruising and swelling go down, no one will know they have had a rhinoplasty performed. On average, the typical revision lasts anywhere from one hour to three hours. Depending on the complexity of the case and the health of the patient, the recovery period lasts about one or two weeks.
It is important for patients to understand that the recovery will be slightly more complicated than that of their primary rhinoplasty. For starters, this is the second major surgery their face has had to undergo, so naturally, they will be sorer afterward. Almost all revision patients have significant bruising and swelling, but most of it subsides within a few weeks. Most patients can return to work or school within a week, but revision patients must be extra cautious about what activities they choose to participate in each day. All contact sports and any other activities where the nose could be bumped or jarred should be avoided for several months.
Consultation with Expert Plastic Surgeons
Any patient who is considering cosmetic surgery needs to have realistic goals and expectations for the procedure. Many expert plastic surgeons use technologically-advanced computer imaging software to help patients visualize their new nose before they even book a spot in the operating room. This helps patients understand what expert plastic surgeons can achieve during the surgery, and it helps to avoid confusion and disappointment after the fact.
Along with their staff, professional plastic surgeons have developed an intensive consultation process that allows patients to educate themselves and prepare both mentally and physically for their operation. This consultation process combines the surgeon’s experience, skills, and precision to ensure that most patients will be able to avoid a revision procedure. Contact a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office today to find out more information about the revision rhinoplasty surgery and set up a free cosmetic consultation.