Revision rhinoplasty, also known as secondary rhinoplasty, is a nose operation performed to correct or revise an unsatisfactory outcome from a previous rhinoplasty.  Rhinoplasty is a difficult and complex procedure that may results in dissatisfaction if not performed skillfully.  Further testament to the high rate of dissatisfaction amongst rhinoplasty patients is the number of people who choose to go back for a second rhinoplasty, often times to repair inaccuracies from the first surgery or for further improvements

Still, deciding to go in for a second rhinoplasty is not something that should be taken lightly.  If you are seriously considering a revision rhinoplasty, make sure that you have had enough time for healing and adjusting to your new appearance. An honest and skilled surgeon will refuse to operate on most cases (unless in case of an emergency) until the nose has had at least nine to twelve months to heal.  Some plastic surgeons prefer to wait even longer than that. The reason is that recovery from rhinoplasty is a slow process. There is still a significant amount of swelling six months after surgery, and the nose continues to settle for up to a year or more. Many people are initially shocked by their new nose and appearance because you have altered a very prominent and defining feature that takes time to get use to.  It is normal for patients to go through a range of emotions as part of the healing process, which is why careful time and consideration should be given to any thought of revision surgery.

If you still decide that a revision is necessary, you’ll need to take some time to reevaluate your expectations and goals as well as consulting your initial surgeon to see what advice or recommendations he/she can give.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering a revision rhinoplasty:

• What are my expectations for the revision rhinoplasty?
• Did the surgeon fail to perform what was promised?
• Do I want the same surgeon to perform my revision rhinoplasty?
• Was there an unexpected complication during the surgery that prevented the desired results?

Remember that there are various reasons why your rhinoplasty may not have turned out the way you had envisioned it; which is why it is important to take your time in considering a revision rhinoplasty.  A good first resource for your concerns should be your plastic surgeon.

Some patients will be offered a revision by their primary surgeon.  Naturally the choice is completely yours whether you would feel comfortable with your surgeon performing a revision rhinoplasty, or if you wish to seek out a different plastic surgeon.  If you do choose to consult with a different plastic surgeon, you should take time and do your research and seek out a surgeon that you can trust and feel comfortable with to communicate your dissatisfaction and go forward towards getting the results you are looking for.

Tags: nose job, plastic surgeries, revision rhinoplasty, Rhinoplasty

This entry was posted on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 pm and is filed under Rhinoplasty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.