Nasal surgery can offer substantially dramatic results on your overall look. But it’s important to understand what the surgery can and cannot provide in terms of results. If your expectations are unrealistic or you are not a good candidate for the procedure, you may not be happy with the outcome.
Rhinoplasty is an individualized procedure since no two noses are alike. “Rhinoplasty is a very complex operation and achieving perfection is very difficult,” says Chicago facial plastic surgeon Dean M. Toriumi, MD. “Most patients have significant improvement after undergoing rhinoplasty, but many patients are left with some imperfections. In some cases, deformities are bothersome to the patient and revision may be appropriate.” Revision rhinoplasty differs greatly from primary surgery. “It’s typically a more difficult surgery to perform because there have been changes made to the areas that are being treated, making the results somewhat less predictable,” says Paramus, NJ, plastic surgeon Robert Zubowski,MD.
After your initial rhinoplasty is performed, you may be able to see results within the first few days but you need to give your body at least a few months to heal and for the swelling to go down. If you’re starting not to like what you see, wait at least six months to one year before seeking out a revision procedure. “After surgery there is a healing period and the result has to settle for about six months. And, you’ll have had a chance to live with the outcome for a bit and determine what’s needed additionally,” says Eugene, OR, Plastic Surgeon Mark L. Jewell.
Another reason to wait is so that the scar tissue is mature, which will allow your doctor to operate on fairly healthy tissue. “Even if you decide a few years after your surgery that you don’t like the results, you can go in for revision. Although most patients know within the first few months if they want to make any changes,” says Dr. Jewell.
Top Five Reasons Patients Seek Rhinoplasty Revisions:
1. Asymmetries or depressions in the nose
2. Displaced implants or cartilage grafts, which can make the nose look round and bulbous
3. Nasal obstructions that lead to breathing problems
4. A nose that is too large or too wide
5. Inadequate tip projection, like a droopy tip
If your not happy with your rhinoplasty results, read our tips for achieving the revision results you want here.
