Name: Revision Rhinoplasty
Brand: Austin Face & Body
Rating: 4.8 (180 reviews)

Revision rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging plastic surgeries. In addition to the fact that the nose is a complex structure with a vast impact on one’s appearance, a secondary procedure involves treating tissue that’s already been manipulated and, in some cases, weakened.

Revision rhinoplasty:

A complex surgery

Patients who request a revision rhinoplasty have unique motivations – and they require specialized care. Most commonly, they are simply unsatisfied with the aesthetic or functional outcome of their prior surgery – or surgeries.

Revision rhinoplasty tends to be more difficult than a primary procedure for a number of reasons. First, there’s scar tissue present that can distort the underlying anatomy. Second, if the previous surgeon damaged the cartilage – or took too much – you’ll need to graft tissue to the area. And finally, there can be complications present from the prior procedure that require a specialized approach to correct.

Beautiful woman with her mouth slightly open, looking down

Nose job complications that require a revision

Older rhinoplasty techniques relied heavily on cartilage removal, which decreases support and can result in asymmetry. In addition, some surgeons don’t tailor their procedures to each patient. This can result in a nose that is objectively free of flaws – but doesn’t look natural on your face.

Other specific complications that may require a corrective procedure include:

Concave nasal bridge. In the process of addressing a hump on the nasal bridge, some surgeons remove too much bone. When this occurs, the nose may appear concave once healed.
Nasal tip deformities. A nasal tip that looks beak-like or a pinched nasal tip can be the result of a nose that was improperly shaped during a prior procedure.
Crooked nose. If the internal nasal structure was damaged by the removal of too much cartilage, the bones in the area can actually shift as the nose heals, creating a crooked appearance.
New breathing challenges. Great care must be taken when attempting to correct a nasal hump. If too much bone was removed, or the cartilage was not re-attached properly, the bridge can narrow – resulting in the collapse of the inner valve. This can create breathing challenges you didn’t have before the surgery.

Austin Face & Body:

A trusted name in corrective procedures

It can be devastating to emerge from surgery with an unsatisfactory cosmetic or functional outcome. When this occurs, it’s even more important to work with an experienced nose surgeon on the revision – someone with a proven track record of applying cutting-edge cosmetic and reconstructive techniques to perform complex revision procedures.

At Austin Face & Body, we bring together a world-class team of plastic surgeons that are known for their artistry, technical precision, and commitment to excellence. You can trust us to resolve the problems from your original nose job, and provide the beautiful, natural-looking result you deserved the first time around.

Planning your corrective procedure

Because a revision rhinoplasty involves re-opening a wound that has already healed, it requires special considerations during the planning stages. Before operating, your plastic surgeon must consider:

The presence of scar tissue. Following prior rhinoplasty surgeries, there is often a substantial amount of scar tissue that has distorted the underlying anatomy of your nose.
The remaining cartilage. Once the scar tissue has been removed, the nasal structure must be re-shaped. However, after an initial nose job, there may not be enough cartilage left. In these cases, your surgeon must be prepared to graft tissue from another area of the face or body.
The condition of your skin. It’s important to make sure that your skin is healthy enough to stretch and re-drape over your nose. Excessive prior damage to the internal lining and skin may impact this ability. As such, the condition of these tissues must be assessed before surgery.

Are you a candidate?

Because revision rhinoplasty is a delicate procedure with much to consider, we need to determine your candidacy during a private consultation at our Austin office. During this meeting, we will review your general health and examine the physical condition of your nose. These factors, along with any internal damage from past surgeries, your lifestyle, and your expectations, will influence whether or not we recommend this procedure.

Handsome man staring to the side holding sunglasses

What to expect

Our plastic surgeons at Austin Face & Body perform revision rhinoplasty under general anesthesia. Most of the incisions can be done internally, although sometimes a small external incision is necessary. Through these openings, we will carefully remove the scar tissue and, if there’s enough left, reshape the bone and cartilage – all while being careful to preserve or improve your breathing function.

If there isn’t enough cartilage left, we will need to graft some to the area to enhance structural support at the nasal tip and bridge. Septal cartilage is often not strong enough, so we commonly source the necessary cartilage from the ear. If you have soft tissue irregularities along the nasal bridge or tip, we will camouflage it with temporalis fascia, which is taken from the hairline.

Recovery

You will be free to return home the same day to begin the healing process. You can expect to return to sedentary work in about one week, and more strenuous exercise in three weeks. The most extensive swelling will subside after the first few weeks. It’s important to note that the full healing process for a revision rhinoplasty is longer than a primary procedure, and some very subtle swelling may persist for up to two years.

When to undergo a revision rhinoplasty

There is no hard-and-fast rule regarding the timing of a revision procedure. In general, we recommend waiting until the nose has fully healed and “settled,” as many cosmetic issues may resolve as swelling subsides.

However, if you still have a bump on the bridge of your nose a month or two after surgery, you may want to schedule the revision sooner. This is because the more the wound contracts, the worse the issue will become.

Providers who perform Revision Rhinoplasty at Austin Face & Body

Dr.Charles W. Guy II

Dr. Charles W. Guy II, DO FAOCO, is a board-certified specialist in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology. Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Guy pursued his undergraduate studies at Southwestern University in central Texas.

Dr.Charles W. Guy II »

Schedule a consultation today

If you’re unhappy with the outcome of your previous nose job, please schedule a consultation at Austin Face & Body today and discover what our revision rhinoplasty can do for you.

Revision Rhinoplasty