A revision rhinoplasty is a highly specialized and complex procedure in the world of Plastic Surgery, because the original tissue has already been altered.
Scar tissue is now a factor, which makes the separation and repositioning of the remaining cartilage and bones technically more difficult.
The purpose of a revision rhinoplasty is to correct inferior results. For instance, a small cosmetic improvement such as a tiny bump on the bridge or a small visible edge on the nasal tip. A revision rhinoplasty could also entail a more in depth reconstruction. Sometimes, a previous rhinoplasty did not meet your expectations.
Researching a revision rhinoplasty surgeon is an important next step. Performing a revision rhinoplasty is not the same as a typical rhinoplasty. Therefore, the list of the right specialists for your primary rhinoplasty may not resemble the list of revision specialists. Before choosing your revision rhinoplasty surgeon, consider the following:
Look for Experience
Look for a rhinoplasty surgeon with an exceptional amount of experience in the procedure. A newly accredited rhinoplasty surgeon may have skill and knowledge; however, highly experienced is what you want. A highly skilled and experienced surgeon will have been exposed to more complicated cases over the course of many years. When initially contacting surgeons, be sure to inquire how many years of experience they have, and how many per year they perform.
Ask for Referrals
If you know of anyone who has had a revision rhinoplasty, be sure to ask them to share their experience with you. You should also ask your potential surgeon to see before and after pictures of their previous revision rhinoplasty patients. The best indicator of whether the surgeon can help you, is if the surgeon can show you pictures of previous patients who had a similar issue to yours.
Ask for Recommendations
If you are unsure where to begin, start with asking for suggestions from people you know and trust. Contact your family doctor or the rhinoplasty surgeon who performed you operation for a referral. A professional opinion may be a more direct and helpful route to finding a surgeon that works for you.
Pay Attention during the Consultation
When meeting your potential surgeon, listen for cues that indicate that they understand your issue. You want to leave the consultation feeling confident that this surgeon will be able to resolve your issue. However, if you leave feeling hesitant, that’s a red flag. May be there is some miscommunication or they just may not be the right surgeon for you. You and your surgeon should be on the same page. Your goal for this revision is for it to be the last and only revision rhinoplasty surgery you will need for this issue.
In addition to discussing what you hope to achieve from your revision, you should also discuss possible risks and suboptimal outcomes. Understand those risks, and compare them with another the opinion of another specialist as well.
Get a Second Opinion
If you’re not completely comfortable with the advice of the surgeon, consider getting a second opinion. However, if you find that different surgeons are giving you similar advice, then go with the surgeon who has the most experience and the best results.
Oct 01st 2014