"Redoing" a prior nose job that left you unsatisfied is a daunting task.  To help prospective patients with this process, I have included three factors you should know prior to considering revision rhinoplasty.

1.) How long ago was your prior nose surgery? And what region of the nose you are concerned about?

Complete healing from a prior nose surgery can take up to a full year. This is especially true to at the tip of the nose. This region is the most cosmetically sensitive and the last to completely heal. Anxious patients looking to remedy some expected postoperative healing by having another surgery could potentially cause more problems.  For patients concerned about the shape or position of their tip, I typically recommend waiting a full year before considering revising the nose.

The bridge of the nose is less gravity dependent than the tip and tends to
“settle” faster.  This region can be assessed earlier than the tip for revisions.

2.) You may need additional grafts or implants to achieve the revision you are looking for.

When a patient whose surgery was previously done elsewhere comes in for a revision nasal surgery, one of the first things I consider is how preserved is his/her nasal anatomy.  In the past, prior nasal surgeries frequently altered the underlying nasal cartilage, weakening the nose and ultimately distorting the shape of the nose.  This has potentially impaired the true function of the nose (which is to breathe).  When this occurs, the nasal framework needs to be reconstructed.  To do so, I recommend using cartilage grafts in the region of the tip. 

Ideally the source for this graft would be from inside your nose (the nasal septum) but frequently, prior nasal surgeries have used all available cartilage inside your nose.  Alternative sources for cartilage grafting material for revision surgeries can be from your ear, your rib, or banked/donated rib.

3.) How long will the revision rhinoplasty take to heal?

In general, revision rhinoplasties take longer to heal.  Factors that contribute to how long it takes to heal are: amount of grafts used during the surgery and the amount of work done.  In general, the nose for redo rhinoplasties takes about one year.

Have more questions about revision rhinoplasty that I didn't answer here? Then I invite you to contact me today to find out more information about correcting a nose job that you're just not satisfied with. 

Choosing the right surgeon can be a daunting experience to go through for a prospective patient. There is no shortage of options when choosing a surgeon yet not every doctor is the right one for you, especially if you're considering nasal surgery of any sort. 

Here are three reasons to consider a rhinoplasty specialist over other plastic surgeons. 

Reason 1: A Rhinoplasty Specialist Has Focused and Specific Certification

Only asking your consulting physician “Are you board certified?” , you could potentially be misled about the qualifications of the doctor. As there are many types of doctors, so too are there many types of board certifications. There are only two boards which credentials surgeons for plastic surgery to the face. These are the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Even choosing a surgeon who is board certified from these recommended groups does not verify the surgeon’s ability to do rhinoplasty surgery. When in doubt, choose a surgeon who does a large number of nasal surgeries in his/her practice.

Reason 2: Choosing a Rhinoplasty Specialist Means Less Risk Of Nasal Dysfunction

Besides sitting in the middle of our face, the nose has two very important functions that we take for granted, which are breathing and smelling. Even if you may have no problems with the function of your nose, changes done during rhinoplasty surgery may alter these functions. Besides having a good looking nose, its important to also have a nose that works!

Reason 3: A Rhinoplasty Specialist Has Lots of Practice

As mentioned above, it is important to choose a surgeon who specializes in this type of surgery. Rhinoplasty surgery is one of the most challenging surgeries to perform. Ending up with a nice looking nose that also is able to breath well is no easy task. Just like a lawyer who does murder trials versus business mergers, rhinoplasty requires a completely different skill set than doing breast augmentations or tummy tucks.

As the rates of travel for cosmetic surgery procedures increase, so do the misconceptions that Korean plastic surgery is best performed abroad. But that's not always the case.

Here are three things to consider about traveling for your plastic surgery:

1. Surgeons in Korea are more qualified to do Asian cosmetic procedures.

The medical education here in the United States is globally regarded as the best in medical training. Surgical advances along with research in plastic surgery are still regarded as the best in the world. While it is true, surgeons in Korea only operated on “Asian faces” quality over quantity should be the ultimate factor when choosing a plastic surgeon.

2. It will be cheaper to have the surgery done in Korea.

While fees for surgery maybe slightly lower in Korea, one must factor additional costs associated with traveling to a foreign country to have surgery. Airline tickets, hotels fees, and meals can easily push the cost of the surgery higher than prices here in the US. Additionally, stress of traveling to a foreign country and the risks of potential complications are also inherent costs associated with having surgery in Asia.

3. I can fly into Asia and come back home soon after without any worries.

A major role in achieving optimal results is having close postoperative care with your surgeon. Having the ability to reach your surgeon and freely communicate your concerns is one of the most important things I recommend for a prospective patient.

One of the most common changes Asians are seeking is the shape of the nose.  The majority of Asian rhinoplasty is to increase the height of the bridge and tip of the nose (also called augmentation rhinoplasty). 

One area many Asians patients get confused is assessing the length of the nose.  Many patient ask to have their nostrils reposition to a higher location.  However, many of these patients have what I believe to be a short nose.   A short nose appearance is frequently associated with a retracted columella  (The columella is the structure between the nostrils).  This finding is best appreciated on your profile view.  In some cases where the columella is too retracted, the nostrils can have an appearance of "hooding" over the columella. 

To address these finding, lengthening the nose (in addition to building the bridge and tip) may create more aesthetic harmony to the nose.