High chances are you hoped your primary nose job would be your first and last nose surgery. However, a couple of months after your initial rhinoplasty, you may notice that your nose looks unnaturally thin. Or perhaps your nose’s functionality keeps deteriorating by the day. Don’t worry; you aren’t alone. Statistics reveal that about 20% of patients who have gone under the scalpel for a nose job return to the cosmetic surgeon for a revision nose job at some point later in their lives. We will discuss some of these reasons that prompt patients to go back for a second nose job in this piece.
What is rhinoplasty?
Also known as a nose job, rhinoplasty is an invasive procedure that looks into reshaping, resizing, or enhancing the functions of a nose. Sometimes, the first nose job fails to yield desirable outcomes that would require a second nose job to correct the flaws. Revision rhinoplasty involves tweaking the nose a little after the first nose job for better function or appearance of the nose.
When is the second nose job recommended?
Generally, after rhinoplasty, it takes about twelve months for the changes to sit in and have final results of the procedure. Until one year is over after the primary nose job, a voluntary revision isn’t recommended. Have your twelve months elapsed, and you still don’t feel the changes sitting right with you? Probably you aren’t sure if you are the right candidate for a second nose job. The following are some reasons why your cosmetic surgeon may recommend a revision nose job.
Obstruction of the nasal passages
Some patients complain of breathing difficulties after the first rhinoplasty. If done inappropriately or too aggressive, the altered nose could harbor narrowed nasal passages that impact seamless breathing. Incorrect replacement of cartilages and nose tissues cause deviated or perforated septum that distract breathing. In some cases, patients record normal breathing during regular periods with heavy snoring and difficulty breathing when working out. If left untreated, experts say the condition leads to sleep apnea.
Thin or thick nose
You know what a typical nose should look like. After rhinoplasty, your nose should have a normal and natural look that does scream “cosmetic surgery gone wrong!” Unfortunately, on some occasions after a nose job, your nose may feel and look too thin or too broad. It screams unnatural and unappealing. This is another common reason why patients go back to the operation table for revision rhinoplasty. According to plastic surgeons, rhinoplasty is one of the complex surgical procedures in the industry. It requires high skills and fine art in reshaping the nose to exact instructions and specifications as addressed by the client. Your cosmetic surgeon will attempt to reconstruct the deformations to your precise liking through a second nose job.
Pointed, abnormal and unnatural nasal tip
Nasal tips are notoriously hard to reshape to the original or natural look. Unfortunately, it’s the case in most rhinoplasty procedures. Because of the swelling and bruising, nasal tips are prone to change or drop due to the drastic changes made to the nose. For instance, an increase in the height of the nose can impair a cosmetic surgeon’s judgment when reshaping the nasal tip giving it a pointed look. These changes might sound minor, but they have a significant impact on the general outlook of the nose.
Change in desires and goals
As human beings, we are bound to feel different and want different things after some time. Change in aesthetic goals is inevitable. A significant number of patients head back into the surgeon’s office after feeling a shift in aesthetic goals and desires. Many of these cases often report satisfactory results from the first nose job.
Healing problems
After an invasive surgery like that of rhinoplasty, it’s normal to experience bruising and swelling. Typically, these problems resolve over time. In four weeks, you should be fine. However, some patients don’t follow the standard recovery timeline and may develop some severe complications. With an overabundance of scar tissues, the condition may force the skin around the nasal region and cartilage to move and tamper with the rhinoplasty results. Some cases result in a collapsed septum that leads to breathing difficulties, as discussed above. In such cases, you need not continue with the healing process. Consult with a cosmetic surgeon for immediate revision rhinoplasty.
Accidents
We cannot necessitate enough the need to be extremely careful after rhinoplasty surgery. Post-operative care increases your chances of a successful nose job and fast recovery. But this isn’t always the case as accidents happen most unexpectedly. Physical and forceful impacts on a recovering nose require urgent revision nose jobs to repair the damage and prevent further deformation. You are advised to be very cautious during the first few weeks and avoid vigorous physical activity. Your weak and vulnerable nasal bones are prone to suffer the most in the event of an accident during the first four weeks after rhinoplasty.
Infections
Wounds that are poorly dressed or taken care of are highly susceptible to contracting bacteria and infections. Also, inappropriate placement of tissues and nasal cartilage might encourage the development of infections. To avoid saddling the nasal structure, cosmetic surgeons recommend a second nose job to correct the minor tweaks and avoid making monsters out of it.
Sometimes, instincts are all you have. If you feel the need to consider a second nose job, talk to a specialist for further guidance and expert advice. If you made it well through the first nose job, a revision rhinoplasty shouldn’t be all bad.